BISHOP  CHALLONER 


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^MEMOIRS  OF 
miSSION^ARY  RRIESrs 


BT  BISHOP  CHALLOHER 


-r 


MEMOIRS  OF 
MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 

AS  WELL  SECULAR  AS  REGULAR 
AND  OF  OTHER  CATHOLICS  OF  BOTH  SEXES,  THAT  HAVE 
SUFFERED  DEATH  IN  ENGLAND  ON  RELIGIOUS  ACCOUNTS 
FROM  THE  YEAR  OF  OUR  LORD  1577  TO  1684 

GATHERED,  PARTLY  FROM  PRINTED  ACCOUNTS  OF  THEIR  LIVES 
AND  SUFFERINGS,  PUBLISHED  BY  CONTEMPORARY  AUTHORS  IN 
DIVERS  LANGUAGES,  AND  PARTLY  FROM  MANUSCRIPT  RELA- 
TIONS, KEPT  IN  THE  ARCHIVES  AND  RECORDS  OF  THE  ENGLISH 
COLLEGES  AND  CONVENTS  ABROAD,  AND  OFTENTIMES  PENNED 
BY  EYEWITNESSES  OF  THEIR  DEATH 


BY 

RICHARD  C^LLONER,  D.D. 

BISHOP  OF  DEBRA  AND  Vicar  apostolic 


A NEW  EDITION.  REVISED  AND  CORRECTED  BY 

JOHN  HUNGERFORD  POLLEN 

OF  THE  SOCIETY  OF  JESUS 


P.  J.  KENEDY  AND  SONS 

44,  BARCLAY  STREET,  NEW  YORK 

1924 


9 22  , 


31 


SI 

/'J92- 
■ C-S 
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Made  and  Printed  in  Great  Britain 


ocrSoM^"  O'NEiLl  LIBRARY 
BOSTON  COLLEGE 


INTRODUCTION 


I 

(i)  The  New  Edition  of  the  'Memoirs  of  Missionary  Priests  (2)  Martyr 
Literature  before  Challoner  {p.  vi) ; (3)  Catalogues  of  the  Seventeenth  Century 
{p.  vii)  ; (4)  Lives  collected  on  a small  scale  {p.vii)  ; (5)  Complete  Collections 
of  Lives  (p.  viii)  ; (6)  Authorities  accessible  and  inaccessible  {p.  viii). 

II 

(i)  The  Essentials  of  Martyrdom  {p.  ix)  ; (2)  The  Evidence  for  Orthodoxy  ; 
King  Jameses  forbidden  Oath  of  Allegiance  {pp.  ix-x)  ; (3)  Hatred  of  the 
Faith  in  the  Persecutor . The  Case  of  the  Martyr  Price,  and  that  of  the 
Martyr  Wells  {pp.  xi-xii). 

III 

(i)  Richard  Challoner,  Bishop  of  Debra  {p.  xii)  ; (2)  Bishop  Challoner  as  a 
Writer  {pp.  xii-xiii)  ; (3)  The  Three  Dossiers  {pp.  xiii-xiv)  ; (4)  First  Steps 
towards  the  Beatification  of  the  English  Martyrs  {p.  xiv). 

IV 

(i)  Our  Martyr  Studies : Official  Sources  {pp.  xiv-xv);  (2)  Catholic  Sources 
{pp.  xv-xvi)  ; (3)  Principles  in  this  Edition,  ChallonePs  Text  {pp.  xvi-xvii). 


I 

I.  The  New  Edition  of  the  'Memoirs  of  Missionary  Priests.' 

The  remainder  of  the  old  Derby  edition  of  Challoner ’s  Memoirs 
passed  away  in  the  dark  years  of  the  war.  The  dearth  of  paper 
was  prompting  the  Government  to  call  out  louder  and  louder 
for  extensive  pulping  operations,  and  these  cries  led  to  the  boiling 
down  of  the  residue  of  those  stout  little  i6mo.  volumes,  which 
William  Richardson,  of  Derby,  began  to  issue  as  early  as  1843. 

The  loss  at  first  seemed  grave,  for  there  was  now  no  accessible 
copy  on  sale  of  this  valuable  Catholic  work.  But  a Catholic  firm  has 
now  come-  forward  with  commendable  zeal,  and  has  repaired  the 
loss  with  interest,  by  the  publication  of  the  present  handsome  library 
edition. 

The  best  edition  of  Challoner — -that  is  the  first — has  been  chosen 
for  the  text,  and  it  has  been  followed  with  precision.  But  a Chinese 

\’ 


INTRODUCTION 


fidelity  was  not  to  be  commended.  Nearly  200  years  have  passed 
since  the  work  was  printed,  and  much  fresh  historical  material  is 
now  available.  Some  reference  must  needs  be  given  to  the  new 
confirmations  and  corrections.  It  would  not  be  necessary  to  rewrite, 
or  to  omit,  a word  of  the  biographies,  but  there  were  parts  where 
some  modification  did  not  seem  out  of  keeping.  In  the  first  place, 
a new  and  up-to-date  index  must  be  added,  which  would  indicate 
not  merely  the  places  and  the  persons,  but  also  the  sufferings,  virtues, 
trials,  prayers — in  fact,  all  details  about  the  martyrdoms;  some  refer- 
ence must  also  be  given  to  the  latest  historical  authorities.  To  find 
room  for  this  something  could  be  omitted — e.g.,  the  quasi  appendices, 
which  are  not  about  the  martyrs.  Knaresborough’s  account  of  the 
Sequestrations  under  the  Commonwealth  has  been  left;  but  Lord 
Castlemaine’s  enumeration  of  Catholic  cavaliers  slain  in  civil  war 
could  no  longer  be  called  indispensable.  The  introductions  by 
previous  editors,  it  seemed,  might  be  left  to  future  or  to  enlarged 
editions.  They  were  indeed  excellent  in  themselves,  and  the  loss 
of  Dr.  Challoner’s  preface  was  especially  regrettable,  and  Mr.  Law’s 
historical  introduction  (1878),  one  may  hope,  will  always  be  kept 
in  memory.  But  neither  was  biographical  in  any  strict  sense,  and 
that  consideration  was  necessarily  here  decisive. 


2.  Martyr  Literature  before  Challoner. 

It  may  be  that,  as  we  turned  the  title-page,  we  noticed  that  even 
there  Dr.  Challoner  spoke  of  having  gathered  information  ‘ partly 
from  printed  accounts  published  by  contemporaries,  and  partly 
from  manuscript  relations.’  Like  other  historians,  Challoner  began 
by  the  study  of  books,  and  on  finishing  with  them  he  pushed 
on  still  further  back  to  the  oldest  manuscripts  he  could  find.  This 
we  take  as  an  indication  that  we  should  begin  by  surveying  the 
oldest  printed  literature,  and  afterwards  point  to  the  surviving  manu- 
script sources. 

The  first  printed  volumes  on  the  martyrs  were  Biographies,  the 
earliest  being  Dr.  Allen’s  incomparable  A Briefe  Historie  of  the 
glorious  Martyrdom  of  xij  Reverend  Priests,  written  under  the  spell 
of  the  wonderful  achievement  of  Edmund  Campion  in  1582  (reprinted 
in  1908).  This  was  the  cornerstone  on  and  round  which  was  slowly 
built  up  the  whole  fabric  of  subsequent  martyr  literature.  First 
came  translations  into  Italian  published  at  Turin,  Venice,  Milan  and 
Macerata,  and  the  number  of  martyrs  grew  with  the  succeeding 
editions  till  it  reached  eighteen.  A Latin  translation  now  followed 

vi 


INTRODUCTION 


at  Treves  by  Father  John  Bridgewater,  S J.,  in  1583,  and  a new  edition 
in  1588  inflated  by  many  more  lives,  some  controversy  and  historical 
tables.  In  this  form  it  is  generally  described  by  its  secondary  title, 
Concertatio  Ecclesice  Anglicance,  1588.  But  by  this  time  the  book 
had  become  so  bulky  that  in  those  days  of  poverty  our  printers 
could  no  longer  deal  with  it,  and  in  the  year  1594  two  translations 
appeared  simultaneously:  one  in  Italian  at  Rome,  by  Girolamo 
Pollini,  O.P.,  the  other  at  Madrid  in  Spanish,  by  Diego  Yepez, 
Bishop  of  Tarazona. 

3.  The  Catalogues  of  the  Seventeenth  Century. 

In  the  place  of  Biographies  there  was  in  the  first  half  of  the 
seventeenth  century  great  industry  in  the  making  of  Catalogues 
of  the  Martyrs.  The  earliest  of  these  was  slightly  earlier  still,  by  a 
priest  named  Edward  Rishton,  who  had  brought  out  the  first  edition 
of  Sander’s  De  Schismate  Anglicana  at  Cologne  in  1585.  As  the 
De  Schismate  was  a popular  work,  its  catalogue  of  the  martyrs  passed 
through  fifteen  Latin  editions,  with  six  editions  in  French,  Italian 
and  Spanish.  These  catalogues,  like  Sander’s  work,  included  early 
martyrs  under  Henry,  as  well  as  some  of  those  under  Elizabeth. 
There  were  several  new  editions  of  the  Catalogue  of  the  Elizabethan 
Martyrs  between  1610  and  1614  by  Worthington  and  Wilson.  But 
the  best  of  all  these  little  catalogues  was  that  arranged  by  Dr.  Richard 
Smith,  Bishop  of  Chalcedon,  which  was  unfortunately  never  printed, 
though  Canon  Raisse  of  Douay  (1628)  brought  out  one  at  the  same 
time  which  was  much  appreciated,  and  frequently  copied. 

4.  Lives  Collected  on  a Small  Scale. 

The  seventeenth  century  saw  the  publication  of  Collected  Lives, 
but  collected  on  a small  scale  only.  Dr.  Worthington  began  with  his 
Relation  of  Sixteen  Martyrs.  During  the  Civil  War  period  there 
were  publications  of  this  class  both  by  the  Franciscans  and  by  the 
Jesuits  (Certamen  Seraphicum,  O.S.F.,  and  Certamen  Triplex,  S.J.), 
by  Chiflet,  Palma  Cleri  Anglicani  (for  the  secular  clergy),  by  Dom 
Joannes  Rubeus,  O.S.B.,  in  1657  Benedictines.  Sieur  de 

Marsys  published  a larger  volume  of  collected  papers  and  pamphlets 
for  sixteen  martyrs  of  this  period  belonging  to  several  orders,  etc. 

The  Jesuit  Father  John  Keynes  published  a miscellaneous 
volume  entitled  Floras  Anglo-Bavaricus,  with  one  of  the  earliest 
accounts  of  Oates’s  victims.  Lord  Castlemain’s  so-called  Com- 

vii 


INTRODUCTION 


pendiiim  of  the  trials,  and  of  last  speeches  of  the  period  is  a still 
larger  source.  The  Stajford  Memoirs  and  the  various  single  trials^ 
and  last  speeches,  are  all  accessible.  But  the  history  of  the  period 
is  intensely  gloomy  and  obscure.  Horror  at  its  senseless  credulity, 
repugnance  at  its  shameful  cruelty  and  low-class  fanaticism  make  the 
study  of  its  secret  history  unusually  toilsome  and  repulsive. 


5.  Complete  Collections  of  Lives. 

Some  time  had  still  to  run  before  the  collection  of  Lives  was  made 
for  the  whole  persecution  period.  Though  Father  Christopher 
Grene,  S.J.,  displayed  great  diligence  at  the  English  College,  Rome 
(from  1666  to  1696),  in  transcribing  and  arranging  the  acts  of  the 
martyrs,  especially  those  of  that  College,  and  though  Dom  Bennet 
Weldon  did  the  same  for  the  Anglo-Benedictines,  the  earliest 
martyr ologist  on  the  complete  scale  was  John  Knaresborough, 
priest,  whose  composition  seems  to  have  been  put  together  in  York- 
shire about  1700  to  1710.  Though  never  printed,  his  work  was 
known  to  Bishop  Challoner,  and  is  frequently  cited  in  his  second 
part.  He  was  followed  twenty  years  later  by  the  historian  Dodd. 


6.  Other  Authorities,  Accessible  and  Inaccessible. 

Thus  far  we  have  touched  upon  Bishop  Challoner’s  printed 
sources  for  the  history  of  the  martyrs ; but  he  did  not  confine  himself 
to  printed  books.  He  made  much  use  of  the  then  unprinted  Douay 
Diaries,  and  of  such  memoirs  as  he  could  find  at  Douay  itself,  or 
borrow  from  Jesuits,  Benedictines  and  other  owners  of  manuscript 
sources.  The  inaccessibility  of  archives  and  libraries  in  those  days 
was  almost  complete,  and  though  he  is  most  correct  in  acknowledging 
every  small  loan  of  copies  and  all  assistance,  we  must  always  remem- 
ber the  very  great  obstacles  that  were  in  his  way.  Not  only  had  he 
no  information  from  Rome,  Italy,  Spain,  Flanders,  but  also  no  Public 
Record  Office  in  London,  no  British  Museum,  no  Bodleian  Library. 
To  this  we  shall  return  later. 


Vlll 


INTRODUCTION 

II 


1.  The  Essentials  of  Martyrdom. 

Martyrdom  and  Orthodoxy. 

The  very  essence  of  Martyrdom  is  affected  by  Orthodoxy.  Mar- 
tyrium^  says  St  Augustine,  non  facit  poena  sed  causa.  It  is  not  mere 
suffering  which  makes  a martyr.  Many  an  invalid  has  been  put  to 
as  much  or  more  pain  for  his  health’s  sake  as  martyrs  have  had  to 
bear  for  the  sake  of  their  faith.  It  is  giving  life  for  the  faith  that  makes 
martyrdom  so  precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Church,  whereas  neither 
merit  nor  reward  would  be  won  by  spending  life  for  error. 

2.  The  evidence  for  Orthodoxy. 

It  follows,  therefore,  that  keen  attention  must  be  paid  to  the 
martyr’s  defence  of  the  faith,  when  he  is  challenged  by  its  adversaries. 
His  extant  writings,  especially  those  on  the  Catholic  faith,  must  also 
be  examined.  This  inquiry  is  called  technically  the  processiculus 
diligentiarum  (‘the  little  process  of  industries,’  because,  though  little 
material  may  be  found,  it  gives  much  scope  to  the  industrious  work 
of  the  postulators).  In  our  case  it  has  already  been  held  (1900  to 
1904):  there  were  but  few  literary  works  found,  but  very  numerous 
short  pieces.  They  were  reported  upon  by  a small  band  of  English 
Dominican  Fathers,  and  were  finally  pronounced  blameless  by  Rome. 

The  result  of  the  inquiry  showed  that  nothing  even  remotely 
compromising  could  be  found,  and  that  the  overwhelming  probability 
was  that  no  compromising  material  had  ever  existed.  The  inquiry 
further  indicated  that,  if  there  was  a danger  spot,  it  would  be  found 
in  the  controversies  about  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  devised  and  im- 
posed by  King  James. 

This  conclusion  is  also  suggested  by  the  second  half  of  the 
volume  before  us:  the  pronouncements  of  the  martyrs  here  upon 
the  oath  are  most  instructive.  No  less  than  thirteen  martyrs  made 
noteworthy  or  sometimes  full  and  detailed  pleadings  on  this  subject. 
The  thirteen  fullest  seem  to  be  Almond  (p.  331),  Arrowsmith  (p.  362), 
Atkinson  (p.  341),  Cadwallader  (p.  304),  Drury  (p.  293),  Thomas 
Garnet  (p.  291),  Gavan  (p.  533),  Gervaise  (p.  295),  Heath  (p.  445), 
Herst  (p.  374),  Maxfield  (p.  345),  Napier  (p.  311),  and  Thulis  (p.  343). 
It  is  probable  that,  if  our  reports  for  other  martyrs  were  fuller,  we 
should  find  many  more  who  resisted  the  imposition  of  the  oath 
with  a courage  and  a coolness  no  less  remarkable  than  that  displayed 
by  the  above. 


ix 


INTRODUCTION 


These  stories  lead  one  to  comment  on  the  perseverance  with 
which  the  officials  commend  the  oath  to  the  prisoners.  They  con- 
stantly offered  mercy,  and  even  freedom,  to  those  who  would  take 
the  oath.  And  hence  it  seems  likely  that  any  who  wished  to  go 
free  could  have  won  that  grace,  if  he  had  been  willing  to  take  the 
oath ; or,  what  comes  to  the  same  thing,  it  seems  that  all  who  suf- 
fered death,  all  the  martyrs,  were  given  the  opportunity  to  refuse 
the  oath,  and  that  all  refused  it. 

But  though  the  martyrs  heroically  refused  the  insidious  formula, 
there  were  certainly  others  who  were  less  chivalrous,  though  this 
is  not  the  place  where  an  inquiry  into  their  failing  will  be  expected. 
It  will  be  sufficient  to  indicate  here  the  frequency  with  which  the 
Pope  urged  the  gravity  of  his  command.  It  was  originally  forbidden 
by  Pope  Paul  V.  in  1606,  and  next  year,  1607,  he  found  it  necessary 
to  renew  the  prohibition.  The  command  was  published  by  the  Arch- 
priests and  Assistants,  though  Dr.  Blackwell,  the  first  Archpriest, 
afterwards  showed  the  white  feather,  and  when  in  prison  not  only 
yielded  to  take  the  oath,  but  gave  the  more  offence  by  defending  his 
fall.  Several  Catholics,  moreover,  gave  scandal  by  defending  the 
oath  in  printed  books,  which  were  condemned  by  the  Holy  Office 
in  the  years  1611,  1613,  1614,  and  the  sentence  against  them  is  still 
maintained  in  the  latest  official  reissue  of  the  Index  librorum  prohi- 
bitorum.  But  while  Rome  has  not  allowed  the  defenders  of  the  oath 
to  pass  unobserved,  she  has  nothing  untoward  to  recall  of  our 
martyrs,  despite  of  the  efforts  made  by  the  servants  of  the  Stuarts 
to  induce  the  martyrs  to  yield  in  the  matter  of  the  oath.* 

* At  this  point  I ought  to  draw  attention  to  a fault  of  my  own,  which  I 
desire  to  retract  and  unsay.  In  the  Catholic  Encyclopedia  {Article  Oaths), 
I stated  that  “Preston  wrote  in  defence  of  the  Oath  of  Allegiance,  and  so 
also  did  Sir  William  Howard  (1634),  who  was  probably  the  future  martyr.” 
The  last  clause  is  an  error,  and  was  due  to  Panzani’s  insouciance  about  English 
names.  There  were  in  reality  no  less  than  four  knights  named  William 
Howard  in  England  (Shaw,  The  Book  of  Knights^  1906),  during  Panzani’s 
agency,  1634-1636.  So  his  words*  II  Huardo  ’ would  equally  well  specify 
any  of  the  four. 

But  the  favourer  of  the  oath,  whatever  his  name,  cannot  have  been  the 
future  martyr ; for  Panzani  in  his  final  Relazione,  1636  (printed  in  Maziere 
Brady,  Annals  of  the  English  Catholic  Hierarchy  in  England  and  Scotland^ 
1883,  p.  87),  describes  this  Huardo  as  a father,  whereas  the  martyr  was  not 
married  till  1637. 

The  ‘ Huardo  ’ whom  Panzani  had  in  mind  was  probably  both  a baronet 
and  a baron.  Sir  William  as  well  as  Lord  William  Howard  of  Naworth, 
whose  eldest  son  was  born  in  1629. 


\ 


INTRODUCTION 


3.  Hatred  of  the  Faith  in  the  Persecutor. 

It  might  at  first  seem  no  compliment  to  the  sufferer  to  say  that 
he  has  been  hated  by  anyone  or  for  any  reason.  But  reflection  will 
show  that  such  an  aphorism  betrays  at  least  some  laxity  of  thought. 
Every  martyr  is,  after  all,  a man  who  has  been  slain,  and  therefore 
hated  in  the  clearest  way.  Everything  depends  on  the  reasons  for 
which  he  has  been  hated. 

As  to  this  St  Peter  lays  down  the  principle,  “ Let  none  of  you 
suffer  as  a murderer  or  as  a thief  . . . but  if  as  a Christian,  let  him 
not  be  ashamed^'  (i  Pet.  iv.  15,  16).  If  as  a Christian,  let  him  not 
be  ashamed — that  is,  if  the  sufferer  be  charged  with  nothing  more 
than  the  profession  or  practice  of  Christianity,  ‘ let  him  not  be 
ashamed,’  for  he  is  in  reality  a martyr.  ‘ The  hour  cometh,’  said 
our  Saviour  about  the  persecutors,  ‘ that  whosoever  killeth  you,  will 
think  that  he  doth  a service  to  God  ’ (John  xvi.  2).  Let  no  one  wonder, 
therefore,  if  judge,  jury  and  executioner  believed  that  in  obeying 
the  old  laws  they  were  acting  the  parts  of  good  citizens,  and  carrying 
out  their  duty  before  God,  though  in  reality  they  were  under  the 
influence  of  odium  fidei.  Let  us  take  the  example  of  the  Ven. 
Robert  Price,  a Cavalier  Colonel  who  was  in  the  force  defending 
Lichfield  when  the  close  was  carried  by  assault  on  May  6,  1644. 
Next  day  after  the  surrender  a party  of  Puritan  soldiers  met  him. 
‘ Are  you  Price  the  papist  ?’  ‘I  am  Price  the  Roman  Catholic.’ 
He  was  immediately  shot  dead  (p.  457  below). 

The  question  put  distinctly  proves  the  motive  of  the  Puritan. 
It  was  not  the  loyalist  against  whom  he  was  animated ; he  had  passed 
by  scores  of  them.  Again,  if  Price  had  failed  to  confess  his  faith  he 
too  would  have  gone  free.  The  Puritans  were  not  murdering  indis- 
criminately. But  the  confession  of  faith  followed  by  instant  execu- 
tion stands  out  clearly  as  death  for  the  faith  ex  odio  fidei — that  is,  as 
martyrdom.  And  whatever  the  mind  of  the  Puritan,  whether  he 
was  cold-blooded  or  exalte,  any  fair-minded  jury  should  pronounce 
Price’s  death  to  be  martyrdom. 

Dr.  Challoner  does  not  make  special  efforts  to  accumulate  proofs 
of  animus  in  the  persecutors.  Sufficient  for  him  to  record  the 
deeds  that  speak  more  plainly  than  words.  But  if  anyone  desires 
further  evidence  as  to  the  animus  against  Catholics  during  Oates’s 
plot,  let  us  say,  let  him  consult  the  popular  songs,  now  published 
by  the  Ballad  Society,  for  the  period,  and  he  will  find  there,  both  as 
to  quantity  and  as  to  quality,  more  strong  language  than  he  can 
possibly  want.  The  feeling  of  the  martyrs  themselves  towards 

xi 


INTRODUCTION 


their  enemies  is  finely  shown  in  the  prayer  of  the  Ven.  Swithin  Wells 
for  Topcliffe,  worst  of  persecutors:  ‘ I pray  God  make  you  of  a Saul 
a Paul,  of  a persecutor  a Catholic  professor  ’ (p.  i8i). 


Ill 

1.  Richard  Challoner^  Bishop  of  Debra. 

Richard  Challoner,  Bishop  of  Debra,  was  Vicar  Apostolic  of 
the  London  district  from  1740  to  1781.  He  had  been  born  at  Lewes 
on  September  29,  1691,  of  Protestant  parentage,  but  was  instructed 
and  received  into  the  Church  by  John  Gother,  when  thirteen. 
Three  years  later  he  was  sent  to  Douay  College,  where  he  passed 
through  the  course,  then  became  professor,  and  eventually  a Doctor 
of  Divinity.  In  every  post  he  was  distinguished  for  his  piety,  regu- 
larity and  hard  work.  In  1730  he  returned  to  London,  and  in  1740 
was  appointed  Bishop  of  Debra  in  partibus  infidelium  and  coadjutor 
to  Bishop  Petre.  So  unremitting  was  his  diligence  that  he  always 
had  on  hand  some  useful  work,  chiefly  controversy,  piety,  or  history. 
His  life  has  latterly  been  written  with  much  judgement  and  learning 
by  my  friend  Canon  E.  Burton.  Almost  the  first  of  his  published 
volumes  was  the  Memoirs  of  Missionary  Priests,  of  which  the 
first  volume  appeared  in  1741,  the  second  in  1742.  We  know  nothing 
of  the  circumstances  which  induced  him  to  take  pen  in  hand,  and, 
judging  from  his  other  publications,  it  would  perhaps  be  a mistake 
to  institute  a minute  investigation  of  the  point,  for  he  seems  to  have 
commenced  new  books  boldly,  with  but  few  preliminaries.  Brought 
up  at  Douay,  he  would  always  have  had  some  martyr  literature  within 
his  reach,  and  he  always  knew  that  much  more  work  was  much  wanted. 
The  existing  lives  of  the  martyrs  were  antiquated,  few,  inaccessible, 
in  foreign  languages ; not  one  treated  of  all  the  martyrs.  It  would  be 
interesting  to  know  how  he  obtained  access  to  the  rarer  volumes  which 
he  used.  There  seems,  for  instance,  to  be  nowadays  but  one  copy 
in  England  of  Cardinal  Allen’s  Brief e Historie,  which  is  the  corner- 
stone on  which  we  rest  the  foundation  of  all  our  martyr  knowledge. 
However,  it  is  probable  that,  before  the  French  Revolution,  our 
old  religious  houses  were  not  so  ill-provided  as  they  have  been  since. 

2.  Bishop  Challoner  as  a Martyr ologist. 

We  have  no  information  as  to  Challoner ’s  early  teachers  or 
guides  in  research.  While  at  Douay,  the  vital  books  and  papers 
may  have  been  pointed  out  by  some  librarian  or  teacher  of  history. 

xii 


INTRODUCTION 


And  before  the  publication  of  his  second  volume  he  had  access  to 
John  KnareshorougK s MS.  Collections,  which  were  written  before 
1720.  The  first  helper  to  whom  we  can  definitely  point  was  Alban 
Butler,  who  was  professor  at  Douay  from  1735  to  1743.  He  sent 
Challoner  transcripts,  which  the  Bishop  was  glad  to  use. 

3.  The  Three  Dossiers. 

By  great  good  fortune  the  very  clutch  of  Douay  papers  copied 
by  Alban  Butler  has  survived,  and  they  are  now  in  the  Westminster 
Archives.  They  are  rebound,  however,  in  chronological  order. 
I shall  call  them  The  Douay  Dossier. 

Alban  Butler’s  transcripts  have  also  survived.  Having  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Dr.  Kirk,  he  bequeathed  them  to  Oscott  College, 
where  they  are  still  preserved,  and  I shall  call  them  The  Butler 
Dossier. 

We  may  also  distinguish  another  group  of  m.artyr  papers,  now 
in  the  Westminster  Archives,  put  together  at  an  earlier  date  by 
Dr.  Richard  Smith,  Bishop  of  Chalcedon,  and  which  I shall  call 
The  Chalcedon  Dossier.  This  is  the  earliest  of  the  three  dossiers, 
and  contains  papers  collected  for  the  formation  of  Chalcedon’s 
Catalogue  or  Register  of  Martyrs  in  1628.  This  was  perhaps  never 
at  Douay,  and  was  never  seen,  I fancy,  by  Challoner;  it  con- 
tains fifty- two  pieces  relating  to  fourteen  martyrs,  from  1610  to 
1628,  and  they  are  still  unpublished.  This  bishop.  Dr.  Richard 
Smith,  was  a most  energetic  man,  and  though  perforce  he  had  to 
live  in  Paris,  he  was  the  first  who  worked  for  the  beatification  of  the 
English  martyrs  in  a practical  way,  gathering  up  information  by  his 
archdeacons  and  others,  and  pressing  Rome  to  act.  I have  printed 
one  of  the  answers  to  his  inquiries,  that  from  Benjamin  Norton,  in 
Volume  V of  the  Catholic  Record  Society,  with  an  introduction 
which  refers  to  many  other  papers  in  Dr.  Richard  Smith’s  collections. 

To  return  to  the  other  two  dossiers.  Both  are  founded  on  Chalce- 
don’s collections,  but  they  also  contain  some  documents  of  a later 
date,  especially  some  relating  to  the  persecution  of  Oates.  More- 
over, a few  of  Chalcedon’s  papers  are  here  reduced  to  summaries. 
I have  already  explained  that  The  Butler  Dossier  is  for  the  most 
part  copied  from  The  Douay  Dossier,  yet  they  are  not  identical. 
Butler’s  dossier  has  a certain  number  of  originals  bound  up  in  it, 
evidently  old  duplicates,^ which  saved  the  trouble' of  making  yet  other 
transcripts.  Article  No.  32  again  is  in  the  hand  of  Dr.  Challoner,  to 
wit,  notes  on  the  history  of  Douay  College — evidently  a later  insertion. 

M‘ii 


INTRODUCTION 


The  Douay  Dossier  contains  ninety-one  pieces,  the  Butler 
Dossier  seventy-six;  and  at  least  twenty-seven  of  these  are  in 
Butler’s  own  hand,  the  last  piece  being  a stray  one  in  the  hand  of 
Dodd.  I have  careful  catalogues  of  all  three  dossiers  made  before 
the  pieces  were  rearranged  in  chronological  order.  They  were 
made  by  the  late  Father  John  Morris,  S.J.,  then  postulator  in  the 
cause  of  the  martyrs. 


4.  First  Steps  towards  Beatification. 

Our  survey  of  the  martyr  manuscripts  has  incidentally  brought 
to  our  notice  the  first  attempt  to  procure  the  formal  beatification 
of  our  martyrs.  The  first  preliminary  was  the  drawing  up  of  the 
martyr  catalogue  by  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon  in  1628.  But  Rome 
was  still  slow  to  move.  It  was  twelve  years  later  before  Pope  Urban 
VIII  gave  faculties  to  the  Archbishop  of  Cambray  to  appoint  com- 
missioners, who  should  examine  likely  witnesses,  whose  depositions 
might  establish  juridically  the  truth  about  the  martyrs. 

But  the  Puritan  persecution,  breaking  out  exactly  at  this  moment, 
led  to  the  seizure  of  the  Archbishop’s  letters,  which  were  published 
by  Parliament  on  the  very  day  appointed  for  the  execution  of  Father 
Arthur  Bell  (p.  455),  who  had  been  named  in  them.  Thus  it  was 
clear  that  change  of  circumstances,  at  any  rate,  had  made  the  time 
unpropitious  and  the  process  futile,  and  so  it  was  abandoned.  There 
were  still  nearly  fifty  martyrs  to  be  added  to  the  catalogue  of  1628. 


IV. 

I.  Our  Martyr  Studies. 

Our  present  circumstances  have  changed  again.  The  freedom 
we  now  enjoy  for  studying  in  the  archives  and  great  libraries  of  the 
land  has  caused  an  immense  advance  in  our  acquaintance  with  the 
sources  for  martyr  history,  and  makes  us  wonder  whether  we  are 
abreast  of  the  time  in  making  known  to  ordinary  readers  that  know- 
ledge about  the  martyrs  which  is  so  near  to  our  hands. 

Our  first  duty  surely  is  to  make  clear  what  the  official  evidence 
is  in  regard  to  martyr  history.  The  Government  of  our  country 
insists  on  records  being  kept  of  all  important  official  acts.  This 
has  always  been  so.  There  were  once  at  least  records  of  all  trials, 

xiv 


INTRODUCTION 


executions,  imprisonments,  fines,  etc.,  and  the  ideal  thing  would 
be,  no  doubt,  to  print  now  those  for  each  martyr.  But  though  all 
the  surviving  indictments  for  London  have  already  been  printed  by 
the  Middlesex  Record  Society,  we  find  the  number  of  surviving 
martyr  indictments  to  number  about  sixteen  only,  whereas  there 
should  have  been  140  for  so  many  martyrdoms.  The  number  six- 
teen is  quite  satisfactory  for  establishing  the  text  of  the  writ,  but  it 
does  not  prognosticate  that  the  official  papers  in  existence  are  un- 
manageably numerous. 

But  there  are  other  official  records  besides  those  of  the  indict- 
ments. Thus  Dr.  Smith,  Bishop  of  Chalcedon,  amongst  his  other 
services  to  the  martyrs’  cause,  caused  inquiries  to  be  made  among  the 
assize  records,  which  were,  of  course,  far  more  complete  in  his  time 
than  they  are  in  ours.  He  found  in  the  result  no  less  than  eighty-one 
martyr  entries,  nearly  all  of  which  appear  to  have  got  lost  in  the  three 
centuries  which  have  passed  since  his  time.  There  are  other  indict- 
ments elsewhere,  but  very  few  I fear ; I have  found  traces  of  about 
a dozen  only. 

Strictly  Protestant  sources  like  the  annalists  and  chroniclers, 
therefore,  should  also  be  cited ; and  for  the  Commonwealth  times  and 
those  of  Titus  Oates,  the  chronicles  of  Baker,  as  well  as  the  news- 
letters, especially  those  of  an  official  character. 

About  the  later  martyrs  there  were  also  reports  by  foreign  news- 
agents, Italian,  French,  and  especially  Dutch,  as  well  as  German, 
Spanish,  Latin.  They  have  still  to  be  ferreted  out  and  transcribed. 


2.  Catholic  Sources. 

But  new  matter,  abundant  in  quantity  as  well  most  valuable  in 
quality,  is  still  to  be  found  in  Catholic  sources,  to  many  of  which 
Challoner  never  obtained  access.  It  was  impossible  for  him  to 
travel,  or  to  spend  in  researches  the  considerable  time  which  would 
have  been  necessary  to  obtain  the  information  then  existing  in  Rome 
or  in  Spain,  or  in  the  English  Catholic  colleges  and  convents  on  the 
Continent.  This  archive  material  of  the  best  class  is  now  mostly 
scattered,  though  we  know  from  previous  explorers  where  most  of 
the  material  can  be  found.  The  martyr  correspondence  at  West- 
minster, with  the  original  ‘ relations  ’ in  Father  Christopher  Grene’s 
Collectanea  volumes  at  Stonyhurst,  lettered  M,  N,  B,  with  E at 
Oscott  are,  we  know,  the  gems  of  this  literature. 

It  should  surely  be  our  first  duty  to  catalogue  and  define  what 
these  Catholic  materials  are,  and  as  they  are  still  largely  in  Catholic 

XV  h 


IN  TRODUCTION 


hands,  they  could  and  should  be  transcribed ; the  transcripts  should  be 
set  in  due  order,  and  then  printed  in  full,  whenever  we  are  dealing 
with  materials  which  regard  either  purely  or  predominantly  the 
history  of  our  martyrs.  Then,  as  the  occasion  served,  we  should 
proceed  methodically  with  the  history  of  the  persecutions. 

3.  Principles  in  Editing  ChallonePs  Text. 

Challoner’s  Missionary  Priests  has  been  regarded  since  its  first 
appearance  as  a classical  work  on  the  sufferings  of  the  Catholic 
body.  But  there  is  also  unanimity  that,  though  the  Lives  need  re- 
writing, this  book  should  not  be  altered  or  tampered  with.  We  have, 
therefore,  gone  back  to  Challoner’s  first  edition,  re- expanding  the 
occasional  slight  condensations  which  previous  editors  had  allowed 
themselves,  and  we  have  restored,  so  far  as  was  possible,  even  the 
original  spelling. 

The  accuracy  of  Challoner’s  work  has  been  highly  and  most 
deservedly  praised.*  But  of  course,  where  the  materials  themselves 
were  still  uncriticized,  there  some  confusion,  some  error,  was  morally 
sure  to  follow.  For  this  reason  let  me  say  that  the  only  mistake  worth 
mentioning,  which  we  have  found  and  corrected,  occurs  in  the 
crowded  year  1588.  Father  Morris  himself  had  recognised  that 
something  was  wrong  with  our  list  for  that  year,  and  he  had  suggested 
as  the  remedy,  that  the  martyr  Flower  should  be  identified  with 
the  martyr  Way.  This  turned  out  to  be  wrong,  and  when  the 
biographies  were  worked  out  at  full  length  in  The  Lives  of  the 
Venerable  Martyrs,  the  late  Rev.  H.  E.  Dunne,  the  writer  of  the 
lives  in  question,  found  that  without  doubt  the  true  solution  lay  in 
identifying  Hewett  with  Weldon,  and  this  correction  has  been  made 
and  explained  in  this  volume.  Another  detail  in  the  tangle  was 
the  substitution  of  the  name  of  an  old  priest  Williams  for  that  of  a 
non-priest  Symons  alias  Harrison.  This  has  been  corrected,  and  the 
necessary  reference  to  The  Lives  of  the  Venerable  Martyrs  has  been 
made  in  a note. 

* My  suspicions,  I must  confess,  were  often  aroused  by  his  spelling  of 
local  names.  Biddolf,  Higgons,  Thim6elby,  Win<iford,  Sone  — seemed  to 
me  not  only  probably  wrong,  but  also  probably  to  be  the  result  of  slip-shod 
pronunciation.  But  in  all  the  above  cases,  I found  that  Challoner  had 
the  same  spellings  in  the  text  before  him.  Such  spellings  as  Grenada  for 
Granada,  and  Tarrasona  for  Tarazona  were  the  correct  English  spellings  at 
that  day.  In  Challoner’s  days  there  were  no  Gazetteers,  no  reference  books 
like  the  Dictionary  of  National  Biography . Local  names  are  still  sometimes 
spelt  diversely,  and  variations  were  then  quite  frequent. 

xvi 


INTRODUCTION 


Other  changes  are  both  small  and  uneventful.  Dr.  Challoner, 
writing  professedly  about  Martyr  Priests,  also  gives  them,  according 
to  the  manner  of  his  age,  the  highest  honours  of  typography  and 
precedence.  We,  however,  have  a new  standard  to  take  account  of, 
the  order  in  which  the  martyrs  are  arranged  in  the  decree,  which 
admits  them  all,  priests,  laymen,  and  women,  to  equal  honour  as 
Venerables.  Some  changes  in  Challoner’s  order  has  therefore  been 
made,  but  the  alterations  in  the  text  were  extremely  small.  No 
difficulty  was  found  in  keeping  within  the  printing  conventions 
used  by  Challoner,  and  in  satisfying  the  etiquette  called  for  by  the 
Papal  decrees. 

We  may  also  glance  at  a slight  modification  introduced  into 
the  enumeration  of  authorities.  It  seemed  to  be  our  duty  not  to 
rewrite  Challoner’s  notes,  but  to  add  to  them  brief  references  to 
those  modern  handbooks  from  which  the  study  of  the  actual  authori- 
ties, as  at  present  known,  may  be  commenced.  This  edition  is  also 
noticeable  for  the  full  and  very  valuable  index,  compiled  by  Miss 
N.  O’Farrell,  in  which  I wish  to  draw  attention  to  the  analytical 
sections,  which  illustrate  fully  the  pious  practices  and  the  spirituality 
of  the  martyrs. 


xvii 


CONTENTS 


PART  I 


The  Names  of  the  Priests  and  Lay  Catholics  who  suffered  death  for  religious 
matters,  from  the  year  1577  till  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 


1577- 

Cuthbert  Maine,  priest,  Launceston,  Nov.  29 

1578. 

John  Nelson,  priest,  Tyburn,  Feb.  3 . . . . 

Thomas  Sherwood,  scholar,  Tyburn,  Feb.  7 . 

1581. 

Everard  Hanse,  priest,  T^l  urn,  July  31 
Edmund  Campion,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  Dec.  i 
Ralph  Sherwin,  priest,  Tyburn,  Dec.  i ... 
Alexander  Brian,  or  Briant,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  Dec.  i . 

1582. 

John  Paine,  priest,  Chelmsford,  April  2 . . . 

r Thomas  Forde,  priest,  Tyburn,  May  28 
- John  Shert,  priest,  Tyburn,  May  28  . 

I Robert  Johnson,  priest,  Tyburn,  May  28 
William  Filbie,  priest,  Tyburn,  May  30  ... 

I Luke  Kirby,  priest,  Tyburn,  May  30  . 

■j  Laurence  Richardson,  alias  Johnson,  priest,  Tyburn,  May  30 
I Thomas  Cottam,  priest,  Tyburn,  May  30 
j William  Lacy,  priest,  York,  Aug.  22  .... 

( Richard  Kirkeman,  priest,  York,  Aug.  22  . . . 

James  Thompson,  priest,  York,  Nov.  28  . . . 

1583. 

William  Hart,  priest,  York,  March  15  . 

Richard  Thirkill,  or  Thirkeld,  priest,  York,  May  29 
J John  Slade,  schoolmaster,  Winchester,  Oct.  30 
I John  Body,  M.A.,  Andover,  Nov.  2 . . . . 


1584. 

William  Carter,  printer,  Tyburn,  Jan.  ii 
George  Haydock,  priest,  Tyburn,  Feb.  12 
James  Fenn,  priest,  Tyburn,  Feb.  12 
Thomas  Hemerford,  priest,  Tyburn,  Feb.  12 

xix 


PAGE 

I 


7 

II 


13 

19 

30 

35 


39 

44 

47 

49 

51 

53 

59 

61 

66 

68 

70 


72 

79 

83 

83 


100 

85 

89 

94 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

John  Nutter,  priest,  Tyburn,  Feb.  12  . . . . . .94 

John  Munden,  priest,  Tyburn,  Feb.  12  . . . . .98 

f James  Bell,  priest,  Lancaster,  April  20  . . . . . . 100 

I John  Finch,  layman,  Lancaster,  April  20  .....  loi 

Richard  White,  schoolmaster,  Wrexham,  Oct.  17  . . . . 102 

1585* 

f Thomas  Alfield,  priest,  Tyburn,  July  6 .....  105 

i.  Thomas  Webley,  layman,  Tyburn,  July  6 . . . . .106 

f Hugh  Taylor,  priest,  York,  Nov.  26  . . . . . .106 

I Marmaduke  Bowes,  gentleman,  York,  Nov.  26  ...  . 106 

1586. 

f Edward  Stransham,  priest,  Tyburn,  Jan.  21  . . . . .111 

\ Nicholas  Woodfen,  alias  Wheeler,  priest,  Tyburn,  Jan.  21  . .112 

Margaret  Clithero,  gentlewoman,  York,  March  26  . . . .119 

r Richard  Sergeant,  aZzas  Long,  priest,  Tyburn,  April  20  . . .113 

I William  Thomson,  iz/zas  Blackburn,  priest,  Tyburn,  April  20  . . 113 

r Robert  Anderton,  priest.  Isle  of  Wight,  April  25  . . . .114 

I William  Marsden,  priest.  Isle  of  Wight,  April  25  . . . .114 

Francis  Ingolby,  priest,  York,  June  3 ......  115 

John  Finglow,  or  Fingley,  priest,  York,  Aug.  8 . . . • 115 

John  Sandys,  priest,  Gloucester,  Aug.  ii  . . . . .116 

I John  Lowe,  priest,  Tyburn,  Oct.  8 . . . . . .116 

- John  Adams,  priest,  Tyburn,  Oct.  8 . . . . . .116 

> Richard  Dibdale,  priest,  Tyburn,  Oct  8 . . . . • n? 

Robert  Bickerdike,  gentleman,  York,  Oct.  8 . . . . .120 

Richard  Langley,  gentleman,  York,  Dec.  i . . . . .120 

1587- 

Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  Fotheringay  Castle,  Feb.  8 . . . .121 

Thomas  Pilchard,  priest,  Dorchester,  March  21  . . . .121 

Edm.und  Sykes,  priest,  York,  March  23  . . . . .121 

Robert  Sutton,  priest,  Stafford,  July  27  . . . . .122 

Steven  Rousham,  priest,  Gloucester,  July  . . . . .123 

John  Hambley,  priest.  Chard,  July  20  . . . . . .125 

George  Douglas,  priest,  York,  Sept.  9 . . . . . - 125 

Alexander  Crow,  priest,  York,  Nov.  30  . . . . .125 

1588. 

f Nicholas  Garlick,  priest,  Derby,  July  24  . . . . .129 

- Robert  Ludlam,  priest,  Derby,  July  24  . . . . .131 

I Richard  Sympson,  priest,  Derby,  July  24  .....  132 

'William  Dean,  priest.  Mile’s  End  Green,  Aug.  28  . . . -133 

Henry  Webley,  layman,  Mile’s  End  Green,  Aug.  28  . . *135 

William  Gunter,  priest,  The  Theatre,  Aug.  28  . . . -135 

Robert  Morton,  priest,  Lincoln’s  Inn  Fields,  Aug.  28  . . *135 

Hugh  Moor,  gentleman,  Lincoln’s  Inn  Fields,  Aug.  28  . . .136 

Thomas  Holford,  alias  Acton,  priest,  Clerkenwell,  Aug.  28  . . 136 

j James  Claxton  or  Clarkson,  priest,  near  Hounslow,  Aug.  28  . . 138 

1 Thomas  Felton,  gentleman,  near  Hounslow,  Aug.  28  . . .138 

XX 


CONTENTS 


^ PAGE 

Richard  Leigh,  priest,  Tyburn,  Aug.  30  .....  140 

Edward  Shelley,  gentleman,  Tyburn,  Aug.  30  ...  . 141 

Richard  Martin,  layman,  Tyburn,  Aug.  30  . . ' . . . 141 

Richard  Flower,  layman,  Tyburn,  Aug.  30  . . . . .141 

John  Roch,  layman,  Tyburn,  Aug.  30  . . . . . .141 

Margaret  Ward,  gentlewoman,  Tyburn,  Aug.  30  . . . . 141 

^William  Way,  priest,  Kingston,  Sept.  23  .....  146 

Robert  Wilcox,  priest,  Canterbury,  Sept.  .....  146 

Edward  Campian,  priest,  Canterbury,  Sept.  .....  146 

Christopher  Buxton,  priest,  Canterbury,  Sept.  ....  146 

R.  Widmerpool,  gentleman,  Canterbury,  Sept.  ....  147 

Ralph  Crocket,  priest,  Chichester,  Oct.  i . . . . . 148 

^ Edward  James,  priest,  Chichester,  Oct.  i . . . . .148 

John  Robinson,  priest,  Ipswich,  Oct.  i . . . . .149 

William  Hartley,  priest,  near  The  Theatre,  Oct.  5 . . . .150 

John  [Harrison,  layman],  Oct.  5 . . . . . . . 149 

Richard  Williams,  priest,  Holloway,  Oct.  [really  in  1592]  . . 150 

Robert  Sutton,  schoolmaster,  Clerkenwell,  Oct.  5 . . . .151 

^ John  Hewitt,  priest.  Mile  End  Green,  Oct.  5 [under  the  name  Weldon]  15 1 
Edward  Burden,  priest,  York,  Nov.  29  . . . . . -151 

William  Lampley,  layman,  Gloucester  . . . . . .151 


1589. 

/ John  Amias,  priest,  York,  March  16 
^ Robert  Dalby,  priest,  York,  March  16  . 
r George  Nicols,  priest,  Oxford,  July  5 . 

! Richard  Yaxley,  priest,  Oxford,  July  5 . 

I Thomas  Belson,  gentleman,  Oxford,  July  5 
I Humphrey  Pritchard,  layman,  Oxford,  July  5 
/ William  Spenser,  priest,  York,  Sept.  24 
I Robert  Hardesty,  layman,  York,  Sept.  24 


152 

152 

153 
153 

158 

159 
159 
159 


1590. 

f Christopher  Bayles,  priest.  Fleet  Street,  March  4 . 

I Nicholas  Horner,  layman,  Smithfield,  March  4 
I Alexander  Blake,  layman,  Gray’s  Inn  Lane,  March  4 
/ Miles  Gerard,  priest,  Rochester,  April  30 
I Francis  Diconson,  priest,  Rochester,  April  30 
r Edward  Jones,  priest.  Fleet  Street,  May  6 
I Antony  Middleton,  priest,  Clerkenwell,  May  6 

{Edmund  Duke,  priest,  Durham,  May  27 
Richard  Hill,  priest,  Durham,  May  27  . 

John  Hog,  priest,  Durham,  May  26  . . . 

Richard  Holiday,  priest,  Durham,  May  27 


160 

160 

160 

162 

162 

162 

162 

163 
163 
163 
163 


1591. 

/ Robert  Thorp,  priest,  York,  May  31 
I Thomas  Watkinson,  yeoman,  York,  May  31 
Monford  Scot,  priest.  Fleet  Street,  July  2 
George  Beesley,  priest,  Fleet  Street,  July  2 

XX  i 


165 

166 
166 
166 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

/ Roger  Diconson,  priest,  Winchester,  July  7 . . . . .168 

I Ralph  Milner,  layman,  Winchester,  July  7 . . . . 168,  594 

William  Pikes,  layman,  Dorchester  ......  169 

' Edmund  Genings,  priest,  Gray’s  Inn  Fields,  Dec.  10  . . . 169 

Swithin  Wells,  gentleman,  Gray’s  Inn  Fields,  Dec.  10  . . 179,  591 

Eustachius  White,  priest,  Tyburn,  Dec.  10  . . . . . 182 

Polydore  Plasden,  priest,  Tyburn,  Dec.  10  . . . . . 184 

Brian  Lacy,  gentleman,  Tyburn,  Dec.  10  ....  . 185 

John  Mason,  layman,  Tyburn,  Dec.  10  . . . . .185 

^ Sydney  Hodgson,  layman,  Tyburn,  Dec.  10  . . . . . 185 

Lawrence  Humphreys,  layman,  Winchester  (Appendix)  . . .592 

1592. 

William  Pattenson,  priest,  Tyburn,  Jan.  22  . . . . . 185 

Thomas  Pormort,  priest,  Saint  Paul’s  Churchyard,  Feb.  20  . .186 

Robert  Ashton,  gentleman,  Tyburn,  June  23  . . . . .186 

1593- 

Edward  Waterson,  priest,  Newcastle,  Jan.  7 . . . . .187 

James  Bird,  gentleman,  Winchester,  March  25  . . . .188 

Antony  Page,  priest,  York,  April  20  . . . . . .189 

Joseph  Lampton,  priest,  Newcastle,  July  27  [1592]  . . . .189 

William  Davies,  priest,  Beaumaris,  July  27  . . . . . 190 

1594- 

John  Speed,  layman,  Durham,  Feb.  4 . . . . . . 197 

William  Harrington,  priest,  Tyburn,  Feb.  18  . . . .197 

rjohn  Cornelius,  alias  Mohun,  priest,  S.J.,  Dorchester,  July  4 . . 198 

J Thomas  Bosgrave,  gentleman,  Dorchester,  July  4 . . . .199 

j John  or  Terence  Carey,  layman,  Dorchester,  July  4 . . . 199 

1.  Patrick  Salmon,  layman,  Dorchester,  July  4 .....  199 

^ John  Bost,  priest,  Durham,  July  24  .....  . 202 

I John  Ingram,  priest,  Newcastle,  July  25  .....  204 

' George  Swallowell,  a converted  minister,  Darlington,  July  26  . . 206 

Edward  Osbaldeston,  priest,  York,  Nov.  16  . . . . . 208 


1595- 

Robert  Southwell,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  Feb.  21  . . . .210 

f Alexander  Rawlins,  priest,  York,  April  7 . . . . .217 

I Henry  Walpole,  priest,  S.J.,  York,  April  7 .....  218 

James  Atkinson,  layman  ........  224 

William  Freeman,  priest,  Warwick,  Aug.  13  . . . . . 227 

[Philip  Howard,  Earl  of  Arundel,  Tower,  Oct.  19]  . . . .108 

1596. 

r George  Errington,  gentleman,  York,  Nov.  29  ....  229 

J William  Knight,  yeoman,  York,  Nov.  29  ....  . 229 

j William  Gibson,  yeoman,  York,  Nov.  29  . . . . . 229 

[ Henry  Abbot,  yeoman,  York,  Nov.  29  . . . . . . 229 

xxii 


CONTENTS 


1597. 

r William  Andleby,  priest,  York,  July  4 . 

Thomas  Warcop,  gentleman,  York,  July  4 
[ Edward  Fulthrop,  gentleman,  York,  July  4 


PAGE 

231 

232 
232 


1598. 

John  Britton,  gentleman,  York,  April  i .....  233 

/ Peter  Snow,  priest,  York,  June  15  . . . . . . 233 

I Ralph  Grimston,  gentleman,  York,  June  15  .....  233 

John  Jones,  alias  Buckley,  priest,  O.S.F.,  St.  Thomas’s  Watering, 

July  12 . 234 

Christopher  Robinson,  priest,  Carlisle,  Aug.  19  . . ' . . 235 

Richard  Homer,  priest,  York,  Sept.  4 . . . . . . 236 


1599. 

Matthias  Harrison,  priest,  York  .......  236 

John  Lion,  yeoman,  Oakham,  July  16  . . . . . . 236 

James  Doudal,  merchant,  Exeter,  Aug.  13  . . . . . 236 

1600. 

Christopher  Wharton,  priest,  York,  March  28  ....  237 

John  Rigby,  gentleman,  St.  Thomas’s  Watering  June  21  . .238 

f Thomas  Sprott,  priest,  Lincoln,  July  ......  245 

\ Thomas  Hunt,  priest,  Lincoln,  July  ......  245 

f Robert  Nutter,  priest,  Lancaster,  July  26  ....  . 247 

I Edward  Thwing,  priest,  Lancaster,  July  26  . . . . . 247 

j Thomas  Palasor,  priest,  Durham,  Aug.  9 ....  . 250 

' John  Norton,  gentleman,  Durham,  Aug.  9 . . . . .250 

I John  Talbot,  gentleman,  Durham,  Aug.  9 .....  250 


1601. 

John  Pibush,  priest,  St.  Thomas’s  Watering,  Feb.  18  . . .252 

( Mark  Barkworth,  alias  Lambert,  priest,  O.S.B.,  Tyburn,  Feb.  27  . 253 

- Roger  Filcock,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  Feb.  27  . . . . . 256 

I Ann  Line,  gentlewoman,  Tyburn,  Feb.  27  . . . . .257 

( Thurstan  Hunt,  priest,  Lancaster,  March  .....  259 

\ Robert  Middleton,  priest,  Lancaster,  March  .....  259 

I Nicholas  Tichburn,  gentleman,  Tyburn,  Aug.  24  . . . . 260 

\ Thomas  Hackshot,  layman,  Tyburn,  Aug.  24  ....  260 

1602. 

C James  Harrison,  priest,  York,  March  22  .....  260 

\ Anthony  Battie  or  Bates,  gentleman,  York,  March  22  . . . 261 

James  Duckett,  layman,  Tyburn,  April  19  ....  . 261 

I Thomas  Tichburn,  priest,  Tyburn,  April  20  . . . . . 264 

I Robert  Watkinson,  priest,  Tyburn,  April  20  . . . . , 264 

[ Francis  Page,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  April  20  .....  265 

1603. 

William  Richardson,  alias  Anderson,  priest,  Tyburn,  Feb.  17  . . 269 

xxiii 


CONTENTS 


PART  II 


Containing  an  account  of  those  that  suffered  from  the  year  1603  {the  first  of 
King  James  I.)  to  the  year  1684  {the  last  of  King  Charles  II.). 


1604. 

( John  Sugar,  priest,  Warwick,  July  16  . 

\ Robert  Grissold,  layman,  Warwick,  July  16  . 

Laurence  Baily,  layman,  Lancaster  [Aug.  ?]  . 

1605. 

i Thomas  Welbourn,  layman,  York,  Aug.  i . . . 

i John  Fulthering,  layman,  York,  Aug.  i ... 

William  Brown,  layman,  York,  Sept.  5 . 

1606. 

Nicholas  Owen,  lay-brother,  S.J.,  ? January  . 

( Edward  Oldcorne,  priest,  S.J.,  Worcester,  April  7 . 

[ Edward  Ashley,  lay-brother,  S.J.,  Worcester,  April  7 
Henry  Garnet,  priest,  S.J.,  St.  Paul’s  Churchyard,  May  3 

1607. 

Robert  Drury,  priest,  Tyburn,  Feb.  26  ... 

1608. 

Matthew  (or  Major)  Flathers,  priest,  York,  March  21 
George  Gervase,  priest,  O.S.B.,  Tyburn,  April  ii  . 
Thomas  Garnet,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  June  23 

1610. 

Roger  Cadwallador,  priest,  Leominster,  August  27  . 
George  Nappier,  priest,  Oxford,  Nov.  9.  . . . 

John  Roberts,  priest,  O.S.B.,  Tyburn,  Dec.  10 
Thomas  Somers,  alias  Wilson,  priest,  Tyburn,  Dec.  10  . 

1612. 

j William  Scot,  priest,  O.S.B.,  Tyburn,  May  30 
\ Richard  Newport,  alias  Smith,  priest,  Tyburn,  May  30  . 
John  Almond,  alias  Lathom,  priest,  Tyburn,  Dec.  5 
John  Mawson,  layman,  Tyburn  ... 

1616. 

Thomas  Atkinson,  priest,  York,  March  ii  . 

/John  Thulis,  priest,  Lancaster,  March  18  . . . 

( Roger  Wrenno,  layman,  Lancaster,  March  18 
Thomas  Maxfield,  priest,  Tyburn,  July  i . ‘ . 

Thomas  Tunstal,  alias  Helmes,  priest,  Norwich,  July  13 

xxiv 


PAGE 

275 

277 

280 


280 

280 

280 


289 

289 

289 

282 


291 


294 

294 

296 


299 

307 

317 

321 


323 

328 


329 

338 


339 

342 

343 

344 
353 


CONTENTS 


l6l8.  PAGE 

William  Southerne,  priest,  Newcastle-under-Lyne,  April  30  . . 358 

Sixty  priests  banished . . . . . . . . -359 

Thomas  Dyer,  monk,  O.S.B.  .......  359 

1624. 

William  Bishop,  bishop  of  Chalcedon,  confessor  ....  360 

1628. 

Edmund  Arrowsmith,  priest,  S.J.,  Lancaster,  Aug.  28  . . . 362 

Richard  Herst,  layman,  Lancaster,  Aug.  29  . . . . . 373 

1641. 

William  Ward,  alias  Webster,  priest,  Tyburn,  July  26  . . . 382 

Edward  Barlow,  priest,  O.S.B.,  Lancaster,  Sept.  10  . . . 392 

Seven  priests,  confessors  ........  400 

1642. 

f Thomas  Reynolds,  alias  Green,  priest,  Tyburn,  Jan.  21  . . . 402 

\ Bartholomew  Roe,  priest,  O.S.B.,  Jan.  21  ....  . 4°? 

John  Goodman,  priest,  confessor,  April  8 . . . . *378 

f John  Lockwood,  alias  Lassels,  priest,  York,  April  13  . . .411 

I Edmund  Catherick,  priest,  York,  April  13  . . . • *415 

Edward  Wilks,  alias  Tomson,  priest,  confessor  . . . .416 

Edward  Morgan,  priest,  Tyburn,  April  26  . . . . . 417 

Hugh  Green,  alias  Ferdinand  Brooks,  priest,  Dorchester,  Aug.  12  . 421 

Thomas  Bullaker,  priest,  O.S.F.,  Tyburn,  Oct.  12  . . . . 428 

Thomas  Holland,  priest,  S.J.,  Dec.  12  . . . . . . 435 

1643. 

Henry  Heath,  priest,  O.S.F.,  Tyburn,  April  17  . . . . 439 

Arthur  Bell,  priest,  O.S.F.,  Tyburn,  Dec.  ii  . . . . 448 

1644. 

Boniface  Kempe  and  Ildephonse  Hesketh,  priests,  O.S.B.,  confessors  456 
Robert  Price,  of  Washingley,  gentleman,  killed  in  hatred  of  religion, 

Lincoln,  May  7 ........  . 456 

r John  Duckett,  priest,  Tyburn,  Sept.  7 . . . . . .457 

I Ralph  Corby,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  Sept.  7 . . . . . 461 

1645. 

Henry  Morse,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  Feb.  i . . . . . 467 

Brian  Cansfield,  priest  S.J.,  confessor  ......  472 

George  Muscot,  alias  Fisher,  priest,  confessor  ....  472 


1646. 

Phillip  Powel,  alias  Morgan,  priest,  O.S.B.,  Tyburn,  June  30  . . 474 

Edward  Bamber.  alias  Reding,  priest,  Lancaster,  August  7 . .481 

John  Woodcock,  alias  Faringdon,  priest,  O.S.F.,  Lancaster,  August  7 . 484 

Thomas  Whitaker,  priest,  O.S.F.,  Lancaster,  August  7 . . . 486 

Richard  Bradley  and  John  Felton,  priests,  S.J.,  confessors  . . 489 

Thomas  Vaughan,  priest,  confessor  ......  490 

XXV 


CONTENTS 


1647,  ETC. 

Thomas  Blount,  priest,  confessor 
Robert  Cox,  priest,  O.S.B.,  confessor  , 
Sequestration  of  Catholic  estates  . 


1651. 

Peter  Wright,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  May  19  . 

1654. 

John  Southworth,  priest,  Tyburn,  June  28  . 

1678. 

Oates’s  Plot  .......... 

Edward  Coleman,  gentleman,  Tyburn,  Dec.  3 . . . . 

1679. 

f William  Ireland,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  Jan.  24  .... 

i John  Grove,  layman,  Tyburn,  Jan.  24  . 

Thomas  Pickering,  lay-brother,  O.S.B.,  Tyburn,  May  9 
Lawrence  Hill,  layman,  Tyburn,  Feb.  21 

Robert  Green,  layman,  Tyburn,  Feb.  21  ....  . 

Thomas  Whitebread,  alias  Harcot,  priest,  provincial,  S.J.,  Tyburn, 
June  20  ......... 

William  Harcourt,  alias  Waring,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  June  20  . 

John  Fenwick,  priest,  Tyburn,  June  20  ..... 

John  Gavan  or  Gawan,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  June  20  . . . 

^ Anthony  Turner,  priest,  S.J.,  Tyburn,  June  20  ...  . 

Other  Jesuits  perished  in  prison  ....... 

Richard  Langhorne,  Esq.,  Tyburn,  July  14  . 

William  (or  John)  Plessington,  priest,  Chester,  July  19  . 

j Philip  Evans,  priest,  S.J.,  Cardiff,  July  22  ....  . 

\ John  Lloyd,  priest,  Cardiff,  July  22  .....  . 

Nicholas  Postgate,  priest,  York,  Aug.  7 ..... 

Charles  Mahony,  priest,  O.S.F.,  Ruthin,  Aug.  12  . 

John  Wall,  alias  Francis  Johnson,  priest,  O.S.F.,  Worcester,  Aug.  22 
Francis  Levison,  priest,  O.S.F.,  confessor  ..... 

John  Kemble,  priest,  Hereford,  Aug.  22  ....  . 

Charles  Baker,  alias  David  Lewis,  priest,  S.J.,  Usk,  Aug.  27  . 

William  Lloyd,  priest,  confessor  ....... 

Many  other  priests  sentenced  to  death  for  their  character 

1680. 

Thomas  Thwing,  priest,  York,  Oct.  23  . 

William  Viscount  Stafford,  Tower  Hill,  Dec.  29  . 

1681. 

Oliver  Plunket,  Archbishop  of  Armagh,  Tyburn,  July  i . 

[In  1729]  Matthew  Atkinson,  priest,  O.S.F.,  died  prisoner  in  Hurst 
Castle  .......... 


PAGE 

490 

491 
491 


499 


505 


510 

515 


519 

519 

519 

523 

523 

52s 

525 

52s 

525 

525 

537 

538 
541 

544 

544 

547 

549 

550 

554 

555 
557 
561 
564 


566 

569 


574 


XXVI 


583 


CONTENTS 


APPENDICES 

PAGE 

1.  Letters  by  Mr.  Henry  Holland,  abstracts  [1581-1586]  . . 587 

H.  Lives  of  Swithin  Wells,  Lawrence  Humphreys,  and  Ralph 

Milner,  by  Father  Stanney,  S.J.  .....  591 

HI.  The  Trial  of  Mr.  John  Bost,  M.A.,  by  the  Rev.  Christopher 

Robinson,  extract  ........  597 

IV.  Father  Cornelius  a Lapide,  S.J.,  on  some  English  sufferers  • 601 


The  Names  of  certain  Catholic  Confessors  who  were  not  executed. 

1.  At  the  beginning  of  Elizabeth’s  reign,  as  to  the  names  and 
number  of  other  Catholics,  as  well  of  the  clergy  as  of  the  laity, 
who  under  this  same  reign  were  either  deprived  of  their  livings, 
or  suffered  loss  of  their  estates,  imprisonments,  banishments, 
etc.,  for  their  religion;  it  is  impossible  to  set  them  all  down. 
Dr.  Bridgewater,  in  a table  published  at  the  end  of  ‘ Concertatio 
Ecclesiae  Catholicae,’  gives  us  the  names  of  about  twelve  hundred 
who  had  suffered  in  this  manner  before  the  year  1588;  that  is, 
before  the  greatest  heat  of  the  persecution;  and  yet  declares  that  he 
is  far  from  pretending  to  have  named  all,  but  only  such  whose 
sufferings  had  come  to  his  knowledge.  In  this  list  there  are  three 
archbishops  (taking  in  two  of  Ireland);  bishops  consecrated,  or 
elected,  eighteen;  one  abbot;  four  whole  convents  of  religious; 
thirteen  deans;  fourteen  archdeacons:  sixty  prebendaries:  live 
hundred  and  thirty  priests;  forty-nine  doctors  of  divinity;  eighteen 
doctors  of  the  law;  and  fifteen  masters  of  colleges;  one  queen;  eight 
earls;  ten  lords;  twenty-six  knights;  three  hundred  and  twenty-six 
gentlemen;  and  about  sixty  ladies  and  gentlewomen.  Many  of  these 
died  in  prison;  and  several  under  the  sentence  of  death. 

2.  Confessors  of  various  classes,  most  of  whom  were  not  priests, 
and  who  were  not  executed,  but  whose  sufferings  are  briefly  touched 
on  in  the  first  part  of  our  Memoirs. 

Ailworth  [Aylward],  an  Irish  gentleman,  perishes  in  prison. 

Arundel,  Sir  John,  is  cast  into  prison. 

Arundel,  Philip,  Earl  of,  died  in  prison  under  sentence  of  death. 

Barnes,  Mr.,  is  condemned  to  die. 

Bennet,  John,  priest,  is  imprisoned  and  tortured,  and  at  last  sent  into 
banishment. 

Bishop,  William,  priest,  is  imprisoned  and  banished,  but  afterwards 
became  Bishop  of  Chalcedon. 

Canfield,  Bennet,  capuchin,  imprisoned,  afterwards  banished. 

xxvii 


CONTENTS 


Catholics,  prisoners  in  York  Castle,  dragged  to  Protestant  sermons. 
Chaplain,  William,  priest,  dies  in  prison. 

Clifton,  Thomas,  priest,  is  condemned  to  perpetual  imprisonment. 
Cooper,  John,  perishes  through  cruel  treatment  in  the  Tower. 

Colins,  John,  bookseller,  condemned  to  die. 

Cornish  gentlemen  cast  into  a premunire. 

Dymock,  Robert,  Esq.,  champion  of  England,  perishes  in  prison 
[Sept.  II,  1580]. 

Feckenham,  Abbot  of  Westminster,  dies  in  prison. 

Fenn,  Robert,  priest,  suffers  prisons,  racks,  and  banishment  for  his 
faith. 

Holmes,  Robert,  priest,  perishes  in  prison. 

Hunt,  Eleanore,  is  sentenced  to  die  for  harbouring  a priest. 

Jenks,  Roland,  is  condemned  to  lose  his  ears. 

Jetter,  John,  priest,  dies  in  prison. 

Lancashire  gentlemen  imprisoned  for  religion. 

Lomax,  James,  priest,  perishes  in  prison. 

Maskew,  Bridget,  is  condemned  to  be  burnt. 

Mettham,  Thomas,  priest,  S.J.,  dies  in  prison. 

Norton,  Mrs.,  is  sentenced  to  death  for  relieving  a priest. 

Orton,  Mr.,  is  condemned  with  Father  Campion,  afterwards 
banished. 

Pounds,  Thomas,  Esq.,  a great  sufferer  for  Catholic  religion. 

Pole,  Edward,  priest,  dies  in  prison. 

Priests,  seventy,  banished  in  1585. 

more  banished  in  1603. 

thirty  committed  prisoners  to  Wisbeach  Castle. 

Pugh,  John,  is  condemned  to  die  for  his  religion. 

Pugh,  Henry,  gentleman,  is  cruelly  tortured. 

Rishton,  Edward,  priest,  is  condemned  with  Father  Campion. 

Shelley,  Esq.,  dies  in  the  Marshalsea. 

Steile,  James,  priest,  is  banished  and  cruelly  treated. 

Tesse,  Ann,  is  condemned  to  be  burnt,  for  persuading  a minister  to 
become  a Catholic. 

Thimbleby,  Gabriel,  gentleman,  dies  in  prison. 

Tregian,  Francis,  Esq.,  is  stripped  of  a plentiful  estate,  and  condemned 
to  perpetual  imprisonment. 

Typpet,  Mark,  afterwards  a Carthusian,  is  whipped  through  the  city 
of  London,  and  has  his  ears  bored  through  with  a hot  iron. 

Vaux,  Lawrence,  warden  of  Manchester,  dies  in  prison. 

Watson,  Christopher,  with  twenty  other  Catholics,  perishes  in  York 
gaol. 

Watson,  Richard,  priest,  is  cruelly  treated  in  Bridewell. 

escapes  by  the  help  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Ward. 

Wells,  Mrs.,  dies  under  sentence  of  death  in  prison. 

Williamson,  Thomas,  priest,  is  condemned  to  prison  for  life. 

Wiseman,  Mrs.,  is  condemned  to  die. 

Yates,  Edward,  Esq.,  with  six  other  Catholic  gentlemen,  is  taken 
with  Father  Campion,  and  cast  into  prison 


xvm 


PART  I 

1577-1603 


MEMOIRS 

MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 

PART  I,  1577-1603. 

[ 1577-  ] 

CUTHBERT  xMAINE,  Priest* 

CUTHBERT  MAINE  was  the  first  missionary  priest  that 
suffered  in  England  for  religious  matters,  and  the  proto- 
Martyr  of  Doway  College  and  all  the  Seminaries.  I have  a 
short  Account  of  his  Life  and  Death  in  English,  published  in  1582; 
I have  also  a more  ample  Account  of  him  in  a Latin  Manuscript  of 
Doway  College,  I shall  present  the  Reader  with  an  Abstract  of  the 
former,  in  the  very  Words  of  the  Author,  who  was  an  intimate 
Friend  of  Mr.  Maine,  choosing  rather  to  offend  the  Ears  with  the 
old  Language  of  the  Writer  than,  by  new-modelling  the  Narration, 
to  lessen  its  Authority,  or  spoil  its  amiable  Simplicity.  I shall  here 
and  there  add  some  Things  out  of  the  Latin  manuscript,  which,  for 
Distinction  sake,  I shall  enclose  within  these  marks  []. 

‘ Cuthbert  Maine  was  born  in  Barnstaple,  [or  rather  in  the  Parish 
of  Yalston,  three  Miles  from  Barnstaple^  in  Devonshire.  He  had  an 
old  Schismatical  Priest  to  his  Uncle,  that  was  well  beneficed;  who, 
being  very  desirous  to  leave  his  Benefice  to  this  his  Nephew,  brought 
him  up  at  School,  and,  when  he  was  Eighteen  or  Nineteen  Years 
old,  got  him  to  be  made  Minister:  At  which  time  (as  Mr.  Maine 
himself,  with  great  Sorrow  and  deep  Sighs,  did  often  tell  me)  he 
knew  neither  what  Ministry  nor  Religion  meant.  Being  sent  after- 
wards to  Oxford,  he  heard  his  Course  of  Logic  in  Alborn-Hall,  and 
there  proceeded  Bachelor  of  Arts. 

* Bd.  Cuthbert  Mayne. — See  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. ; Allen’s  Brief e 
Historie;  Morris,  Troubles  I. 


A 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i577 


‘ At  that  Time,  St.  John's  College  wanted  some  good  Fellow  to 
play  his  Part  at  the  Communion  Table;  to  play  which  part  Mr. 
Maine  was  invited  and  hired.  In  which  college  and  function  he 
lived  many  years,  being  of  so  mild  a nature,  and  of  such  sweet 
behaviour,  that  the  Protestants  did  greatly  love  him,  and  the  Catholics 
did  greatly  pity  him;  insomuch  that  some  dealing  with  him,  and 
advertising  him  of  the  evil  state  he  stood  in,  he  was  easily  per- 
suaded that  [the  new]  doctrine  was  heretical,  and,  withal,  was 
brought  to  lament  and  deplore  his  own  miserable  state  and  con- 
dition. And  so  being  in  heart  and  mind  a persuaded  Catholic,  he 
[unhappily,  nevertheless,]  continued  yet  in  the  same  college  for  some 
years,  and  there  proceeded  Master  of  Arts. 

‘ Some  of  his  familiar  friends,  [particularly  Mr.  Gregory  Martin 
and  Mr.  Edmund  Campion^  being  already  beyond  the  seas  for  their 
conscience,  did  often  solicit  him  by  letters  to  leave  that  function  of 
the  ministry,  and  invited  him  to  come  to  Doway.  One  of  these 
letters,  by  chance,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  who 
despatched  a pursuivant  straight  to  Oxford  for  Mr.  Maine  and  some 
others.  The  rest  appeared  and  were  sent  to  prison;  but  by  chance 
Mr.  Maine  was  then  in  his  country,  and  being  advertised  by  his 
countryman  and  friend,  Mr.  Ford  (then  Fellow  of  Trinity  College^ 
in  Oxford^  and  of  late  martyred),  that  there  was  process  out  for  him, 
he  took  shipping  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  and  so  went  to  Doway, 
when  the  Seminary  there  was  but  newly  erected. 

‘ Here,  [being  taken  into  the  Church,]  falling  to  divinity,  and 
keeping  the  private  exercises  within  the  house  diligently,  and  doing 
the  public  exercises  in  the  schools  with  commendation,  after  some 
years  he  proceeded  Bachelor  of  Divinity,  and  was  made  priest.  And 
desirous  partly  to  honour  God  in  this  sacred  order,  and  to  satisfy 
for  that  he  had  dishonoured  Him  by  taking  the  sacrilegious  title  of 
ministry,  partly  inflamed  with  zeal  to  save  souls,  he  returned  to 
England,  [being  sent  by  Dr.  Allen,  afterwards  Cardinal,  first  Presi- 
dent of  Doway  College,^  together  with  ^Ir.John  Paine,  who  w^s,  since 
martyred,  [where  he  arrived  safely,]  anno  1576.  Mr.  Maine  placed 
himself  in  his  own  country  with  a Catholic  and  virtuous  gentleman, 
Mr.  Tregian,  [of  Volveden,  or  Golden,  five  miles  from  Truro,  in 
Cornwall,  passing  in  the  neighbourhood  for  his  steward.] 

‘ In  the  year  1577,  in  the  month  of  June,  the  Bishop  of  Exeter, 
being  in  his  visitation  at  Truro,  was  requested  by  [Mr.  Greenfield^ 
the  Sheriff  of  the  county,  and  other  busy  men,  to  aid  and  assist  them 
to  search  Mr.  Tregian's  house,  where  Mr.  Maine  did  lie.  After 
some  deliberation,  it  was  concluded  that  the  Sheriff  and  the  Bishop’s 

2 


1577] 


CUTHBERT  MAINE 


Chancellor,  with  divers  gentlemen  and  their  servants,  should  take 
the  matter  in  hand.  As  soon  as  they  came  to  Mr.  Tregian's  house, 
the  Sheriff  first  spoke  to  him,  saying  that  he  and  his  company  were 
come  to  search  for  one  Mr.  Bourne^  who  had  committed  a fault  in 
London,  and  so  ffed  into  Cornwall,  and  was  in  his  house,  as  he  was 
informed.  Mr.  Tregian  answering  that  he  was  not  there,  and  swear- 
ing by  his  faith  that  he  did  not  know  where  he  was ; further  telling 
him  that  to  have  his  house  searched  he  thought  it  great  discourtesy, 
for  that  he  was  a gentleman,  and  that  they  had  no  commission  from 
the  Queen.  The  Sheriff  being  bold,  for  that  he  had  a great  company 
with  him,  swore  by  all  the  oaths  that  he  could  devise,  that  he 
would  search  his  house,  or  else  he  would  kill  or  be  killed,  holding 
his  hand  upon  his  dagger  as  if  he  would  have  stabbed  it  into  the 
gentleman. 

‘ This  violence  being  used,  he  had  leave  to  search  the  house. 
The  first  place  they  went  to  was  Mr.  Maine's  chamber,  which  being 
fast  shut,  they  bounced  and  beat  at  the  door.  Mr.  Maine  came  and 
opened  it  (being  before  in  the  garden,  where  he  might  have  gone 
from  them).  As  soon  as  the  Sheriff  came  into  the  chamber,  he 
took  Mr.  Maine  by  the  bosom,  and  said  to  him.  What  art  thou  ? 
He  answered,  I am  a man.  Whereat  the  Sheriff,  being  very  hot, 
asked  if  he  had  a coat  of  mail  under  his  doublet,  and  so  unbuttoned 
it,  and  found  an  Agnus  Dei  case  about  his  neck,  which  he  took  from 
him,  and  called  him  traitor  and  rebel,  with  many  other  opprobrious 
names. 

‘ They  carried  him,  his  books,  papers  and  letters,  to  the  Bishop, 
who,  when  he  had  talked  with  him,  and  examined  him  about  his 
religion,  confessed  that  he  was  learned,  and  had  gathered  very  good 
notes  in  his  books,  but  no  favour  he  showed  him.  Thence  the 
Sheriff  carried  him  from  one  gentleman’s  house  to  another,  till  he 
came  to  Launceston,  where  he  was  cruelly  imprisoned,  being  chained 
to  his  bed-posts  with  a pair  of  great  gyves  about  his  legs,  and  strict 
commandment  given  that  no  man  should  repair  unto  him. 

‘ Thus  he  remained  in  prison  from  June  to  Michaelmas,  at  which 
time  the  judges  came  their  circuit.  The  Earl  of  Bedford  was  also 
present  at  Mr.  arraignment,  and  did  deal  most  in  the  matter.’ 

[Several  heads  of  accusation  were  exhibited  against  him  at  the 
trial,  as — 

1st,  That  he  had  obtained  from  Rome  a bull,  containing  matter 
of  absolution  of  the  Queen’s  subjects.  This  was  no  other  than  a 
printed  copy  of  the  bull  of  the  jubilee  of  the  foregoing  year,  which 
they  had  found  amongst  his  papers. 

3 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1577 

2dly,  That  he  had  published  this  bull  at  Golden,  in  the  house 
of  Mr.  Tregian. 

3dly,  That  he  had  maintained  the  usurped  power  of  the  Bishop 
of  Rome,  and  denied  the  Queen’s  supremacy. 

4thly,  That  he  had  brought  into  the  kingdom  an  Agnus  Dei, 
and  delivered  it  to  Mr.  Tregian. 

5thly,  That  he  had  said  Mass  in  Mr.  Tregia'tds  house. 

There  were  no  sufficient  proofs  of  any  of  these  heads  of  the 
indictment.  And  as  to  the  bull,  it  being  only  a printed  copy  of 
the  grant  of  the  jubilee  of  the  past  year,  now  of  no  force,  and  noways 
procured  from  Rome  by  Mr.  Maine,  but  bought  at  a bookseller’s 
shop  at  Dozvay,  out  of  curiosity  to  see  the  form  of  it,  it  was  very 
certain  that  the  case  was  quite  foreign,  both  to  the  intent  and  to  the 
W'ords  of  the  statute.  Yet  Judge  Manhood,  who  behaved  himself 
very  partially  in  the  wffiole  trial,  directed  the  jury  to  bring  him  in 
guilty  of  the  indictment,  alleging,  that  where  plain  proofs  were  want- 
ing, strong  presumptions  ought  to  take  their  place  ; of  which,  according 
to  his  logic,  they  had  a good  store  in  the  cause  in  hand,  knowing  the 
prisoner  to  be  a Popish  priest,  and  an  enemy  of  the  Queen’s  religion.] 

‘ The  jury  that  went  upon  him  were  chosen  m.en  for  the  purpose, 
and  thought  him  worthy  of  death,  whether  there  came  any  proof 
against  him  or  no,  because  he  was  a Catholic  priest;  such  is  their 
evangelical  conscience.  After  the  twelve  had  given  their  verdict, 
guilty,  [Judge  Manhood  gave  sentence  on  him,  in  the  usual  form, 
as  in  cases  of  high  treason ; which  Mr.  Maine  heard  with  a calm  and 
cheerful  countenance,  and  lifting  up  his  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven, 
answered,  Deo  gr alias  (Thanks  be  to  God).  He  was  to  have  been 
executed  within  fifteen  days,  but  his  execution  was  deferred  until 
St.  Afidrew's  Day;  upon  what  occasion  I know  not,  says  my  author; 
but  the  Latm  manuscript  says  the  occasion  was,  that  Jeffrey's, 

being  dissatisfied  with  the  proceedings  of  his  colleague,  and  the 
Privy  Council,  informed  of  all  that  had  passed,  they  thought  proper 
to  have  all  the  judges  meet  upon  the  matter;  that,  accordingly,  they 
met,  but  disagreed  in  their  sentiments,  several  of  the  older  and  wiser 
of  them  being  of  Judge  Jeffrey's  opinion.  However,  such  was  the 
iniquity  of  the  times,  that  the  Council  concluded  that  the  prisoner 
should  be  executed  for  a terror  to  the  Papists.  My  author  says,  the 
Sheriff,  who  went  to  court,  and  was  there  made  knight  for  his  late 
service  in  this  cause,  was  the  man  that  procured  the  death  warrant 
to  be  signed  for  Mr.  Maine's  execution,  which  he  sent  into  the 
country  to  the  justices  there.] 

‘ Three  days  before  he  was  put  to  death,  there  came  a serving- 

4 


1577] 


CUTHBERT  MAINE 


man  unto  him,  and  willed  him  to  prepare  for  death;  for,  saith  he, 
you  are  to  he  executed  within  these  three  days  at  the  farthest.  Which 
kind  admonition  Mr.  Maine  took  very  thankfully,  and  said  to  the 
serving- man,  that  if  he  had  anything  to  give,  he  would  rather  bestow 
it  upon  him  than  on  any  other;  for  he  had  done  more  for  him  than  ever 
any  man  did.  After  that  advertisement,  he  gave  himself  earnestly 
to  prayer  and  contemplation  until  his  death.  The  second  night 
after  he  gave  himself  to  these  spiritual  exercises,  there  was  seen  a 
great  light  in  his  chamber,  between  twelve  and  one  of  the  clock, 
insomuch  that  some  of  the  prisoners  that  lay  in  the  next  rooms  called 
unto  him  to  know  what  it  was  (for  they  knew  very  well  that  he  had 
neither  fire  nor  candle).  He  answered,  desiring  them  to  be  quiet, 
for  it  did  nothing  appertain  unto  them. 

‘ On  the  day  of  his  execution  many  justices  and  gentlemen  came 
to  see  him,  and  brought  with  them  two  ministers,  who  did  dispute 
with  him,  whom  he  confuted  in  every  point;  but  the  justices  and 
gentlemen,  who  were  blind  judges,  would  hear  nothing  of  that,  but 
they  affirmed  that  the  ministers  were  much  better  learned  than  he ; 
although  they  confess  he  died  very  stoutly,  whereat  they  did  much 
marvel,  telling  the  ignorant  people  that  he  could  avouch  no  Scripture 
for  his  opinion,  which  was  most  untrue;  for  I know  by  the  report  of 
honest  menthatwerepresentthathedid  confirm  everypoint  in  question 
with  testimonies  of  Scriptures  and  Fathers,  and  that  abundantly.’ 

[It  was  upon  this  occasion  (according  to  the  Latm  manuscript) 
that  his  life  was  offered  him  if  he  would  renounce  his  religion; 
which,  when  he  refused  to  do,  they  pressed  him,  at  least,  to  swear 
upon  the  Bible  that  the  Queen  was  the  supreme  head  of  the  Church 
of  England,  assuring  him  of  his  life  if  he  would  do  this;  but  if  he 
refused  it,  he  must  then  be  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered,  according 
to  sentence.  Upon  this]  ‘ he  took  the  Bible  into  his  hands,  made 
the  sign  of  the  cross  upon  it,  kissed  it,  and  said.  The  Queen  neither 
ever  was,  nor  is,  nor  ever  shall  he,  the  head  of  the  Church  of  England. 

‘ He  was  to  be  drawn  a quarter  of  a mile  to  the  place  of  execution, 
and  when  he  was  to  be  laid  on  the  sledge,  some  of  the  justices  moved 
the  Sheriff’s  deputy  that  he  would  cause  him  to  have  his  head  laid 
over  the  car,  that  it  might  be  dashed  against  the  stones  in  drawing; 
and  Mr.  Maine  offered  himself  that  it  might  be  so,  but  the  Sheriff’s 
deputy  would  not  suffer  it. 

‘ When  he  came  to  the  place  of  execution,  [which  was  the 
market-place  of  the  town,  where  they  had  on  purpose  erected  a 
gibbet  of  unusual  height,  being  taken  off  the  sledge,]  he  kneeled 
down  and  prayed.  When  he  was  on  the  ladder,  and  the  rope  about 

5 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i577 


his  neck,  he  would  have  spoken  to  the  people,  but  the  justices  would 
not  suffer  him,  but  bid  him  say  his  prayers,  which  he  did  very 
devoutly.  And  as  the  hangman  was  about  to  turn  the  ladder,  one 
of  the  justices  spoke  to  him  in  this  manner: — Ncw^  villain  and 
traitor,  thou  knowest  that  thou  shalt  die,  and  therefore  tell  us  whether 
Mr.  Tregian  and  Sir  John  Arundel  did  know  of  these  things  which 
thou  art  condemned  for,  and  also  what  thou  dost  know  hy  them?  Mr. 
Maine  answered  him  very  mildly,  I know  nothing  of  Mr.  Tregian 
and  Sir  John  Arundel  hut  that  they  are  good  and  godly  gentlemen; 
and  as  for  the  things  I am  co7idemned  for , they  were  only  known  to  rne, 
and  to  no  other.  Then  he  was  cast  off  the  ladder,  saying.  In  maniis 
tuas,  &c.,  and  knocking  his  breast. 

‘ Some  of  the  gentlemen  would  have  had  him  cut  down  straight- 
way, that  they  might  have  had  him  quartered  alive;  but  the  Sheriff’s 
deputy  would  not,  but  let  him  hang  till  he  was  dead.’  [The  Latin 
manuscript  says,  he  was,  indeed,  cut  down  alive,  but  falling  from 
the  beam,  which  was  of  an  unusual  height,  with  his  head  upon  the 
side  of  the  scaffold,  on  which  he  was  to  be  quartered,  he  was  by 
that  means  almost  quite  killed,  and  therefore  but  little  sensible  of 
the  ensuing  butchery.  His  quarters  were  disposed  of,  one  to 
Bodmin,  one  to  Tregony,  one  to  Barnstaple,  and  the  fourth  to  remain 
at  Launceston  Castle:  his  head  was  set  upon  a pole  at  Wadehridge, 
a noted  highway.  The  hangman  who  embrued  his  hands  in  his 
innocent  blood  in  less  than  a month’s  time  became  mad,  and  soon 
after  miserably  expired.  And  it  is  particularly  remarked,  that  not 
one  of  those  whom  Mr.  Maine  reconciled  to  the  Church  could  ever 
be  induced  to  renounce  the  Catholic  truth,  which  they  had  learned 
from  so  good  a master.  Mr.  Tregian,  the  gentleman  who  had  enter- 
tained him,  lost  his  estate,  which  was  very  considerable,  for  his 
religion,  and  was  condemned  to  perpetual  imprisonment;  and 
several  of  his  neighbours  and  servants  were  cast  in  a premunire  as 
abettors  and  accomplices  of  Mr.  Maine:  Sir  John  Arundel  was  also 
persecuted  and  cast  into  prison  upon  this  occasion.] 

Mr.  Maine  suffered  at  Launceston,  in  Cornwall,  November  29, 
1577,  of  whom  thus  writes  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Chronicle  of  this  year — 
‘ Cuthhert  Maine  was  drawn,  hanged  and  quartered  at  Launceston, 
in  Cornwall,  for  preferring  Roman  power.’ 

The  persons  that  were  condemned  with  Mr.  Maine,  and  cast 
in  a premunire,  were  Richard  Tremayne,  gent.;  John  Kemp,  gent.; 
Richard  Hoar,  gent.;  Thomas  Hands,  gent.;  John  Williams,  M.A.; 
John  Philips,  yeoman ; John  Hodges,  yeoman ; and  James  Humphreys, 
veoman ; all  neighbours  or  servants  to  Mr.  Tregian. 

6 


578] 


JOHN  NELSON 


[ 1578.  ] 

JOHN  NELSON,  Priest  * 

JOHN  NELSON  was  the  son  of  Sir  N.  Nelson,  Knight,  and 
was  born  at  Shelton,  near  York.  Being  come  to  near  forty 
years  of  age,  and  hearing  of  the  College  lately  established  at 
Doway,  in  Flanders,  he  went  over  thither  in  the  year  1574,  in 
order  to  qualify  himself  there,  by  virtue  and  learning,  for  the  priestly 
ministry,  by  which  he  might  be  of  service  to  his  native  country,  in 
reclaiming  sinners  from  the  errors  of  their  ways.  Accordingly, 
being  judged  by  his  superiors  duly  qualified,  he  was  by  them  pre- 
sented to  holy  orders,  and  was  ordained  priest  at  Bynche,  by  the 
Archbishop  of  Camhray,  in  June  1576,  at  the  same  time  with 
Messieurs  John  Colington,  Jonas  Meredith,  Roger  Wakeman,  and 
Richard  Chapman;  and  he  was  sent  upon  the  E^iglish  mission  the 
7th  of  November  the  same  year. 

‘ Mr.  Nelson^  was  taken  in  London  upon  the  ist  of  December 
1577,  the  evening,  as  he  was  saying  the  matins  for  the  next 

day  following,  and  was  presently  sent  to  prison  upon  suspicion  of 
Papistry,  as  they  term  the  Catholic  faith;  and,  after  five  or  six  days, 
he  was  brought  forth  to  be  examined  before  the  High  Commissioners. 
Here  they  tendered  him  the  oath  of  the  Queen’s  supremacy,  which 
he  refused  to  take;  and  being  asked  why  he  would  not  swear,  he 
answered.  Because  he  had  never  heard  or  read  that  any  lay  prince 
could  have  that  pre-eminence.  And  being  further  demanded.  Who 
then  was  the  head  of  the  Church  ? he  answered,  sincerely  and  boldly. 
That  the  Pope's  holmess  was,  to  whom  that  supreme  authority  in  earth 
was  due,  as  being  Christ's  vicar,  and  the  lawful  successor  of  St.  Peter. 

‘ Secondly,  They  asked  him  his  opinion  of  the  religion  now 
practised  in  England;  to  which  he  answered,  wfithout  any  hesitation. 
That  it  was  both  schismatical  and  heretical.  Whereupon  they  bid 
him  define  what  schism  was.  He  told  them.  It  was  a voluntary 
departure  from  the  unity  of  the  Catholic  Roman  faith.  Then  (seeking 

* Bd.  John  Nelson. — From  Allen’s  Brief e Historie;  and  from  an  old 
Latin  Manuscript  of  Douay  College;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

t Bishop  Yepez,  in  his  History  of  the  English  Persecution,  1.  ii.  c.  63, 
relates,  that  the  devil,  whom  Mr.  Nelson  had  forced  out  of  the  body  of  a 
possessed  person  a few  days  before,  had  threatened  him  that  he  would  have 
him  taken  up  in  a week,  and  that  it  should  cost  him  his  life. 

7 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1578 


to  ensnare  him)  they  further  urged,  What  is  the  Queen  then,  a 
schismatic  or  no  ? He  answered.  He  could  not  tell,  because  he  knew 
not  her  mind  in  setting  forth  or  maintaining  of  the  religion  now  publicly 
used  in  England.  The  Commissioners  replied  that  the  Queen  did 
both  promulgate  it  and  maintain  it,  and  pressed  him  to  tell  them, 
if  she  did  so,  whether  then  she  were  a schismatic  and  a heretic  or  no. 
Mr.  Nelson  paused  awTile,  as  being  unwilling  to  exasperate  his  prince, 
if  he  might  have  chosen,  but  yet  more  unwilling  to  offend  God  and 
his  own  conscience,  and  to  give  the  scandal  to  the  world;  then  he 
answered,  conditionally.  If  she  be  the  setter  foi'th,  said  he,  and  defender 
of  this  religion^  now  practised  in  England ^ then  she  is  a schismatic  and  a 
heretic.  Which  answer,  when  they  had  extorted  out  of  him,  they 
said,  he  had  spoken  enough,  they  sought  no  more  at  his  hands. 

‘ So  he  was  sent  back  to  prison,  and  about  seven  weeks  after  was 
brought  forth  to  his  trial,  where  the  same  questions  being  again 
proposed  to  him,  and  he  answering  still  the  self-same  to  every 
question  as  he  had  done  before,  sentence  of  death  was  pronounced 
against  him,  as  against  one  guilty  of  treason,  February  the  ist, 
1577-78.  When  the  sentence  was  pronounced  against  him,  he 
never  changed  his  countenance,  nor  did  there  ever  appear  in  him 
any  sign  of  a troubled  mind,  but  he  took  his  condemnation  very 
meekly,  and  prepared  himself  with  a good  courage  for  death.  The 
jailor’s  wife,  moved  with  compassion,  offered  him  wine,  thereby, 
as  she  thought,  to  assuage  the  heaviness  of  his  mind.  But  he  would 
not  taste  it,  saying.  That  he  rather  desired  a cup  of  cold  water,  as 
more  meet  for  him.  And  from  the  very  hour  the  sentence  was  pro- 
nounced against  him  till  the  hour  of  his  death,  he  took  no  other 
food  but  bread  and  small-beer. 

‘ He  was  so  delighted  with  prayer  and  secret  meditation,  that 
he  would  not  hear  of  any  other  things  willingly,  especially  if  they 
were  worldly  matters.  A friend  of  his  advised  him  to  read  and 
meditate  upon  the  lives  and  deaths  of  the  martyrs.  Though  he  dis- 
liked not  the  counsel,  yet  he  answered.  That  {by  God's  mercy)  he  had 
enough  to  occupy  his  mind  withal,  and  to  meditate  upon  full  well. 
And  being  put  in  mind,  by  the  same  friend,  with  what  alacrity  and 
joy  of  mind  many  thousand  martyrs  had  suffered  the  most  exquisite 
torments  for  Christ’s  sake,  and  that  they  never  complained  nor 
shrunk  thereat;  he  answered.  That  this  same  thought  came  often  to 
his  mind,  and  afforded  him  such  comfort,  that  he  no  ways  doubted  but 
that  he  should  find  and  feel  the  {like)  grace  of  God's  consolation  in  the 
midst  of  his  agony.  And  surely  this  courage  and  willingness  to  die 
came  from  this:  that  on  the  Thursday  before  his  arraignment  and 

8 


JOHN  NELSON 


1578] 

death,  he  had  cleansed  his  conscience  by  Confession,  and  had 
fortified  himself  by  receiving  the  Blessed  Sacrament  of  the  altar. 
For  a priest  coming  to  visit  him,  with  others  in  company,  desirous 
to  communicate  at  Mr.  Nelson's  hands,  wishing  it  might  be  upon 
Candlemas  Day,  because  of  the  solemnity  of  the  feast;  after  they 
had  considered  of  the  matter,  they  saw  it  was  no  fit  day,  because 
such  festivals  are  more  subject  to  suspicion,  and  therefore  they 
concluded  to  defer  it  till  the  day  after  Candlemas  Day;  but  Mr. 
Nelson  wished  rather  to  prevent  the  feast,  and  to  communicate  upon 
the  Thursday  before;  which  was  done,  though  (at  that  time)  neither 
he  nor  any  of  his  friends  suspected  that  he  should  so  shortly  come 
to  his  martyrdom.  When,  behold  ! the  very  next  day  after,  word 
was  brought  him  that  he  was  to  be  arraigned  on  the  morrow,  and 
should  be  undoubtedly  condemned  if  he  did  not  revoke  his  former 
words:  and  so  it  fell  out  indeed,  as  you  have  heard.  [So  that  it 
was  God’s  special  providence  that  he  pitched  upon  the  Thursday 
before  the  feast ; for  otherwise  he  must  have  died  without  the  sacred 
Viaticum.] 

‘ Upon  Monday,  the  3d  of  February,  being  the  day  of  his  martyr- 
dom, he  came  very  early,  before  day,  up  to  the  higher  part  of  the 
prison,  whereas  from  Saturday  till  then  he  had  been  kept  in  a low 
dungeon.  Two  of  his  nearest  kinsmen  coming  to  him,  found  him 
earnest  at  his  prayers,  with  his  hands  joined  together  and  lifted  up, 
insomuch  that  the  other  prisoners  there  present  did  both  mark  it, 
and  wonder  at  it  much.  When  they  had  talked  awhile  together, 
and  he  saw  them  so  full  of  sorrow  that  they  had  much  ado  to  abstain 
from  weeping,  yet  for  all  that  he  was  nothing  moved  himself,  neither 
gave  any  sign  or  appearance  of  sorrow,  neither  in  voice  or  counten- 
ance, but  rebuked  them,  saying.  That  he  looked  for  some  comfort  and 
consolation  of  them  in  that  case,  and  not  by  their  tears  to  be  occasioned 
to  grieve ; willing  them  further  to  lament  and  weep  for  their  own  sins, 
and  not  for  him,  for  he  had  a sure  confidence  that  all  should  go  well 
with  him. 

‘ When  his  kinsmen  took  their  last  farewell  of  him,  they  fell  into 
such  immoderate  tears  and  lamentations  that  he  was  somewhat  moved 
therewith,  but  stayed  and  repressed  nature  by-and-by,  and  so  dis- 
missed them : and  they  were  no  sooner  gone  but  two  Ministers  came 
in,  seeking  to  remove  him  from  his  faith,  but  in  vain;  for  he  utterly 
refused  to  have  any  talk  with  them,  desiring  them  to  let  him  be  in 
quiet,  and  so  they  did,  and  departed  from  him. 

‘ When  he  was  brought  forth  of  the  prison,  and  laid  upon  the 
hurdle,  some  of  the  officers  exhorted  him  to  ask  the  Queen’s  Majesty, 

9 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1578 


whom  he  had  highly  offended,  forgiveness.  He  answered,  I ucill 
ask  her  no  pardon,  for  I riever  offended  her.  At  which  words  the 
people  that  stood  about  him  raged,  saying.  Then  he  should  be  hanged 
like  a traitor  as  he  was.  Well,  said  he,  God's  will  he  done.  I per- 
ceive that  I must  die,  and  surely  I am  ready  to  die  with  a good  will; 
for  better  is  it  to  abide  all  punishment , be  it  ever  so  grievous,  here,  than 
to  suffer  the  eternal  torments  of  hell  fire. 

‘ Being  come  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  put  into  the  cart, 
the  first  wmds  he  spoke  were.  In  manus  tuas  Domine,  &c.  Then  he 
besought  such  of  the  standers-by  as  were  Catholics  to  pray  with  him 
and  for  him,  saying,  either  in  Latin  or  in  English,  the  Pater,  Ave,  and 
Creed,  which  he  himself  said  in  Latin,  adding  thereto  the  Cofifiteor 
and  the  psalms  Miserere  and  De  profundis;  which  being  finished, 
turning  himself  round  about  to  all  the  people,  he  spoke  to  them 
in  this  sort,  / call  you  all  this  day  to  witness,  that  I die  in  the  unity 
of  the  Catholic  Church;  and  for  that  unity  do  now  most  willhigly  suffer 
my  blood  to  be  shed:  and  therefore  I beseech  God,  and  request  you  all 
to  pray  for  the  same,  that  it  would  please  God,  of  His  great  mercy,  to 
make  you,  and  all  others  that  are  not  such  already,  true  Catholic  men, 
and  both  to  live  and  die  in  the  unity  of  our  holy  mother  the  Catholic 
Roman  Church.  At  which  words  the  people  cried  out.  Away  with 
thee  and  thy  Catholic  Romish  faith;  but  this  notwithstanding,  he 
repeated  the  same  prayer  again. 

‘ Then  he  requested  to  be  forgiven  of  all  men,  as  well  absent  as 
present,  if  he  had  offended  any;  protesting  that  he  forgave  all  his 
enemies  and  persecutors,  desiring  God  also  to  forgive  them.  Here 
again  he  was  willed  to  ask  the  Queen  forgiveness,  which  he  refused 
to  do  for  awhile;  at  last  he  said.  If  I have  offe7ided  her  or  any  else,  I 
ask  her  and  all  the  world  forgiveness , as  I forgive  all;  and  so  the  hang- 
man being  ordered  to  despatch,  Mr.  Nelson  prayed  a little  while  to 
himself,  and  then  requested  all  such  as  were  Catholics  to  pray  with 
him.  That  Christ,  by  the  merits  of  His  bitter  Passion,  would  receive  his 
soul  into  everlasting  joy.  When  the  cart  was  drawn  away,  a great 
multitude  cried  with  a loud  voice.  Lord  receive  his  soul. 

‘ He  was  cut  down  before  he  was  half  dead,  and  so  dismembered 
and  ripped  up;  and,  as  the  hangman  plucked  out  his  heart,  he  lifted 
himself  up  a little,  and,  as  some  that  stood  near  report,  spoke  these 
words,  I forgive  the  Queen,  and  all  that  were  causers  of  my  death',  but 
I,  though  I saw  his  lips  move,  yet  heard  not  so  much:  and  the  hang- 
man had  three  or  four  blows  at  his  head  before  he  could  strike  it  off. 
His  quarters  were  hanged  on  four  of  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  his 
head  set  upon  London  Bridge.'  So  far  my  old  English  author. 

10 


1578] 


THOMAS  SHERWOOD 


Mr.  Nelson  suffered  at  Tyhurn^  February  3,  1577-78.  Of  him 
Mr.  Stow  in  his  Chronicle  writes  thus:  'John  Nelson^  for  denying 
the  Queen’s  supremacy,  and  such  other  traitorous  words  against 
her  Majesty,  was  drawn  from  Newgate  to  Tyburn^  and  there  hanged, 
bowelled,  and  quartered.  One  Sherwood  was  also  hanged  for  the  like 
treason,  February  7.’ 


THOMAS  SHERWOOD,  Scholar  * 

Thomas  SHERWOOD  was  bom  at  London^  of  pious  and 
Catholic  parents,  and  by  them  brought  up  in  the  true  faith 
and  in  the  fear  of  God.  But  being  desirous  to  improve  him- 
self in  virtue  and  learning,  he  w^ent  over  to  the  Ejiglish  College, 
founded  not  long  before  in  the  University  of  Doway^  in  Flanders^ 
where  I find  him,  in  the  diary  of  the  house,  a student  in  1576.  Not 
long  after  this  he  returned  to  Londofi^  in  order  to  settle  his  affairs, 
and  procure  money  to  help  him  to  carry  on  his  studies. 

Whilst  he  was  in  Londoii  he  frequented  the  house  of  the  Lady 
Tregony^  a virtuous  Catholic,  who  had  a son  named  Martin^  whose 
faith  and  manners  were  widely  distant  from  those  of  his  mother. 
This  young  spark  suspected  that  Alass  was  sometimes  privately  said 
in  his  mother’s  house,  and  this,  as  he  imagined,  by  the  means  of 
Air.  Sherwood,  which  was  the  occasion  of  his  conceiving  an  implac- 
able hatred  against  him ; insomuch  that  one  day,  meeting  him  in  the 
streets,  he  cried  out.  Stop  the  traitor,  stop  the  traitor;  and  so  causing 
him  to  be  apprehended,  had  him  before  the  next  justice  of  peace. 
Where,  when  they  were  come.  Air.  Tregony  could  allege  nothing  else 
against  Air.  Sherwood  but  that  he  suspected  him  to  be  a Papist. 
Upon  which  the  justice  examined  him  concerning  his  religion,  and 
in  particular  what  his  sentiments  were  concerning  the  Queen’s 
church-headship  and  the  Pope’s  supremacy.  To  which  Air.  Sher- 
wood candidly  answered.  That  he  did  not  believe  the  Queen  to  be  the 
head  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  that  this  pre-eminence  belonged 
to  the  Pope.  And  being  further  asked  concerning  the  Queen’s 
religion,  he  made  the  like  answers  as  we  have  seen  above  Air.  Nelson 
did.  Upon  which  he  was  immediately  committed,  and  cast  into  a 

* Bd.  Thomas  Sherwood. — From  Bridgew^ater’s  Concertatio  Ecclesice 
Anglicance,  Raissius,  his  Catalogue  of  the  Martyrs  of  Douay  College;  and  a 
Latin  MS.  in  my  hands ; see  also  Lives  of  E,  M.,  I.  ii. 

II 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1578 


dungeon  in  the  Tower,  In  the  mean  time  his  lodgings  were  searched 
and  plundered  of  all  that  he  had,  and  between  £20  and  of  money, 
borrowed  for  the  use  of  his  poor  afflicted  father,  were  carried  off  by 
these  harpies  with  the  rest. 

In  the  Tower  he  was  most  cruelly  racked,  in  order  to  make  him 
discover  where  he  had  heard  Mass ; but  he  suffered  all  their  tortures 
with  a greatness  of  soul  not  unequal  to  that  of  the  primitive  martyrs, 
and  would  not  be  induced  to  betray  or  bring  any  man  into  danger. 
After  this  he  was  thrust  into  a dark,  filthy  hole,  where  he  endured 
very  much  from  hunger,  stench,  and  cold,  and  the  general  want  of 
all  things,  no  one  being  allowed  to  visit  him  or  afford  him  any 
comfort.  Insomuch  that  when  a Catholic  gentleman,  [Mr.  Roper ^ 
son-in-law  to  Sir  Thomas  More^  pitying  his  extreme  sufferings,  had, 
by  the  means  of  another  prisoner,  conveyed  to  Mr.  Sherwood's 
keeper  some  money  for  the  use  of  his  prisoner,  the  money  was  by 
the  keeper  returned  the  next  day,  because  the  Lieutenant  of  the 
Tower  would  not  suffer  the  prisoner  to  have  the  benefit  of  any  such 
alms.  And  all  that  he  could  be  prevailed  upon  to  do,  was  to  lay  out 
one  poor  sixpence  for  a little  fresh  straw  for  him  to  lie  upon. 

In  fine,  after  six  months’  suffering  in  this  manner  with  invin- 
cible patience,  and  gloriously  triumphing  over  chains,  dungeons,  and 
torments,  during  which  he  often  repeated  these  words.  Lord  Jesus  ! 
Oh,  I am  not  worthy  that  I should  suffer  these  things  for  Thee,  much 
less  am  I worthy  of  those  rewards  which  Thou  hast  promised  to  give 
to  such  as  confess  Thee,  he  was  brought  out  to  his  trial,  and  con- 
demned to  die  for  denying  the  Queen’s  supremacy,  and  was  executed 
according  to  sentence,  being  cut  down  whilst  he  was  yet  alive,  dis- 
membered, bowelled,  and  quartered. 

He  suffered  at  Tyhurn,  February  7,  1577-78. 

This  year,  1578,  the  English  Seminary  was  obliged  to  leave  Doway 
(after  having  sent  from  thence  fifty-two  priests  upon  the  English 
mission,  besides  others  sent  to  Rome),  and  to  repair  to  Rhemes,  where 
they  remained  till  1594.  The  first  of  those  that  were  ordained  at 
Rhemes,  who  suffered  in  England  for  religious  matters,  was — 


12 


1581] 


EVERARD  HANSE 


[ 1581.  ] 

EVERARD  HANSE,  Priest* 

Mr.  HANSE  was  born  in  Northamptonshire^  and  performed 
his  higher  studies  in  the  University  of  Cambridge 
made  a minister,  and  promoted  to  a good  fat  benefice.  ‘ But, 
by  God’s  great  providence  and  mercy  towards  him,’  [he  had  not 
been  above  two  or  three  years  in  that  state,  before]  he  fell  into  a 
grievous  sickness,  in  which,  as  well  by  that  chastisement,  as  by  some 
special  miraculous  admonitions  from  above,  he  began  to  consider 
of  his  former  life,  and  the  damnable  state,  and  function  he  was  in. 
Whereupon,  calling  for  a Catholic  priest,  [the  manuscript  says 
it  was  his  own  brother,  William  Hanse,  who  was  a priest  of  Doway 
College,  with  whom  before  he  had  many  disputes,]  he  reconciled 
himself  to  the  Church,  forsook  the  ministry,  abandoned  his  wrong- 
fully-begotten benefice,  and  so  passed  over  to  Rhemes.  Where  having 
lived  near  two  years  in  most  zealous  and  studious  sort,  and  being 
by  that  time,  through  continual  exercise,  well  instructed  in  cases  of 
conscience  and  all  duties  of  priesthood,  he  was,  for  the  unspeakable 
desire  he  had  to  gain  others,  but  especially  some  of  his  dearest 
friends,  to  the  unity  of  the  Church  and  salvation,  much  moved  to  be 
made  a priest  and  to  return  home. 

‘ He  had  his  intent,  [being  made  priest  March  25,  1581,  by  the 
Bishop  of  Chalons,  in  the  Church  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  with  ten 
others  of  the  same  College.  He  said  his  first  Mass  on  the  2d  of 
April  of  the  same  year,  and  was  sent  upon  the  mission  on  the  24th 
of  the  same  month,  in  company  of  Mr.  Freeman,  Mr.  Finglie,  and 
Mr.  Henry  Clinch. 

Mr.  Hanse  being  therefore  now  lawfully  sent,]  came  into 
England;  where  he  had  not  been  long,  when  venturing  one  day  to 
visit  certain  prisoners  in  the  Marshalsea,  he  was  there  apprehended 
[upon  suspicion  of  his  being  a priest;]  and  being  examined  by  an 
officer  what  he  was  and  from  whence  he  came,  he  without  more  ado 
confessed  boldly  himself  to  be  a Catholic,  and  a priest  of  the  Semi- 
nary of  Rhemes',  whereupon  he  was  cast  into  Newgate  amongst 
thieves,  and  loaded  with  irons.  And  a few  days  after,  when  the  jail 

* Bd.  Everard  Hanse. — From  a Douay  MS.;  but  chiefly  from  Allen’s 
Brief e Historie;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

13 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [158 


delivery  of  that  prison  was  holden,  he  was  brought  to  the  bar,  July 
the  28th,  where  Mr.  Fleetwood^  the  Recorder,  sitting  in  judgment, 
asked  him  where  he  was  made  priest,  what  was  the  cause  of  his 
coming  into  England,  and  the  like.  The  man  of  God,  without  fear 
or  dissimulation,  told  him.  That  the  cause  of  his  return  was  to  gain 
souls ^ and  that  he  was  made  priest  at  Rhemes. 

‘ Recorder. — Then  you  are  a subject  to  the  Pope  ? 

‘ Mr.  Hanse. — So  I am,  sir. 

‘ Recorder. — Then  the  Pope  hath  some  superiority  over  you  ? 

‘ Mr.  Hanse. — That  is  true. 

‘ Recorder. — What ! in  England  ? 

‘ Mr.  Hanse. — Yea,  in  England;  for  he  hath  as  much  authority 
and  right  in  spiritual  government  in  this  realm  as  ever  he  had,  and 
as  much  as  he  hath  in  any  other  country,  or  in  Rome  itself. 

‘ Upon  which  most  plain  and  sincere  confession,  the  heretics 
(as  their  fashion  is  to  falsify  all  things,  and,  by  contrived  slanders, 
to  make  the  servants  of  God  odious)  gave  out  afterwards  in  print, 
that  he  should  say  That  princes  had  not  any  supremacy  or  sovereignty 
in  their  own  realms,  but  the  Pope  only  ; which  was  far  from  his  and 
every  Catholic  man’s  mind.  But  upon  his  former  answer,  to  bring 
him  by  course  of  questions  into  the  compass  of  some  of  their  new 
statutes  of  treason,  they  asked  him  further,  whether  he  thought  the 
Pope  could  not  err;  to  which,  though  he  expressly  answered.  That 
in  life  and  manners  he  might  offend,  as  also  err  in  his  private  doctrine 
or  writing;  but  that  in  judicial  definitions,  and  in  deciding  matters  of 
controversy , he  did  never  err,  this  plain  speech  notwithstanding,  the 
enemies  gave  out  that  he  should  say.  The  Pope  could  not  sin. 

‘ Then  they  proceeded  with  him  further,  and  demanded  whether 
the  Pope  had  not  judicially  proceeded  in  the  deposition  of  the 
Queen.  And  thereupon  they  read  a piece  of  the  bull  of  Pius 
Quintus,  those  words  especially  in  which  he  declared  her  to  be  a 
heretic  and  a fautor  of  heretics,  and  deprived  her  of  all  regal  authority 
and  pretended  right  of  these  dominions,  &c.  Did  he  not  err,  said 
they,  in  this  ? I hope,  said  Mr.  Hanse,  he  did  not.  Which  term,  / 
hope,  he  used  on  purpose  in  this  matter,  because  Pius  Quintus  his 
act  was,  in  this  case,  not  a matter  of  doctrine,  but  of  fact;  wherein 
he  did  not  affirm  that  the  Pope  could  not  err,  [or  even  grievously 
sin,  though  ’tis  certainly  the  part  of  Christian  charity  to  hope  that 
he  did  not.] 

‘ But  to  go  one  step  forward,  and  to  bring  him  into  the  compass 
of  the  first  statute  of  the  last  Parliament,  upon  which  they  intended 
to  indict  him,  Mr.  Recorder  asked  whether  he  spoke  the  aforesaid 

14 


i58i] 


EVERARD  HANSE 


thing  to  persuade  other  men  that  heard  him  to  be  of  his  mind.  Mr. 
Hanse  replied,  / know  not  what  yon  mean  by  persuading ; hut  I would 
have  all  men  to  believe  the  Catholic  Faith  as  I do. 

‘ This  being  done  and  said  of  each  side,  order  was  given  to  one 
present  that  was  learned  in  the  law  to  draw  up  an  indictment  of 
treason  against  Mr.  Hanse  upon  the  new  statute  made  in  the  last 
Parliament,  which  was  out  of  hand  done.  The  effect  whereof  was, 
that  the  said  Hanse^  being  one  of  the  Pope’s  scholars,  and  made 
priest  beyond  the  seas,  was  returned  to  seduce  the  Queen’s  Majesty’s 
subjects  from  their  obedience;  and  that  he  had  affirmed  the  Pope 
to  be  his  superior  here  in  England^  and  had  as  much  authority  in 
spiritual  government  within  this  realm  as  ever  he  had  before: 
saying  further,  that  he  hoped  Pius  Quintus  erred  not  in  declaring 
her  to  be  a heretic,  excommunicating  and  deposing  her  Majesty,  and 
acknowledging  that  he  uttered  so  much  to  have  others  think  therein 
as  he  did,  &c.;  which  indictment  being  openly  read,  and  Mr.  Hanse 
thereon  arraigned,  he  was  ordered  to  hold  up  his  hand.  He  held  up 
his  left  hand;  whereupon  the  Recorder  blamed  him,  attributing  it  to 
some  pride  or  superstition,  that,  being  a priest,  he  would  not  vouch- 
safe, or  might  not  hold  up  his  anointed  right  hand;  but  the  truth 
was,  he  did  it  because  his  right  hand  was  occupied  in  easing  himself, 
by  holding  up  the  great  bolts  wherewith  the  blessed  man  was  exceed- 
ingly laden;  for  being  admonished,  he  forthwith  stretched  forth  his 
right  hand. 

‘ And  being  asked  whether  he  was  guilty  of  the  things  contained 
in  the  indictment,  after  a few  words,  wherein  he  said.  He  was  not 
altogether  guilty  in  those  things  as  they  were  set  down,  he  yet  acknow- 
ledged the  substance  and  the  sense  thereof  with  great  courage  and 
constancy.  Whereupon  the  sentence  of  death  was  pronounced 
against  him,  in  the  form  well  known  to  all  men.  This  done,  he  was 
returned  to  the  prison  from  whence  he  came,  where  minister  Crowley 
and  others  came  to  attempt  to  overcome  his  constancy;  but  after 
much  talk,  and  many  persuasions  to  relent  in  some  points  of  religion, 
and  to  acknowledge  his  fault  towards  her  Majesty,  when  they  saw 
they  could  not  prevail  against  the  blessed  confessor,  they  forged,  to 
his  disgrace,  and  to  make  him  odious,  that  he  should  affirm  to  them 
in  talk.  That  treason  to  the  Queen  was  no  sin  before  God;  which  slander 
they  were  not  ashamed  to  put  out  in  print. 

‘ He  was  condemned  upon  the  28th  of  July  1581 ; and  upon  the 
last  day  of  the  same  month  he  was  drawn  to  Tyburn;  where  being 
put  into  the  cart,  he  with  a cheerful  countenance  professed  hirrself 
to  be  a Catholic  priest,  and  most  glad  to  die  for  testimony  thereof. 

15 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  I.158 


And  being  willed  to  ask  the  Queen  mercy,  and  demanded  whether 
he  took  her  for  his  sovereign,  he  answered.  That  he  did  take  her  for 
his  Queen,  and  that  he  never  offended  her  Majesty  otherwise  than  in 
matters  of  his  conscience,  which  their  new-made  statutes  had  drawn  to 
matters  of  treason.  And  whereas,  said  he,  I understand  it  has  been 
given  out  that  I shoidd  say  Treason  was  no  offence  to  God:  I protest 
I neither  meant  nor  said  any  more,  but  that  these  new-made  treasons, 
which  are  nothing  else  indeed  but  the  confession  of  the  Catholic  points 
of  religion,  were  no  offences  to  God. 

‘ Then  the  ministers  called  upon  him  to  pray  with  them,  and  to 
desire  the  people  to  assist  him.  He  answered  That  he  might  not 
pray  with  heretics,  but  desired  humbly  all  Catholics  to  pray  for  him 
and  with  him.  And  so,  whilst  he  was  praying  devoutly  to  himself, 
the  cart  was  drawn  away;  and  before  he  was  half  dead,  the  rope  was 
cut,  and  he  bowelled  alive,  and  afterwards  quartered — a spectacle  of 
great  edification  to  the  good,  and  a wonder  to  every  one  that  looked 
upon  it.’ 

The  Doway  manuscript,  and  Raissius  in  his  printed  catalogue  of 
martyrs  of  the  English  College,  add,  that  when  the  executioner  had 
his  hand  upon  his  heart,  Mr.  Hanse  distinctly  pronounced  these 
words.  Oh  I happy  day  ! And  that  it  was  the  current  fame  that  his 
heart,  being  cast  into  the  fire,  leaped  of  itself  out  of  the  flames;  and 
being  flung  in  again,  and  covered  with  a faggot,  it  sprung  up  again 
with  so  much  force  as  visibly  to  raise  the  faggot  out  of  its  place,  and 
hold  it,  as  it  were,  for  a short  time  quivering  in  the  smoke. 

Mr.  Hanse,  the  day  before  his  death,  wrote  the  following  letter 
to  his  brother,  who  was  a priest  of  the  same  College. 

‘ Brother, 

‘ I pray  you  be  careful  for  my  parents;  see  them  in- 
structed in  the  way  of  truth,  so  that  you  be  careful  for  your  own 
state  also.  What  you  shall  take  in  hand  that  way,  think  no  other, 
but  God  will  send  good  success:  my  prayers  shall  not  be  wanting 
to  aid  you  by  God’s  grace.  Give  thanks  to  God  for  all  that  He  hath 
sent;  cast  not  yourself  into  dangers  wilfully,  but  pray  to  God,  when 
occasion  is  offered  you  may  take  it  with  patience. 

‘ The  comforts  at  the  present  instant  are  unspeakable ; the  dignity 
too  high  for  a sinner;  but  God  is  merciful.  Bestow  my  things  you 
find  ungiven  away  upon  my  poor  kinsfolks.  A pair  of  pantoffles  I 
leave  with  M.  N.  for  my  mother.  Twenty  shillings  I would  have 
you  bestow  on  them  from  me,  if  you  can  make  so  much  conveniently ; 
some  I have  left  with  M.  N.  I owe  ten  shillings  and  two  shillings; 

16 


EVERARD  HANSE 


1581] 

I pray  you  see  it  paid.  M.  N.  will  let  you  understand  how,  and  to 
whom.  If  you  want  money  to  discharge  it,  send  to  my  friends — 
you  know  where — in  my  name.  Siimma  Conciliorum^  I pray  you 
restore  to  M.  B.;  the  other  books,  you  know  to  whom. 

‘ Have  me  commended  to  my  friends ; let  them  think  I will  not 
forget  them.  The  day  and  hour  of  my  Birth  is  at  hand,  and  my 
Master  saith,  Tolle  crucem  tiiarn  et  seqiiere  me.  Vale  in  Domino. 

‘ Yours, 

‘ Pridic  obitus.'  EverARD  HanSE. 

It  was  expected  that  Mr.  Thomas  Clifton.,  another  priest  of 
Doway  College,  a native  of  Kent,  should  have  been  the  next  to  follow 
Mr.  Hanse,  of  whom  a certain  missioner,  in  a letter  recorded  by  Mr. 
Rushton,  De  Schismate,  1.  3,  p.  320,  writes  as  follows: — ‘ Mr.  Hanse 
suffered  his  conflict  with  an  invincible  patience.  It  seems  that  Mr. 
Clifton,  priest,  is  to  be  the  next  to  succeed  him,  who  has  already,  for 
some  months,  suffered  so  much  from  the  heretics  by  cold,  hunger, 
and  the  load  of  his  chains  in  a dungeon  amongst  felons,  that  his 
being  yet  alive  seems  a miracle.  This  man,  when  of  late  he  was 
led  through  the  streets,  loaded  with  heavy  irons,  to  the  bar,  in  the 
company  of  thieves,  his  companions  sighing  and  almost  all  the 
people  being  moved  to  commiseration,  he  alone  was  cheerful,  and 
dragged  his  chains  along  with  a smiling  countenance.  And  when’ 
one  asked  him  why  he  more  than  the  rest  should  laugh,  his  case 
being  so  deplorable  as  it  was,  he  answered.  Because  I look  for  greater 
gain  than  they  from  my  sufferings;  and  it  is  just  they  should  laugh 
that  win.' 

He  was  condemned  to  perpetual  imprisonment;  and  immediately, 
upon  hearing  the  sentence,  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  with  hands  and 
eyes  lifted  up  to  heaven  said,  Allelujah,  allelujah.  He  was  sent  back 
to  Newgate,  and  there  fed  with  the  bread  of  sorrow,  having  his  hands, 
feet,  and  neck  chained  in  such  sort  that  he  could  neither  sit  down 
nor  stir  out  of  his  place  all  the  day,  and  every  night  being  put  down 
into  a horrid  and  darksome  dungeon.  {Doway  Diary , ad  annum  1581.) 

Of  Mr.  Hanse  thus  writes  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Annals  or  Chronicle, 
anno  1581 : — Everard  Hanse,  a seminary  priest,  was  in  the  Sessions- 
Hall  in  the  Old  Bailey  arraigned,  where  he  affirmed  that  himself  was 
subject  to  the  Pope  in  ecclesiastical  causes,  and  that  the  Pope  hath 
now  the  same  authority  here  in  England  that  he  had  an  hundred 
years  past,  with  other  traitorous  speeches;  for  the  which  he  was 
condemned  and  executed.’  So  Mr.  Stow,  who  adds,  that  ‘ at  the 
same  sessions  were  brought  from  the  Fleet,  Gatehouse,  Newgate,  and 

17  B 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1581 


the  Counters^  sundry  prisoners  indicted  for  refusing  to  come  to  the 
church;  all  which,  being  convicted  by  their  own  confession,  had 
judgment  accordingly,  to  pay  twenty  pounds  for  every  month  of 
such  their  wilful  absence  from  the  church.’ 

But  this  was  not  the  only  nor  the  greatest  severity  that  the 
English  Catholics  endured  in  this  persecution,  which  raged  without 
any  intermission  for  the  twenty-five  last  years  of  Queen  Elizabeth's 
reign.  About  this  very  time  that  Mr.  Hanse  suffered,  or  a little 
before,  we  find  many  instances  of  an  extraordinary  nature  of  the 
sufferings  of  Catholics  recorded  by  Dr.  Bridgwater  in  his  collections 
published  under  the  title  of  Concertatio  Ecclesice  Catholicce,  some 
of  which  we  will  here  set  down. 

1.  William  Tyrwhite^  son  to  Sir  Robert  Tyrwhite,  accused  for 
having  heard  Mass  at  his  sister’s  wedding,  was  carried  prisoner  to 
the  Tower,  notwithstanding  he  was  actually  sick  of  a high  fever,  and 
the  physicians  declared  that  he  was  a dead  man  if  they  removed  him 
to  prison  in  that  condition.  His  friends  offered  any  bail  for  his 
appearance  as  soon  as  he  should  recover,  but  all  in  vain;  he  was 
hurried  away,  sick  as  he  was,  and  died  within  two  days.  His  brother, 
Robert  Tyrwhite,  was  also,  for  the  same  cause,  cast  into  prison,  and 
there  died. 

2.  Mr.  John  Cooper,  a hopeful  young  man,  of  a good  family, 
brought  up  under  Dr.  Nicholas  Harpsfield,  designing  to  leave 
England  for  the  sake  of  his  religion,  and  to  follow  his  studies  abroad, 
and  having  for  that  purpose  gathered  together  what  m.oney  he  could, 
was  stopped  at  the  seaside  upon  a discovery  of  his  design,  and  sent 
back  to  London,  where  he  was  plundered  of  all  he  had,  and  committed 
close  prisoner  to  Becheam  Tower.  Here,  partly  through  hunger  and 
cold,  and  partly  through  the  nastiness  and  stench  of  the  place,  he 
contracted  a disease  by  which  he  appeared  something  disturbed  in 
the  head  and  delirious.  This  being  told  to  the  Lieutenant  of  the 
Tower,  he  ordered  his  bed  to  be  taken  away  which  some  friends  had 
sent  him  in,  that  he  might  lie  for  the  future  upon  the  bare  floor; 
which  addition  to  his  former  sufferings  brought  him  quickly  to  his 
end.  And  for  a token  that  he  perished  through  their  barbarous 
usage,  when  they  pulled  off  his  slippers,  in  order  to  bury  him,  his 
flesh  stuck  to  them,  and  came  off  by  pieces  from  the  bones. 

3.  Mr.  Dimock,  Champion  of  England,  and  son-in-law  to  the 
Earl  of  Lincoln,  having  been  a paralytic  for  some  years,  so  that  he 
could  neither  go  out  of  doors  nor  move  himself  one  step  without 
help,  was  accused  to  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of  being  a Roman 
Catholic.  Upon  this  he  is  cited  to  make  his  appearance  before  his 

18 


EDMUND  CAMPION 


1581] 

lordship,  and  excuses  himself  by  reason  of  his  palsy.  The  Bishop 
therefore  comes  to  his  house,  sees  his  condition,  but  is  nothing 
moved  with  it;  orders  him  to  be  carried  to  prison,  where  in  a short 
time  he  dies.  But  neither  would  they  let  him  die  quietly,  but  sent 
in  their  ministers  to  perplex  him,  and  force  their  prayers  upon  him, 
though,  to  the  last  gasp,  he  refused  their  assistance,  and  died  in  the 
faith  of  his  renowned  ancestors. 

4.  Mr.  Christopher  Watson,  and  about  twenty  other  Catholics  of 
both  sexes,  imprisoned  in  like  manner  for  their  religion,  perished 
also  about  this  time  in  York  Castle. 

5.  Mark  Typper,  a young  gentleman  who  had  been  some  time 
student  in  Dozvay  College,  was  condemned  by  Mr.  Fleetwood,  the 
Recorder  of  London,  to  be  whipped  through  the  city,  and  to  have 
his  ears  bored  through  with  a red-hot  iron;  which  sentence  was 
accordingly  executed  upon  him  for  his  religion.  We  pass  over  many 
other  instances  of  extraordinary  severity  against  the  Catholics, 
which  were  but  the  preludes  of  more  cruel  treatment,  which  we 
shall  meet  with  by-and-by. 


EDMUND  CAMPION,  Priest,  SJ  * 

Edmund  campion  was  bom  in  London,  where  he  had 
his  first  education  in  Christchurch  Hospital,  from  whence  he 
was  sent  to  Oxford,  ‘ where  he  was  brought  up  in  St.  John^s 
College,  being  very  much  beloved  for  his  excellent  qualifications  by 
Sir  Thomas  White,  of  worthy  memory,  the  founder  of  that  house,  at 
whose  burial  he  made  an  excellent  oration  in  Latin,  having  made  the 
like  before  in  English  at  the  funeral  of  my  Lady  Dudley,  late  wife  of 
the  Earl  of  Leicester;  where,  after  he  had  passed  with  great  applause 
through  all  such  exercises,  degrees,  and  offices  as  the  University 
yieldeth  to  men  of  his  condition,  by  the  importunate  persuasions  of 

* Bd.  Edmund  Campion. — His  life  has  been  published  by  Bombinus 
and  several  others.  What  we  here  give  is  an  extract  out  of  the  old  English 
author  [viz.,  Allen’s  Brief e Historic'],  from  whom  we  had  our  account  of 
Mr.  Hanse,  etc.,  whom  we  prefer  to  all  the  rest,  as  being  more  ancient,  and 
personally  acquainted  with  Mr.  Campion,  and  quoting  an  eye-witness  to 
his  death.  His  account  was  published  in  1582.  See  alsoLwcs  of  E.M.,  I.ii» 

19 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1581 

some  of  his  friends  that  were  desirous  of  his  worldly  honour  and 
advancement,  he  suffered  himself  to  be  made  deacon  after  their 
new  fashion. 

‘ But  for  all  that,  our  Lord  mercifully  withheld  him  from  that 
ambitious  course  which  is  the  gulf  in  which  many  great  wits  have 
perished  in  these  days.  Therefore,  having  spent  some  more  time  in 
study,  and  travelled  into  Ireland  (the  history  of  which  country  he 
wrote  truly  and  eloquently),  hearing  that  there  was  a seminary  not 
long  before  begun  in  Doway,  he  went  over  thither,  [where,  under 
the  conduct  of  Dr.  Allen^  first  President  of  the  College,  he  applied 
himself  with  great  diligence  as  well  to  the  study  of  divinity  as  to 
the  acquiring  the  knowledge  of  God  and  himself,  the  true  science 
of  the  saints;]  and  after  many  exercises,  done  both  in  the  house  and 
in  the  public  schools,  he  proceeded  Bachelor  of  Divinity,  to  his  great 
commendation,  and  the  honour  of  our  nation. 

‘ Nevertheless  all  this  while  (especially  being  now  more  advanced 
in  devotion,  zeal,  learning,  and  judgment  than  before)  the  continual 
thought  of  that  schismatical  deaconship  which  he  had  taken  did  so 
sorely  oppress  his  mind,  and  the  conceit  of  the  greatness  of  that  sin 
so  burthened  his  conscience,  that  no  counsel  of  learned  friends  could 
give  him  satisfaction  till  he  entered  into  religion  to  wipe  away  the 
same  by  penance  and  holy  profession.  So  making  his  choice  of 
the  Society  of  Jesus,  [which  has  ever  since  regarded  him  as  one  of 
her  brightest  lights,]  he  went  to  Rome,  where  he  was  admitted  by 
the  General  of  the  Order,  [amio  1573,]  and  after  one  month’s  stay 
in  that  city,  was  sent  to  Bohemia,  where  he  abode  [about  seven 
years,]  and  was  made  priest  at  Prague,  continually  [during  this 
time]  teaching,  preaching,  catechising,  writing,  and  labouring  for 
the  Church  of  God;  whereby  he  became  so  famous,  that  not  only 
other  principal  states,  but  the  Imperial  Majesty  was  contented 
often  to  hear  him  preach;  till  at  length,  at  the  suit  of  such  as  knew 
his  great  talent  in  dealing  with  heretics  for  their  conversion,  his 
General  called  him  thence  to  be  bestowed  upon  his  own  country.’ 

In  his  return  towards  England  he  called  at  Rhemes,  where  the 
College  was  now  translated,  having  Father  Robert  Parsons  in  his 
company;  ‘ where,  beside  other  communication  appertaining  to  the 
reduction  of  our  country  to  the  Catholic  faith,  he  demanded  of  Dr. 
Allen  whether  he  thought  that  any  services  he  could  do  in  England 
(the  times  being  as  they  were)  were  likely  to  be  worth  all  these  long 
labours  and  hazards,  past  and  to  come,  or  might  countervail  the 
wants  that  those  should  seem  to  have  by  his  absence  from  whence 
he  came.  To  which  Dr.  Allen  answered,  Eather,  said  he,  first, 

20 


i58i] 


EDMUND  CAMPION 


whatever  you  did  there  may  he  done  by  others,  one  or  more  of  your 
Order.  Secondly,  you  owe  more  duty  to  England  than  to  Bohemia, 
and  to  London  than  to  Prague;  though  I am  glad  you  have  made  some 
recompense  to  that  country  for  the  old  wound  it  received  from  us  \in 
Wickleffs  time,  from  whom  the  Hussites  of  Bohemia  learned  their 
heresies ?[  Thirdly,  the  recovery  of  one  soul  from  heresy  is  worth  all 
your  pains,  as  I hope  you  will  gain  a great  many,  because  the  harvest 
IS  both  more  plentiful  and  more  ripe  with  us  than  in  those  parts. 
Finally,  the  reward  may  be  greater;  for  you  may  be  martyred  for  it 
at  home,  which  you  cannot  easily  obtain  there.  So  he  was  satisfied. 
And  of  this  communication  I have  heard  him  often  speak. 

' At  last  he  happily  landed  at  Dover  the  day  after  Midsummer, 
anno  1580,  being,  by  God’s  great  goodness,  delivered  out  of  the 
searchers’  and  officers’  hands,  who  detained  him  with  them  upon 
suspicion  for  some  hours,  upon  deliberation  to  have  sent  him  to  the 
Council.  Coming,  therefore,  to  London,  he  preached  there  his  first 
sermon  upon  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul's  Day,  at  which  I myself  was 
present,  where  he  had  a full  audience,  and  that  of  persons  of  dis- 
tinction; but  afterwards,  both  there  and  in  sundry  other  parts  of 
the  realm,  far  greater,  through  the  fame  and  experience  of  his  manifold 
virtues  and  great  eloquence  and  learning ; many  Protestants  of  good 
nature  being  at  sundry  times  admitted  also  to  hear  him,  who  ever 
afterwards  contemned  their  vulgar  pulpit-men  in  comparison  of 
him. 

‘ He  preached  once  a day  at  the  least,  often  twice,  and  sometimes 
thrice,  whereby,  through  God’s  goodness,  he  converted  several  in 
most  counties  of  the  realm  of  the  best  sort,  besides  young  gentlemen- 
students,  and  others  of  all  conditions.  [And  by  the  experience 
he  had  of  the  good  that  came  of  preaching,  he  particularly  recom- 
mended to  Everardus  Mercurianus , the  General  of  his  Order,  in  a 
letter  written  from  England,  that  such  of  the  Society  as  should  be 
sent  upon  the  English  mission  should  be  able  preachers.  In  which 
letter  he  also  acknowledged  the  good  offices  done  him  and  the  Society 
by  the  missioners  of  the  secular  clergy,  who  had  cultivated  this 
vineyard  for  many  years  before  his  coming.] 

‘ At  his  first  entrance  into  the  kingdom,  he  made  his  proffer  of 
disputation,  for  such  causes  as  he  alleged  in  the  same,  and  more  at 
large  afterwards  in  his  eloquent  and  learned  book  to  both  the 
Universities;  whereby  the  Protestant  preachers  and  prelates  found 
themselves  so  deeply  wounded  in  their  doctrine  and  credit,  not- 
withstanding they  had  patched  up  a few  pamphlets  against  him, 
that  they  instigated  her  Alajesty’s  Council  to  alter  the  question  from 

21 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1581 


controversy  in  religion  to  the  cause  of  the  Queen  and  matter  of  state, 
that  so  they  might  maintain  by  force  and  authority  what  they  could 
not  do  by  their  learning  and  divinity. 

‘ Thereupon  it  was  given  out,  by  divers  speeches  and  proclama- 
tions, that  great  confederacies  were  made  by  the  Pope  and  foreign 
princes  for  the  invasion  of  the  land,  and  that  the  Jesuits  and  Seminary 
priests  were  sent  in,  forsooth,  to  prepare  their  ways,  and  such-like 
trumpery,  to  beguile  and  incense  the  simple  against  them.  Then 
all  exquisite  diligence  was  used  for  the  apprehension  of  others,  but 
more  particularly  of  Father  Campion^  whom  they  called  the  Pope's 
Champion. 

‘ At  length,  after  he  had  laboured  in  God’s  harvest  near  thirteen 
months,  being  betrayed  by  one  George  Eliot ^ after  long  search  and 
much  ado,  by  God’s  permission  he  fell  into  the  persecutors’  hands, 
the  17th  of  July^  1581,  being  found  in  a secret  closet  in  a Catholic 
gentleman  and  confessor’s  house,  called  Mr.  Yates  of  Lyford,  two 
godly  priests,  Mr.  Ford  and  Mr.  Collington^  being  with  him,  all  lying, 
when  the  enemy  discovered  them,  upon  a bed,  their  faces  and  hands 
lifted  up  to  heaven.  He  offered  his  two  companions  in  the  search, 
that  if  they  thought  all  that  ado  was  for  him,  and  that  his  yielding 
himself  up  might  acquit  them,  he  would  give  himself  up;  but  they 
would  not  suffer  this  in  anywise,  but  hearing  one  another’s  con- 
fessions, expected  God’s  good-will  together,  every  one  having 
penance  enjoined,  to  say  three  times.  Thy  will  be  done^  O Lord! 
and,  St.  John  Baptist,  pray  for  me!  Which  blessed  saint  they 
particularly  invoked,  for  that  Father  Campion  was  delivered,  as  he 
took  it,  out  of  the  searchers’  hands  at  Dover  by  the  intercession  of 
that  holy  prophet,  his  special  patron. 

‘ Father  Campion  being  now  in  the  power  of  the  traitor  Eliot  and 
the  officers,  and  made  a show  and  matter  of  mockery  to  the  unwise 
multitude  and  the  ungodly  of  all  sorts,  showed  such  remarkable 
modesty,  mildness,  patience,  and  Christian  humility  in  all  his 
speeches  and  actions,  that  the  good  were  exceedingly  edified  and 
the  enemies  much  astonished.  After  he  had  been  two  days  in  the 
custody  of  the  Sheriff  of  Berkshire,  he  was  carried  with  the  rest,  as 
well  priests  as  gentlemen  and  others  apprehended  in  that  place, 
towards  London.  At  Abingdon,  among  others,  divers  scholars  of 
Oxford  came  to  see  the  man  so  famous,  of  which  being  told  by  one 
Mr.  Lydeot,  he  said  He  was  very  glad,  himself  being  once  of  that 
university,  and  asked  whether  they  would  hear  a sermon.  There, 
at  dinner,  Eliot  said  to  him,  Mr.  Campion,  you  look  cheerfully  upon 
everybody  but  me:  I know  you  are  angry  with  me  in  your  heart  for  this 

22 


i58i] 


EDMUND  CAMPION 


work.  God  forgive  thee^  Eliot  ^ said  he, /or  so  judging  of  me:  I forgive 
thee,  and  in  token  thereof  I drink  to  thee;  yea,  and  if  thou  wilt  repent 
and  come  to  confession,  I will  absolve  thee;  but  large  penance  thou  must 
have.'' 

In  his  way  to  London,  ‘ besides  the  tying  of  his  legs  under  his 
horse  and  binding  his  arms  behind  him,  which  was  done  to  the 
others  also,  the  Council  appointed  a paper  to  be  set  upon  his  hat,  with 
great  capital  letters.  Campion  the  seditious  Jesuit;  and  gave  orders 
that  they  should  stay  at  Colebrook  a good  part  of  Friday  and  all  the 
night,  that  thence  they  might  bring  him  and  his  companions  upon 
Saturday  in  triumph  through  the  city,  and  the  whole  length  thereof, 
especially  through  such  places  where,  by  reason  of  the  markets  of 
that  day,  the  greatest  concourse  of  the  common  people  was,  whom 
in  such  matters  their  policy  seeks  most  to  please ; which  was  executed 
accordingly,  all  London,  almost,  beholding  the  spectacle;  the  mob 
gazing,  and  with  delight  beholding  the  novelty,  but  the  wiser  sort 
lamenting  to  see  our  country  fallen  to  such  barbarous  iniquity  as  to 
abuse  in  this  manner  a religious  man  so  honourable  in  all  nations  for 
his  learning,  and  of  so  innocent  a life.  So  that  day,  which  was  the 
22d  oijidy,  he  was  delivered  up  to  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower. 

‘ Here,  besides  the  ordinary  miseries  incident  to  that  kind  of 
imprisonment,  doubled  by  the  inhuman  dealing  and  deep  hatred 
to  Catholics  of  the  chief  officer  of  the  place,  after  sundry  examina- 
tions, terrors,  and  threats  by  the  Lord  Chancellor  and  others  of  the 
Council  and  Commission,  he  was  divers  times  racked,  to  force  out 
of  him,  by  intolerable  torments,  whose  houses  he  had  frequented, 
by  whom  he  was  relieved,  whom  he  had  reconciled,  when,  which 
way,  for  what  purpose,  and  by  what  commission,  he  came  into  the 
realm ; how,  where,  and  by  whom  he  printed  and  dispersed  his  books, 
and  such-like. 

‘ At  his  first  racking,  they  went  no  further  with  him;  but  after- 
wards, when  they  saw  he  could  not  be  won  to  condescend  somewhat 
at  least  in  religion,  which  was  the  thing  they  most  desired,  they 
thought  good  to  forge  matter  of  treason  against  him,  and  framed  their 
demands  accordingly;  about  which  he  was  so  cruelly  torn  and  rent 
upon  the  torture  the  two  last  times,  that  he  told  a friend  of  his  that 
found  means  to  speak  with  him,  that  he  thought  they  meant  to  make 
him  away  in  that  manner.  Before  he  went  to  the  rack,  he  used  to  fall 
down  at  the  rack-house  door  upon  both  knees  to  commend  himself 
to  God’s  mercy;  and  upon  the  rack  he  called  continually  upon  God, 
repeating  often  the  holy  name  of  Jesus.  He  most  charitably  forgave 
his  tormentors,  and  the  causers  thereof.  His  keeper  asking  him 

23 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [158 


the  next  day  how  he  felt  his  hands  and  feet,  he  answered,  Not  ill, 
because  not  at  all. 

‘ The  enemies,  not  contented  with  this,  and  many  other  accus- 
tomed ways  of  torture,  secretly,  as  it  is  said,  used  towards  him  to 
afflict  his  body,  added  a thousand  devices  and  slanderous  reports 
to  wrong  him  in  his  fame,  opening  all  the  mouths  of  the  ministers 
to  bark  against  him;  sometimes  publishing  that  there  was  great  hope 
he  would  become  a Protestant;  sometimes,  that  he  had  been  at 
church  and  service;  another  while,  that  he  had  uttered  upon  the 
rack  all  that  ever  he  knew;  yea,  sometimes,  that  he  had  therefore 
killed  himself  in  prison;  which,  no  doubt,  they  would  have  further 
avouched,  if  he  had  died  by  racking,  as  it  was  very  like  he  should 
have  done. 

‘ The  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower  at  the  beginning,  hoping  that  he 
might  be  gained  to  their  side  in  some  points  either  by  sweet  words, 
great  promises  of  promotions,  or  extreme  torments,  extolled  the  man 
exceedingly,  affirming  divers  times  that  he  was  such  a man  as 
England  never  brought  forth  before:  And  surely,  said  he,  it  is  God’s 
singular  goodness  that  he  returned  home;  no  doubt  her  Majesty 
will  prefer  him  to  great  livings.  And  that  he  might  want  no  good 
pretence  to  yield  to  their  desires,  they  often  brought  to  him  such 
divines  as  they  had  to  confer  with  him,  and  to  persuade  him  privately 
to  relent  somewhat  to  their  sect:  but  not  prevailing  that  way,  they 
caused,  under  colour  of  satisfying  his  former  challenge  of  disputation, 
divers  public  disputes,  or  rather  certain  light  skirmishes,  to  bark  at 
him  and  bait  him.  Four  or  five  of  the  contrary  side,  all  provided  as 
well  as  they  could,  were  set  out  against  one  destitute  of  all  proper 
helps,  [and  brought  almost  to  the  brink  of  death  by  the  rack,]  now 
one  snatching,  now  another,  and  sometimes  all  biting  together. 
The  masters  of  the  game  in  the  meantime,  when  they  saw  Father 
Campion,  in  answ^ering  and  defending  himself  (for  he  was  never 
suffered  to  oppose),  to  gripe  the  adversaries  hard,  parted  them  wdth 
their  tip-staves,  commanding  him  to  silence,  and  threatening  him 
with  laws,  authority,  and  punishment.  Thus  they  disputed  three 
several  times  with  the  man  of  God,  showing  nothing  but  barbarous 
despite,  malice,  and  so  deep  ignorance  in  divinity,  that  divers  of 
the  Protestants  themselves  were  ashamed  thereof,  and  marvelled 
exceedingly  at  the  other’s  learning,  meekness,  patience,  and  humility. 

‘ And  now,  by  this  time  falling  from  all  hope  of  his  yielding  to 
them,  and  so  from  all  pity  and  good-nature  towards  him,  they 
practised  how  to  make  him  and  his  companions  away  by  some  show 
of  justice,  and  that  not  for  the  new-made  treasons,  that  is  to  say,  for 

24 


1581] 


EDMUND  CAMPION 


mere  religion,  but  for  matters  of  treason  so  called  of  old  against  her 
Majesty  and  the  State,  forging  things  for  this  purpose,  and  finding 
out  three  or  four  false  fellows  that  would  not  stick  to  swear  the  same 
against  a man  whom  they  never  knew  nor  saw  in  their  life  before  his 
apprehension.  So  they  caused  an  indictment  to  be  drawn  up  against 
him,  and  a number  more  of  most  godly  learned  priests,  comprising 
him  and  them  all  together,  that  so  whatsoever  might  colourably  be 
avouched  or  witnessed  of  the  rest,  or  of  any  one  of  them  all,  either 
present  or  absent,  all  might  seem  to  the  simple  and  to  the  jury 
(deeply  biassed  by  fear  and  authority)  to  touch  him  also,  and  every 
one  of  the  others. 

‘ The  14th  day  of  Novernber,  anno  1581,  he  and  seven  others 
were  brought  from  the  Tower  to  the  King's- Bench  bar,  and  a bill  of 
their  indictment  was  read  in  the  hearing  of  Father  Campion  and 
the  rest,  how  that  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  the  reign  of  our 
sovereign  lady  the  Queen,  on  the  last  day  of  May,  in  the  parts  beyond 
the  seas,  they  had  practised  the  Queen’s  deposition  and  death,  and 
the  stirring  up  of  rebellion  within,  and  invasion  of  the  realm  from 
abroad,  and  such-like  stuff.  Whereupon  he  was  arraigned  with  the 
others,  and  commanded,  as  custom  is  in  such  cases,  to  hold  up  his 
hand;  but  both  his  arms  being  pitifully  benumbed  by  his  often 
cruel  racking  before,  and  he  having  them  wrapped  in  a furred  cuff, 
he  was  not  able  to  lift  his  hand  so  high  as  the  rest  did,  and  was 
required  of  him;  but  one  of  his  companions,  kissing  his  hand  so 
abused  for  the  confession  of  Christ,  took  off  his  cuff,  and  so  he  lifted 
up  his  arm  as  high  as  he  could,  and  pleaded  not  guilty,  as  all  the  rest 
did.  I protest,  said  he,  before  God  and  His  holy  angels,  before  heaven 
and  earth,  before  the  world  and  this  bar  whereat  I stand,  which  is  but 
a small  resemblance  of  the  terrible  judgment  of  the  next  life,  that  I am 
not  guilty  of  any  part  of  the  treason  contained  in  the  indictment,  or  of 
any  other  treason  whatsoever . Then  lifting  up  his  voice,  he  added. 
Is  it  possible  to  find  twelve  men  so  wicked  and  void  of  all  conscience  in 
this  city  or  land  that  will  find  us  guilty  together  of  this  one  crime,  divers 
of  us  never  meeting,  or  knowing  one  the  other,  before  our  bringing  to 
this  bar? 

‘ Nothing  more  was  done  that  day,  only  a jury  was  impanelled  for 
the  next  Monday,  being  the  20th  of  the  same  month;  but  three  of  the 
first  of  that  impanel,  being  Esquires,  doubting  that  justice  should 
have  no  free  course  that  day  in  these  men’s  cases,  whose  blood  was 
so  earnestly  thirsted  after,  appeared  not  when  the  day  came.  In 
the  meantime,  Mr.  Campion  and  his  fellow-confessors  were  carried 
back  to  the  prisons  from  whence  they  came.  [The  seven  that  were 

25 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1581 


arraigned,  together  with  Mr.  Campion,  were  Mr.  Ralph  Sherzvine, 
Mr.  Luke  Kirby,  Mr.  Thomas  Cottam,  Mr.  Robert  Johnson,  and  Mr. 
Edward  Rishton,  all  priests  of  Doway  College;  James  Bosgraz'e,  a 
young  Jesuit,  who,  coming  over  for  his  health,  had  fallen  into  their 
hands,  and  Mr.  Orton,  a lay  gentleman.  And  the  next  day  in  like 
manner  were  arraigned  Kiv.  John  Collington  or  Colleton,  Mr.  Laurence 
Richardson,  Mr.  John  Hart,  Mr.  Thomas  Ford,  Mr.  William  Filby, 
Mr.  Alexander  Brian,  and  ^Ix.John  Shert,  all  priests  educated  in  the 
same  College,  though  Mr.  Shert  was  made  priest  at  Romei\ 

‘ On  the  20th  day  of  November  before  mentioned,  Mr.  Campion 
and  his  companions  were  brought  back  again  to  receive  judgment, 
where,  notwithstanding  what  commandment  soever  or  order  taken 
to  the  contrary,  there  was  such  a presence  of  people,  and  that  of  the 
more  honourable,  wise,  learned,  and  best  sort,  as  was  never  seen  or 
heard  of  in  that  court,  in  our  or  our  fathers’  memories  before  us. 
So  wonderful  an  expectation  there  w^as  of  some  to  see  the  end  of  this 
marvellous  tragedy,  containing  so  many  strange  and  divers  acts  of 
examining,  racking,  disputing,  subornations  of  false  witnesses,  and 
the  like;  of  others,  to  behold  whether  the  old  honour  of  law  and 
justice,  wherein  our  nation  hath  of  all  the  world  had  the  praise,  could 
or  durst  now  stand  its  ground,  notwithstanding  any  violent  impres- 
sion of  power  and  authority  to  the  contrary.  Whether  there  were 
any  Markhams  left  in  the  land  that  would  yield  up  coif,  office,  and 
life,  rather  than  give  sentence  against  such  as  they  knew  in  con- 
science to  be  innocent,  and,  in  truth,  not  touched  by  any  evidence 
whatsoever.  But  this  one  day  gave  that  assembly  and  all  the  world 
full  proof  of  the  sad  fall  of  equity,  law,  conscience,  and  justice, 
together  with  the  Catholic  faith  in  our  poor  country. 

‘ For  nothing  there  said  by  the  Queen’s  attorney,  solicitor,  or 
other  counsellors,  or  by  any  of  those  that  were  at  their  racking, 
or  by  the  suborned  false  witnesses,  [Eliot,  Cradock,  Sledd  and 
Munday,]  could  in  any  well-informed  man’s  conscience  touch  any 
of  them  all,  as  every  one  of  the  rest,  and  especially  Father  Campion, 
did,  point  by  point,  prove  and  declare  as  clear  as  the  sun;  and  his 
innocence,  in  particular,  was  so  plain  in  all  men’s  sight,  that  what 
colour  soever  might  be  made  for  the  condemnation  of  the  others, 
yet  for  Father  Campion's  none  at  all;  insomuch,  that  whilst  the  jury 
were  gone  forth,  divers  wise  and  well-learned  law^xrs  and  others, 
conjecturing  and  conferring  one  with  another  what  should  be  the 
verdict,  they  all  agreed,  that  whatever  might  be  concluded  as  to 
some  of  the  rest,  it  was  impossible  to  condemn  Father  Campion. 

‘ But  it  was  Father  Campion  that  especially  was  designed  to  die, 

26 


i58i] 


EDMUND  CAMPION 


and  for  his  sake  the  rest,  and  therefore  no  defence  could  serve;  and 
the  poor  jury  did  that  which  they  understood  was  looked  for  at  their 
hands,  and  brought  them  in  all  guilty;  Mr.  Popham^  the  Attorney- 
general,  having  plainly  signified  to  them  that  it  was  the  Queen’s  will 
it  should  be  so.  The  most  unjust  verdict,  says  my  author,  that 
ever  I think  was  given  up  in  this  land,  whereat  already  not  only 
England^  but  all  the  Christian  world,  doth  wonder,  and  which  our 
posterity  shall  lament  and  be  ashamed  of.  Upon  this,  sentence 
followed  that  all  these  holy  men  should  be  hanged,  drawn,  and 
quartered,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  and  so  that  doleful  day  was 
spent.  Father  Campion  and  his  happy  associates  rejoiced  in  God, 
using  divers  holy  speeches  of  Scripture  to  their  own  comfort  and 
the  great  edification  of  others,  and  so  were  sent  back  to  their  prisons 
again,  where,  being  laid  up  in  irons  for  the  rest  of  their  time,  they 
expected  God’s  mercy  and  the  Queen’s  pleasure.’ 

[The  following  day  the  other  priests  who,  as  we  have  seen 
above,  were  arraigned  for  the  same  fictitious  plot,  received  the  same 
unjust  sentence,  Mr.  Colleton  only  excepted,  who  was  acquitted  by 
the  testimony  of  Mr.  Lancaster,  witnessing  that  he  was  with  him 
in  Gray’s  Inn  the  very  day  that  he  was  charged  with  plotting  at 
Rhemes;  where,  indeed,  Mr.  Colleton,  who  was  sent  missioner  from 
Doway,  had  never  been  in  his  life.  He  was  afterwards  transported 
into  banishment,  and  lived  to  be  the  first  Dean  of  the  English 
Chapter  erected  by  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon. 

As  to  the  innocence  of  all  the  rest  of  these  gentlemen  with 
regard  to  the  treasons  laid  to  their  charge,  and  the  barefaced  injustice 
used  in  the  condemning  of  them,  my  author,  in  his  preface  to  his 
accounts  of  their  deaths,  has  set  it  in  so  clear  a light  that  it  seems 
to  be  out  of  all  dispute  that  the  true  cause  of  their  execution  was  not 
any  treason  but  their  religion.  And  we  learn  from  Mr.  Camden,in  his 
Elizabeth,  that,  for  the  greatest  part  of  them,  the  Queen  herself  did  not 
believe  them  guilty.  Plerosque  tamen  ex  misellis  his  sacerdotihus  exitii 
inpatriam  conflandi conscios fuisse  non  crediditi]  (P.  327,  Edit.  1615.) 

The  time  that  passed  between  judgment  and  execution,  which 
was  from  the  20th  of  November  till  the  ist  of  December,  Father 
Campion  spent  in  preparing  for  his  end  by  godly  spiritual  exercises, 
showing  so  much  patience,  and  using  such  sweet  speeches  to  his 
keeper  and  others  that  had  to  deal  with  him,  that  the  same  keeper 
having  afterwards  one  Norton  in  his  custody  (who  had  been  a violent 
persecutor  of  Mr.  Ca^npion  and  his  companions),  and  comparing 
together  the  different  behaviours  of  his  prisoners,  declared  That  he 
had  a saint  in  his  keeping  before,  but  now  he  had  a devil. 

27 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1581 


In  the  mean  time  the  Protestants  did  not  desist  to  tempt  Mr. 
Campion  with  proffers  of  life  and  liberty  to  go  over  to  their  side,  or 
at  least  to  make  some  steps  towards  them;  insomuch  that  the  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  Tower  told  Mr.  Campion's  sister,  who  came  to  see  her 
brother  three  days  before  his  death.  That  if  he  would  hut  yield  to 
change  his  religio7i  he  would  secure  him  a f 100  a year ; but  Mr.  Campion 
had  too  well  studied  that  great  lesson.  What  will  it  profit  a man  to 
gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  his  own  soul?  to  be  moved  by  any  such 
offers. 

On  the  morning  of  the  ist  of  December^  he  was  brought  to  Mr. 
Sherwine  and  Mr.  Brian ^ who  were  to  be  his  companions  in  death, 
who  waited  for  him  in.  the  Coleharbour  prison;  and  after  mutual 
embraces,  they  were  all  three  led  out  to  the  hurdles  prepared  for 
them.  Father  Campion  saluting  the  people  at  his  coming  out  with 
these  words,  God  save  you  all!  God  bless  you,  and  make  you  all  good 
Catholics!  ‘ They  were  drawn  from  the  Tower  to  Tyburn'  says 
my  author,  ‘ there  to  be  martyred  for  the  Catholic  faith  and  religion. 
Father  Campion  was  alone  on  one  hurdle,  and  the  other  two  together 
on  another,  all  molested  by  ministers  and  others  calling  upon  them 
by  the  way  for  their  subversion,  and  by  some  also,  as  opportunity 
served,  comforted;  and  Father  Campion  especially  consulted  by  one 
in  some  cases  of  conscience  and  religion,  and  the  mire  wherewith 
he  was  all  spattered  most  courteously  wiped  off  his  face. 

‘ When  they  were  come  to  the  place  of  execution,  where  divers 
of  her  Majesty’s  honourable  Council,  with  many  other  persons  of 
honour,  besides  an  infinite  multitude  of  people,  attended  their 
coming.  Father  Campion  was  first  brought  up  into  the  cart,  where, 
after  some  small  pause,  he  began  to  speak  upon  that  text  of  St.  Paul, 
I Cor.  iv.  9 : We  are  made  a spectacle  to  the  world,  &c.,  but  was  inter- 
rupted by  Sir  Francis  Knowles  and  the  Sheriffs  urging  him  to  confess 
his  treason  against  her  Majesty,  and  to  acknowledge  himself  guilty; 
to  whom  he  answered.  For  the  treasons  zvhich  have  been  laid  to  my 
charge  and  I am  come  here  to  suffer  for,  I desire  you  all  to  bear  witness 
with  me  that  thereof  I am  altogether  innocent. 

‘ Whereupon  answer  was  made  to  him  by  one  of  the  Council, 
that  he  might  not  seem  to  deny  the  objections  against  him,  having 
been  proved  by  sufficient  evidence.  Well,  my  lord,  said  he,  / am  a 
Catholic  man  and  a priest.  In  that  faith  have  I lived,  and  in  that 
faith  do  I intend  to  die;  and  if  you  esteem  my  religion  treason,  then  am 
I guilty.  As  for  any  other  treason,  I never  committed,  God  is  my 
judge;  but  you  have  now  what  you  desire.  I beseech  you  to  have 
patience,  and  suffer  me  to  speak  a word  or  two  for  discharge  of  my 

28 


i58i] 


EDMUND  CAMPION 


conscience.  But  not  being  suffered  to  go  forward,  he  was  forced 
to  speak  only  to  that  point  which  they  most  urged,  protesting  That 
he  was  innocent  of  all  treason  and  conspiracy,  desiring  credit  to  he  given 
to^  his  answers  as  to  the  last  answer  made  upon  his  death  and  sold; 
adding.  That  the  jury  might  easily  he  deceived,  hut  that  he  forgave 
all,  as  he  desired  to  be  forgiven  ; desiring  all  them  to  forgive  him  whose 
names  he  had  confessed  upon  the  rack  {for,  upon  the  Commissioners' 
oaths  that  no  harm  should  come  unto  them,  he  uttered  some  persons 
with  whom  he  had  been). 

Further,  he  declared  the  meaning  of  a letter  sent  by  himself, 
in  time  of  his  imprisonment,  to  Mr.  Pound,  a prisoner  then  also  in 
the  Tower,  in  which  he  wrote.  That  he  would  not  disclose  the  secrets  of 
some  houses  where  he  had  been  entertained;  affirming  upon  his  soul. 
That  the  secrets  he  meant  in  that  letter  were  not,  as  it  was  miscon- 
strued by  the  enemy,  treason  or  conspiracy , or  any  matter  else  against  her 
Majesty  or  the  State,  but  saying  of  Mass,  hearing  confessions,  preach- 
ing, and  such-like  duties  and  functions  of  priesthood.  This  he  pro- 
tested to  be  true  as  he  would  answer  before  God. 

‘ They  pressed  him  to  declare  his  opinion  of  Pius  Quintus  his  Bull 
concerning  the  excommunication  of  the  Queen;  to  which  demand 
he  gave  no  answer.  Then  they  asked  whether  he  renounced  the 
Pope.  He  answered.  He  was  a Catholic;  whereupon  one  inferred, 
saying.  In  your  Catholicism  (I  noted  the  term)  all  treason  is  contained. 
In  fine,  preparing  himself  to  drink  his  last  draught  of  Christ's  cup, 
he  was  interrupted  in  his  prayer  by  a minister,  willing  him  to  say 
some  prayer  with  him;  unto  whom,  looking  back  with  a mild  coun- 
tenance, he  meekly  replied.  You  and  I are  not  one  in  religion,  where- 
fore I pray  you  content  yourself.  I bar  none  of  prayer,  only  I desire 
them  of  the  household  of  faith  to  pray  with  me,  and  in  my  agony  to 
say  one  Creed  (for  a signification  that  he  died  for  the  confession  of 
the  Catholic  Faith  therein  contained). 

‘ Some  also  called  to  him  to  pray  in  English,  to  whom  he  answered. 
That  he  would  pray  in  a language  he  well  understood.  At  the  upshot 
of  this  conflict  he  was  willed  to  ask  the  Queen’s  forgiveness,  and  to 
pray  for  her;  he  meekly  answered.  Wherein  have  I offended  her? 
In  this  I am  innocent:  this  is  my  last  speech:  in  this  give  me  credit: 
I have  and  do  pray  for  her.  Then  the  Lord  Charles  Howard  asked  of 
him  for  which  Queen  he  prayed,  whether  for  Elizabeth  the  Queen  ? 
to  whom  he  answered.  Yea,  for  Elizabeth,  your  Queen  and  my  Queen. 
And  the  cart  being  drawn  away,  he  meekly  and  sweetly  yielded  his 
soul  unto  his  Saviour,  protesting  that  he  died  a perfect  Catholic. 

‘ Which  his  mild  death  and  former  sincere  protestations  of  his 

29 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1581 


innocency  moved  the  people  to  such  compassion  and  tears,  that  the 
adversaries,  in  their  printed  books  [of  his  death  under  Mimday's 
name^  were  glad  to  excuse  the  matter.’ 

He  suffered  at  Tyburn,  December  i,  1581,  cetatis  anno  42. 

The  gentlemen  that  were  brought  up  to  London  at  the  same 
time  with  Father  Campion,  and  cast  into  prison,  were  Edward  Yates, 
John  Cotton,  Edward  Kaines,  William  Hildesley,  Humphrey  Kaines, 
Philip  Law,  and  John  James. 


RALPH  SHERWINE,  Priest.^ 

He  was  born  in  Derbyshire,  at  a place  called  Rodsley,  near  Long- 
ford, and  brought  up  in  Exeter  College,  in  Oxford,  where  he 
was  admitted  Fellow  in  1568.  ‘ In  1574/  says  Mr.  Wood, 

Athence  Oxonienses,  ‘ proceeding  in  Arts,  he  was  made  Senior  of  the 
Act  celebrated  July  26  the  same  year,  being  then  accounted  an  acute 
philosopher  and  an  excellent  Grecian  and  Hebrician.'  [He  left  the 
University  in  1575,  and  with  it  the  Protestant  religion,  which  it  seems 
did  not  sit  easy  upon  his  conscience,  and]  ‘ went  over  to  Dcway 
to  the  Seminary  that  was  then  there,’  says  my  author,  ‘ and 
after  some  years’  study  in  divinity  was  made  priest  by  the  Bishop 
of  Cambray  on  the  23d  of  March,  1577,  together  with  Mr.  Laurence 
Johnson,  that  was  martyred  under  the  name  of  Richardson,  [and 
eight  others.]  And  the  2d  of  August  of  the  same  year  he  was  sent 
to  Rome,  in  company  with  Mr.  Rishton,  who  was  afterwards  con- 
demned with  him,  where  he  studied  in  the  Seminary  till  the  year 
1580,  at  which  time  he  returned  homeward  by  the  way  of  Rhemes, 
[where  he  made  some  short  stay,  upon  a design  of  accompanying, 
in  quality  of  chaplain.  Dr.  Goldwell,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  who  then 
purposeei  to  come  over  to  England  to  administer  Confirmation  to 
the  Catholics;  but  the  Bishop  falling  sick  at  Rhemes,  and  proceeding 
no  further  in  his  journey,]  Mr.  Sherwine  went  forward  towards 
England,  where,  after  his  arrival,  he  occupied  himself  in  all  functions 
belonging  to  priesthood,  with  great  zeal  and  charity;  and  soon  after 
was  taken  in  Mr.  Roscarroke's  chamber  in  London,  and  committed 
to  the  Marshalsea,  where  he  lay  night  and  day  in  a great  pair  of 
shackles  for  the  space  of  a month. 

* Bd.  Ralph  Sherwin. — From  Allen’s  Briefe  Historie;  see  also  Lives  of 
E.  M.,  I.  ii. 


30 


RALPH  SHERWINE 


1581] 

‘ In  November^  after  his  imprisonment,  there  came  word  from 
the  Knight-Marshal  to  the  keeper  of  the  Marshalsea  to  understand 
of  him  whether  there  were  any  Papists  in  his  prison  that  durst  or 
would  maintain  their  cause  by  disputation;  and  if  there  were  any  such, 
that  then  they  should  send  him  such  questions  as  they  woidd  defend, 
subscribed  with  their  hands,  and  make  themselves  ready  to  dispute,  for 
they  shoidd  understand  from  him  shortly  of  the  manner,  time,  and 
place,  how  and  where  to  dispute.  This  motion  was  so  well  liked  of 
the  Catholics,  that  Mr.  Sherwine  and  two  other  priests,  that  were 
afterwards  condemned  with  him,  viz.,  Mr.  John  Hart  and  Mr. 
Bosgrave,  offered  themselves  to  the  combat,  drew  up  questions, 
subscribed  their  names,  and  sent  them  to  the  said  Knight-Marshal; 
but  the  questions  pleasing  him  not,  they  accepted  of  other  questions 
sent  unto  them  from  him,  and  expected  with  joyful  minds  the  day 
appointed  to  dispute.  But  lo  ! the  very  day  before  they  should 
have  disputed,  Mr.  Sherwine  was  removed  to  the  Tozver,  where  he 
was  at  sundry  and  several  times  examined  and  racked. 

‘ In  his  first  racking  he  was  asked  where  Father  Campioii  and 
Father  Parsons  were;  why  he  and  they  came  over  into  England; 
what  acquaintance  he  had  here  in  England;  whether  he  had  said 
Mass  in  Mr.  Roscarroke's  chamber;  and  whether  he  had  of  him  at 
any  time  money.  He  was  a close  prisoner  almost  a whole  year,  in 
which  time  he  had  divers  conferences  with  ministers,  sometimes  in 
private,  at  other  times  in  an  open  audience  of  honourable  and 
worshipful  persons,  to  the  honour  of  God,  the  benefit  of  His  afflicted 
Church,  and  to  the  admiration  of  most  of  his  hearers. 

‘ He  was,  after  his  first  racking,  set  out  in  a great  snow,  and  laid 
upon  the  rack;  and  the  gentleman  in  whose  chamber  he  was  taken 
was  kept  in  a bye  dark  corner  to  hear  his  pitiful  groans.  [Of  his 
second  racking,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Broughton,  in  a manuscript  relation 
sent  over  to  Doway  in  1626,  writes,  that  his  brother,  Mr.  John 
Sherwine,  still  living,  being  asked  by  a priest  concerning  his  brother, 
told  him  that  he,  coming  to  his  brother  in  the  Tower  of  London,  his 
said  brother  told  him.  That  he  had  been  twice  racked,  and  the  latter 
time  he  lay  five  days  and  nights  without  any  food  or  speaking  to  any- 
body. All  which  time  he  lay,  as  he  thought,  in  a sleep  before  our 
Saviour  on  the  cross.  After  which  time  he  came  to  himself,  not  finding 
any  distemper  in  his  jomts  by  the  extremity  of  the  torture.  It  was 
offered  him  by  the  Bishops  of  Canterbury  and  London,  that  if  he 
woidd  hut  go  to  Paul’s  Church,  he  shoidd  have  the  second  bishopric 
of  England.] 

‘ On  Midsummer  Day,  in  the  year  1581,  he  was  called  before  the 

31 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1581 


Lieutenant  of  the  Tower  (as  likewise  all  his  fellow-prisoners  were), 
who  demanded  of  him,  by  commission  from  the  Council,  whether 
he  would  go  to  their  Common-Prayer  service.  Who  refusing,  the 
Lieutenant  told  him  the  danger  of  a late  statute  made  in  that  behalf ; 
and  further,  that  he  should  be  indicted  upon  that  statute  within  two 
or  three  days.  So  that  at  that  time  it  seems  they  had  no  such 
matter  to  lay  against  him  as  was  afterwards  pretended,  for  it  was  not 
as  then  thoroughly  hatched. 

‘ The  order  of  his  life  [during  his  imprisonment]  in  his  spare 
diet,  his  continual  prayer  and  meditation,  his  long  watching,  with 
frequent  and  sharp  discipline  used  upon  his  body,  caused  great 
admiration  to  his  keeper,  who  would  always  call  him  a man  of  God, 
and  the  best  and  devoutest  priest  that  ever  he  saw  in  his  life.’ 

He  was  brought  to  the  bar,  as  we  have  seen,  with  Father 
Campion,  and  condemned  for  the  same  pretended  conspiracy,  of 
which,  both  living  and  dying,  he  ever  protested  himself  to  be  wholly 
innocent.  After  his  condemnation  he  wrote  to  his  friends  in  the 
following  terms : — ‘ Y'our  liberality  I have  received,  and  disposed 
thereof  to  my  great  contentation ; when  hereafter,  at  the  pleasure 
of  God,  we  shall  meet  in  heaven,  I trust  you  shall  be  repaid,  cum 
fcenore.  Delay  of  our  death  doth  somewhat  dull  me;  it  was  not 
without  cause  that  our  Master  Himself  said.  Quod  facts  fac  cito. 

‘ Truth  it  is,  I hoped  ere  this,  casting  off  this  body  of  death,  to 
have  kissed  the  precious  glorified  wounds  of  my  sweet  Saviour, 
sitting  in  the  throne  of  His  Father’s  own  glory.  Which  desire,  as  I 
trust,  descending  from  above,  hath  so  quieted  my  mind,  that,  since 
the  judicial  sentence  proceeded  against  us,  neither  the  sharpness  of 
the  death  hath  much  terrified  me,  nor  the  shortness  of  life  much 
troubled  me. 

‘ My  sins  are  great,  I confess,  but  I flee  to  God’s  mercy;  my 
negligences  are  without  number,  I grant,  but  I appeal  to  my  Re- 
deemer’s clemency:  I have  no  boldness  but  in  His  blood;  His  bitter 
Passion  is  my  only  consolation.  It  is  comfortable  that  the  prophet 
hath  recorded  that  He  hath  written  us  in  His  hands.  Oh  ! that  He 
would  vouchsafe  to  write  Himself  in  our  hearts;  how  joyful  should 
we  then  appear  before  the  tribunal-seat  of  His  Father’s  glory,  the 
dignity  whereof,  when  I think  of,  my  flesh  quaketh,  not  sustaining, 
by  reason  of  mortal  infirmity,  the  presence  of  my  Creator’s  majesty. 

‘ Our  Lord  perfect  us  to  that  end  whereunto  we  were  created, 
that,  leaving  this  world,  we  may  live  in  Him,  and  of  Him,  world 
without  end.  It  is  thought  that  upon  Monday  or  Tuesday  next 
we  shall  be  passible.  God  grant  us  humility,  that  we,  following 

32 


RALPH  SHERWINE 


1581] 

His  footsteps,  may  obtain  the  victory.’  So  far  the  letter,  which 
speaks  the  spirit  of  the  man. 

‘ When  he  came  out  of  the  Lieutenant’s  hall,  with  others  of  his 
companions,  two  days  or  there  abouts  before  he  was  martyred, 
(having  talked  with  a minister  who  was  never  so  held  up  to  the  wall 
in  his  life,  by  report  of  such  as  stood  by),  he  uttered  these  Words, 
Ah,  Father  Campion  ! I shall  he  shortly  above  yonder  fellow,  pointing 
to  the  Sun,  with  such  a courage  that  some  said  he  w^as  the  resolutest 
man  that  ever  they  saw. 

‘ He  will  never  be  forgotten  in  the  Tower  for  some  words  w^hich  he 
spoke  when  he  was  ready  to  go  to  execution.  Charke,  the  minister, 
can  best  report  them,  who  stood  hard  by.  Some  of  Charke' s 
fellow  ministers  said  those  words  could  not  come  from  a guilty 
conscience.’ 

The  day  before  his  death  he  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  John  Woodward,  his  uncle : — 


‘ Absit  lit  gloriemur  nisi  in  cruce  Domini  Jesu  Christi,  &c. 

‘ My  Dearest  Uncle, 

‘ After  many  conflicts,  mixed  with  spiritual  consolations 
and  Christian  comforts,  it  hath  pleased  God,  of  His  infinite  mercy, 
to  call  me  out  of  this  vale  of  misery.  To  Him,  therefore,  for  all  His 
benefits,  all  times  and  for  ever  be  all  praise  and  glory. 

‘ Your  tender  care  always  had  over  me,  and  cost  bestow^ed  on  me, 
I trust  in  heaven  shall  be  rewarded.  My  prayers  you  have  still  had, 
and  that  was  but  duty;  other  tokens  of  a grateful  mind  I could  not 
show  by  reason  of  my  restrained  necessity. 

‘ This  very  morning,  which  is  the  festival  of  St.  Andrew,  I was 
advertised  by  superior  authority  that  to-morrow  I was  to  end  the 
course  of  this  life.  God  grant  that  I may  do  it  to  the  imitation  of 
this  noble  apostle  and  servant  of  God,  and  that  with  joy  I may  say, 
rising  off  the  hurdle.  Salve  sancta  crux,  etc. 

‘ Innocency  is  my  only  comfort  against  all  the  forged  villainy 
which  is  fathered  on  my  fellow  priests  and  me.  Well,  when  by  the 
High  Judge,  God  Himself,  this  false  vizard  of  treason  shall  be 
removed  from  true  Catholic  men’s  faces,  then  shall  it  appear  who 
they  be  that  carry  a well  meaning,  and  who  an  evil,  murdering  mind. 
In  the  mean  season,  God  forgive  all  injustice,  and  if  it  be  His  blessed 
will  to  convert  our  persecutors,  that  they  may  become  professors 
of  His  truth. 

‘ Prayers  for  my  soul  procure  for  me,  my  loving  patron:  and  so, 

33  c 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [158 


having  great  need  to  prepare  myself  for  God,  never  quieter  in  mind, 
nor  less  troubled  towards  God,  binding  all  my  iniquities  up  in  His 
precious  wounds,  I bid  you  farewell;  yea,  and  once  again,  the 
lovingest  uncle  that  ever  kinsman  had  in  this  world,  farewell. 

‘ God  grant  us  both  His  grace  and  blessing  until  the  end,  that, 
living  in  His  fear  and  dying  in  His  favour,  we  may  enjoy  one  the 
other  for  ever.  Salute  all  my  fellow  Catholics.  And  so,  without 
farther  troubling  of  you,  my  sweetest  benefactor,  farewell.  On  St. 
Andrew's  Day^  1581- 

‘ Your  Cousin, 

‘ Ralph  Sherwine,  Priest.' 

After  hlr.  Campion  was  executed  and  the  butchery  finished,  the 
hangman,  taking  hold  of  Mr.  Sherwine  with  his  hands  all  bloody,  said 
to  him,  thinking  to  terrify  him.  Come,  Sherwine,  take  thou  also  thy 
wages.  But  the  holy  man,  nothing  dismayed,  embraced  him  with 
a cheerful  countenance,  and  reverently  kissed  the  blood  that  stuck 
to  his  hands;  at  which  the  people  were  very  much  moved.  Then 
getting  into  the  cart,  he  employed  some  time  in  prayer  and  con- 
templation, having  his  eyes  shut  and  his  hands  lifted  up  to  heaven. 
After  which  he  asked.  If  the  people  looked  for  any  speech  froyn  him. 
Many  of  the  people,  and  some  also  of  the  more  honourable  sort, 
answering,  Yes,  he  began  with  a manly  courage  and  a loud  voice, 
first  to  render  thanks  to  each  of  the  three  Persons  of  the  eternal 
Trinity  for  the  mercies  and  blessings  bestowed  upon  him,  and  then 
was  going  on  to  give  an  account  of  his  faith,  when  Sir  Francis 
Knowles  interrupted  him,  and  bade  him  confess  his  treason  against 
the  Queen.  Mr.  Shei’wine  with  great  constancy  replied,  I am  innocent 
of  any  such  crime.  And  when  he  was  still  farther  pressed  to  acknow- 
ledge himself  guilty,  he  said,  I have  no  occasion  to  tell  a lie;  'tis  a 
case  where  my  soul  is  at  stake;  and  so  still  persisted  to  maintain  his 
innocence,  adding.  That  although  in  this  short  time  of  mortal  life 
he  was  to  undergo  the  infamy  and  punishment  of  a traitor,  he  made 
no  douht  of  his  future  happiness  through  Jesus  Christ,  in  whose  death, 
passion,  and  blood  he  only  trusted. 

‘ Then  he  made  a sweet  prayer  to  our  Cord  Jesus,  acknowledging 
the  imperfection,  misery,  and  sinful  wretchedness  of  his  own  nature, 
still  protesting  his  innocence  from  all  treasons  and  traitorous  prac- 
tices, and  that  his  going  out  of  this  realm  beyond  the  seas  was  only 
for  his  soul’s  health,  to  learn  to  save  his  soul.  And  being  again 
tempted  by  Sir  Francis  Knowles,  he  answered  in  this  wise.  Tush, 
tush!  you  and  I shall  answer  this  before  another  Judge,  whei'e  my 

34 


RALPH  SHERWINE 


1581] 

innocence  shall  be  known,  and  yon  will  see  that  I am  guiltless  of  this. 
Whereupon  Sir  Francis  said,  We  know  you  are  no  contriver  or  doer 
of  this  treason,  for  you  are  no  man  of  arms ; but  you  are  a traitor  by 
consequence.  But  Mr.  Sherwine  boldly  answered,  If  to  be  a Catholic 
only,  if  to  be  a perfect  Catholic,  be  to  be  a traitor,  then  am  I a traitor. 

‘ After  which  words,  being  by  authority  debarred  of  any  further 
speech,  he  said,  I forgive  all  who,  either  by  general  presumption  or 
particular  error,  have  procured  my  death;  and  so  devoutly  prayed 
to  his  Saviour  Jesus.  After  which  prayer  he  was  pressed  to  speak 
his  opinion  touching  Pope  Pius  his  Bull : to  which  point  he  gave  no 
answer.  Then  being  willed  to  pray  for  the  Queen,  he  answered,  1 
have  and  do.  At  which  words  the  Lord  Howard  again  asked  which 
Queen  he  meant,  whether  Elizabeth  Queen  ? To  whom,  somewhat 
smiling,  he  said.  Yea,  for  Elizabeth  Queen  I now  at  this  instant  pray 
my  Lord  God  to  make  her  His  servant  in  this  life,  and  after  this  life 
coheir  with  Jesus  Christ. 

‘ When  he  had  thus  prayed,  there  was  some  that  said  openly 
that  he  meant  to  make  her  a Papist;  to  whom  he  boldly  replied, 
God  forbid  otherwise;  and  so  recollecting  himself  in  prayer,  he  died 
patiently,  constantly,  and  mildly,  crying,  Jesu,  Jesii,  Jesu,  be  to  me 
a Jesus  I 


ALEXANDER  BRIAN,  Priest  * 

He  was  born  in  Dorsetshire,  and  studied  for  a while  in  Hart 
Hall,  Oxford;  but  not  liking  the  religion  of  the  times,  he  left 
both  the  University  and  the  kingdom,  and  went  over  to  Dow  ay 
to  the  English  College  or  Seminary  there,  anno  1576.  Here  and 
at  Rhemes  he  prosecuted  his  studies;  and  being  ordained  priest,  w^as 
sent  back  upon  the  English  mission  in  1 579,  where,  before  his  appre- 
hension, he  reconciled  to  the  Church  an  ancient  gentleman,  father 
to  Robert  Parsons,  S.J. 

‘About  the  28th  of  April,  1581,  he  was  apprehended  in  his 
chamber  at  midnight  by  Norton;  his  chamber  was  rifled,  and  3/.  in 
money  taken  from  him  {For  that  is  a principal  verb,  says  my  author, 
in  all  apprehensions  of  Catholics)',  his  apparel  and  other  things, 
especially  a trunk  wherein  was  a silver  chalice,  and  much  other  good 

* Bd.  Alexander  Brian  or  Briant. — From  Allen’s  Briefe  Historic, 
published  in  1582;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

35 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1581 


stuff  which  was  not  his,  but  committed  to  his  custody,  was  taken 
away  also,  and  he  sent  close  prisoner  to  the  Coimtei'^  with  command- 
ment to  stop  all  that  asked  for  him,  and  that  he  should  have  neither 
meat  nor  drink;  who  in  such  order  continued  till  he  was  almost 
famished.  At  last,  by  friendship,  or  by  what  means  I know  not, 
he  got  a pennyworth  of  hard  cheese  and  a little  broken  bread,  with 
a pint  of  strong  beer,  which  brought  him  into  such  an  extreme 
thirst  that  he  essayed  to  catch  with  his  hat  the  drops  of  rain  from 
the  house  eaves,  but  could  not  reach  them. 

‘ The  morrow  after  the  Ascension  Day  he  was  removed  to  the 
Tower ^ where  he  verily  thought  he  should  have  been  utterly  famished, 
and  therefore  carried  with  him  a little  piece  of  his  hard  cheese, 
which  his  keeper  in  searching  him  found  about  him;  but  Mr.  Brian 
humbly  entreated  him  not  to  take  it  from  him.  Within  two  days 
after  his  coming  to  the  Tower  he  was  brought  before  the  Lieutenant, 
Mr.  Dr.  Hammond,  and  Norton,  who  examined  him  after  their 
common  manner,  first  tendering  an  oath  to  answer  to  all,  &c.  And 
because  he  would  not  confess  where  he  had  seen  Father  Parsons,  how 
he  was  maintained,  where  he  had  said  A lass,  and  whose  confessions 
he  had  heard,  they  caused  needles  to  be  thrust  under  his  nails, 
whereat  Mr.  Brian  was  not  moved  at  all,  but,  with  a constant  mind 
and  pleasant  countenance,  said  the  psalm  Misei'ere,  desiring  God  to 
forgive  his  tormentors;  whereat  Dr.  Hammond  stamped  and  stared 
as  a man  half  beside  himself,  saying.  What  a thing  is  this  ! If  a man 
were  not  settled  in  his  religion,  this  were  enough  to  convert  him. 

‘ After  this  he  was,  even  to  the  disjointing  of  his  body,  rent  and 
torn  upon  the  rack,  because  he  would  not  confess  where  Father 
Parsons  was,  where  the  print  was,  and  what  books  he  had  sold,  and 
so  was  returned  to  his  lodgings  for  that  time;  yet  the  next  day 
following,  notwithstanding  the  great  distemperature  and  soreness 
of  his  whole  body,  his  senses  being  dead  and  his  blood  congealed, 
he  was  brought  to  the  torture  again,  and  there  stretched  with  greater 
severity  than  before;  insomuch,  that  supposing  with  himself  they 
would  pluck  him  in  pieces,  he  put  on  the  armour  of  patience,  resolving 
to  die  rather  than  to  hurt  any  creature  living,  and  having  his  mind 
raised  in  contemplation  of  Christ's  bitter  Passion.  At  his  racking 
he  sounded  away,  so  that  they  were  fain  to  sprinkle  cold  water  on 
his  face  to  revive  him  again,  yet  they  released  no  part  of  his  pain. 

‘ And  here  Norton,  because  they  could  get  nothing  of  him,  asked 
him  whether  the  Queen  were  supreme  head  of  the  Church  of  England 
or  not.  To  this  he  said,  I am  a Catholic,  and  I believe  in  this  as  a 
Catholic  should  do.  Why,  said  Norton,  [they  say  the  Pope  is.] 

36 


ALEXANDER  BRIAN 


1581] 

And  so  say  /,  answered  Mr.  Brian.  Here  also  the  Lieutenant  used 
railing  and  reviling  words,  and  slapped  him  on  the  cheeks  after  an 
uncharitable  manner;  and  all  the  Commissioners  rose  up  and  went 
away,  giving  commandment  to  leave  him  so  all  night:  at  which, 
when  they  saw  he  was  nothing  moved,  they  ordered  he 'Should  be 
taken  from  the  torment,  and  sent  him  again  to  Walesboure,  where, 
not  able  to  move  hand  or  foot  or  any  part  of  his  body,  he  lay  in  his 
clothes  fifteen  days  together  without  bedding,  in  great  pain  and 
anguish. 

‘ These  torments  and  the  man’s  constancy  are  comparable  truly 
to  the  old  sufferings  of  the  renowned  martyrs  of  the  Primitive  Church, 
which  he  could  never  have  borne  by  human  strength  if  God  had  not 
given  him  singular  and  supernatural  grace.  Himself  confessed  that 
by  a vow  he  made  and  other  special  exercises,  he  had  great  consola- 
tion in  all  these  vexations;  whereof  I will  set  down  his  own  words 
in  an  epistle  that  he  wrote  to  the  Fathers  of  the  Society  in  England, 
[where,  after  having  acquainted  them  with  a vow  he  had  made. 
That  if  God  should  he  pleased  to  deliver  him,  he  would  enter  into  their 
Society  within  one  year  next  ensuing,  he  writes  thus:] — ‘ The  same 
day  that  I was  first  tormented  on  the  rack,  before  1 came  to  the  place, 
giving  my  mind  to  prayer,  and  commending  myself  and  all  mine  to  our 
Lord,  I was  replenished  and  filled  up  with  a kind  of  supernatural 
sweetness  of  spirit;  and  even  while  I was  calling  upon  the  most  holy 
name  of  Jesus,  and  upon  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  {for  I was  saying 
the  Rosary),  my  mind  was  cheerfully  disposed,  well  comforted,  and 
readily  prepared  and  bent  to  suffer  and  endure  those  torments  ivhich 
even  then  I most  certainly  looked  for,  &c.  Whether  this  that  I will 
say  be  miraculous  or  no,  God  he  knoweth;  hut  true  it  is,  and  thereof 
my  conscience  is  a witness  before  God.  And  this  I say,  that  in  the 
end  of  the  torture,  though  my  hands  and  feet  wei'e  violently  stretched 
and  racked,  and  my  adversaries  fulfilled  their  wicked  lust  in  practising 
their  cruel  tyranyiy  upon  my  body,  yet,  notwithstanding , I was  without 
sense  and  feeling,  well  nigh  of  all  grief  and  pain;  and  not  so  only,  but 
as  it  were  comforted,  eased,  and  refreshed  of  the  griefs  of  the  torture 
bypast.  I contmued  still  with  perfect  and  present  senses  in  quietness  of 
heart  and  tranquillity  of  mind.  Which  thing  when  the  Commissioners  did 
see,  they  departed,  and  in  going  forth  of  the  door  they  gave  orders  to 
rack  me  again  the  next  day  following  after  the  same  sort.  Now  when 
I heard  them  say  so,  it  gave  me  in  my  mind  by-and-by,  afjd  I did  verily 
believe  and  trust  that,  with  the  help  of  God,  I should  be  able  to  bear 
and  suffei’  it  patiently.  In  the  mean  time,  as  well  as  I coidd,  I did 
muse  and  meditate  upon  the  most  bitter  Passion  of  our  Saviour,  and 

37 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1581 


how  full  of  innumerable  pains  it  was.  And  whilst  I was  thus  occupied., 
methought  that  my  left  hand  was  wounded  in  the  palm^  and  that  I 
felt  the  blood  run  out;  but  in  very  deed  there  was  no  such  thing.,  nor 
any  other  pain  than  that  which  seemed  to  be  in  my  hand.'  So  far 
Mr.  Brian. 

‘ When  he  went  to  Westminster  Hall  to  be  condemned,  he  made 
a cross  of  such  wood  as  he  could  get,  which  he  carried  with  him 
openly;  he  made  shift  also  to  shave  his  crown,  because  he  would 
signify  to  the  ministers  (who  at  his  apprehension  had  scoffed  and 
mocked  him,  saying  that  he  was  ashamed  of  his  vocation)  that  he 
was  not  ashamed  of  his  holy  orders,  nor  yet  that  he  would  blush  at 
his  religion.  When  he  was  condemned,  irons  were  commanded  to 
be  put  upon  him  and  the  rest,  and  they  were  never  taken  off  till 
they  were  fetched  forth  to  be  martyred.’ 

After  Mr.  Campion  and  Mr.  Sherwine  had  finished  their  course, 
IMr.  Brian  was  ordered  up  into  the  cart.  ‘ Being  there  prepared  to 
death,  he  began  first  to  declare  his  bringing  up  in  the  Catholic  faith 
and  religion,  and  his  being  in  Oxford;  upon  which  word  he  was  cut 
short  by  one  saying.  What  have  we  to  do  with  Oxford?  come  to  thy 
purpose  and  confess  thy  treason.  Whereupon  he  answered,  / am 
not  guilty  of  any  such  thing;  I was  never  at  Rome  nor  at  Rhemes  at 
that  time  when  Dr.  Saunders  came  into  Ireland,  [the  time  of  the 
pretended  conspiracy.]  To  this  end  he  spoke  and  protested,  as  he 
would  answer  before  God. 

‘ He  spake  not  much ; but  whereas  he  was  urged  more  than  the 
other  two  to  speak  what  he  thought  of  the  bull  of  Pius  Quintus,  he 
said.  He  did  believe  of  it,  as  all  Catholics  did,  and  the  Catholic  Faith 
doth;  and  thereupon  protesting  himself  to  die  a true  Catholic,  as 
he  was  saying  Miserere  mei  Deus,  he  was  delivered  of  the  cart,  with 
more  pain,  by  negligence  of  the  hangman,  than  either  of  the  others; 
who,  after  his  beheading,  being  dismembered,  his  heart,  bowels, 
and  entrails  burned,  to  the  great  admiration  of  some,  being  laid 
upon  the  block,  his  belly  downwards,  lifted  up  his  whole  body  then 
remaining  from  the  ground.  And  this  I add  upon  report  of  others, 
not  my  own  sight.’ 

Mr.  Brian  was  but  twenty-eight  years  old  when  he  suffered.  My 
author  gives  his  character  in  short  in  these  words:  ‘ He  was  a man 
not  unlearned,  of  a very  sweet  grace  in  preaching,  and  of  an  exceed- 
ing great  zeal,  patience,  constancy,  and  humility.’ 

Mr.  Stozo,  in  his  Chronicle  of  this  year,  makes  mention  of  the 
execution  of  Mr.  Campion,  Mr.  Sherwine,  and  Mr.  Brian: — ‘ The 
I St  of  December,'  says  he,  ‘ Edmund  Campion,  Jesuit,  Ralph  Sherwine 

38 


1582] 


JOHN  PAINE 


and  Alexander  Brian ^ Seminary  priests,  were  drawn  from  the  Tower 
of  London  to  Tyburn^  and  there  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered/ 

The  learned  and  truly  pious  Father  Lewis^  of  Grenada^  in  the 
abridgment  of  his  Catechism,  makes  a very  honourable  mention 
of  Father  Campion^  Mr.  Sherwine^  and  Mr.  Brian ^ as  illustrious 
martyrs,  with  an  account  of  their  deaths,  agreeable  to  what  has  been 
set  down  above. 

N,B. — Mr.  Brian,  as  appears  from  his  letter  recorded  by  Dr. 
Bridgewater  in  his  Concertatio,  desired  before  his  death  to  be  received 
into  the  Society  of  Jesus,  and  it  seems  his  request  was  granted  him 
by  the  Fathers  of  the  Society,  who  always  give  him  a place  amongst 
their  martyrs. 


[ 1582.  ] 

JOHN  PAINE,  Priest  * 

He  was  born  in  Northamptonshire.  In  what  college  he  was 
educated  in  either  of  our  Universities  at  home  I have  not 
found ; but  he  was  admitted  into  the  English  College  of  Doway 
in  1575,  ordained  priest  the  following  year,  and  sent  upon  the  English 
mission  at  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Cuthbert  Maine,  and  there  laboured 
with  great  fruit.  His  residence  was  chiefly  in  Essex,  at  the  house  of 
the  Lady  Petre.  He  was  apprehended  and  committed  in  1581,  and 
carried  to  the  Tower  of  London,  where  he  was  most  cruelly  racked. 
But  his  trial  and  execution  was  at  Chelmsford,  in  Essex;  of  which  I 
take  the  following  extract  from  an  unexceptionable  witness: — 

‘ The  20th  of  March,  1582,  Sir  Owen  Hopton,  Lieutenant  of  the 
Tower,  came  to  Mr.  Paine's  chamber-door,  and  by  knocking  raised 
him  out  of  bed,  who  had  much  watched  before,  and  hastened  him 
to  come  forth  half-dressed,  not  telling  him  to  what  end;  but  being 
afterwards  advertised  how  the  matter  stood,  and  perceiving  that  he 
was  to  be  removed,  [from  the  Tower  to  Chelmsford  jail,]  he  desired 
leave  to  return  into  his  chamber  to  make  himself  ready,  and  to  fetch 
his  purse,  which  he  had  left  behind  him;  but  this  was  not  granted, 
but  he  was  delivered  to  certain  officers  there  attending,  to  be  con- 
ducted into  Essex,  according  to  the  appointment  of  the  Council. 

* Bd.  John  Paine. — From  Allen’s  Brief e Historic,  published  in  1582, 
and  from  the  Diary  of  Douay  College;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

39 


2 38  19 


MEAIOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


Mr.  Paine  in  his  cassock  only  went  forward  with  them,  being  the 
more  gently  dealt  with  that  he  was  not  bound  at  all.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  Lady  Hopton  took  care  to  secure  his  purse  for  her  own  use. 

‘ On  the  Friday  following  he  was  arraigned  after  this  manner: 
First,  his  indictment  was  read,  viz.,  that  Mr.  Paine  should  utter 
to  one  Eliot,  at  a certain  Christmas,  lying  with  him  in  his  chamber. 
That  many  devices  have  been  heretofore  concerning  the  change  of 
religion,  and  yet  none  have  prosperously  succeeded;  but,  of  all  others, 
this  seemeth  the  best  which  I have  heard,  said  he,  sometime  mentioned 
by  the  Earl  of  Westmoreland,  Dr.  Allen,  and  Dr.  Bristow,  that  fifty 
men,  well  appointed  with  privy  coats  and  dagges,  should  espy  some 
opportunity  when  the  Queen  was  in  her  progress,  and  kill  the  Queen^s 
Majesty,  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  and  Mr.  Walsingham,  and  then  to 
proclaim  the  Queen  of  Scots.  Also,  that  he  should  say.  It  was  no 
greater  sin  to  kill  the  Queen  than  to  despatch  a brute  beast. 

‘ This  being  read,  Mr.  Paine  denied  the  indictment,  and  defied  all 
treason,  protesting.  That  he  always,  in  mind  or  word,  honoured  the 
Queen's  Majesty  above  any  woman  in  the  world;  that  he  would  gladly 
always  have  spent  his  life  for  her  pleasure  in  any  lawfid  service;  that  he 
prayed  for  her  as  for  his  own  soul;  that  he  Jiever  invented  or  compassed 
any  treason  against  her  Majesty,  or  any  of  the  Nobility  0/ England. 

‘ However,  Eliot  swore  that  the  indictment  was  true,  [and  to 
this  positive  deposition]  Mr.  Morrice,  the  Queen’s  counsellor, 
joined  several  presumptions  from  Mr.  Paine's  having  gone  beyond 
the  seas,  and  having  been  made  priest  by  the  Bishop  of  Cambray, 
and  consequently,  as  he  falsely  supposed,  having  taken  an  oath  to 
the  Pope;  from  his  having  spoken  with  traitors  in  Flanders,  viz. 
with  the  Earl  of  Westmoreland,  Dr.  Allen,  and  Dr.  Bristow,  and 
travelled  with  a traitor’s  son,  Mr.  William  Tempest. 

‘ To  these  presumptions  Mr.  Paine  answered.  That  to  go  beyond 
the  seas  was  not  a sufficient  token  of  a traitor,  nor  yet  to  be  made  priest 
by  the  Bishop  of  Cambray; /or  so  were  many  others,  7iothing  at  all 
thinking  of  treason;  that,  for  his  part,  he  was  not  the  Pope's  scholar, 
neither  had  any  maintenance  of  him,  for  when  he  was  at  the  College 
it  had  as  yet  no  pension  from  the  Pope.  That  he  had  never  talked  with 
the  Earl  0/ Westmoreland,  and  that  Dr.  Allen  and  Dr.  Bristow  had 
never  talked  to  his  knowledge  of  any  such  things;  that  Mr.  Tempest 
was  an  holiest  gentleman  and  never  talked  to  him  about  treason;  neither 
was  it  unlawful  for  him  to  keep  him  company,  seeing  that  he  was  a 
servant  to  a right  honourable  counsellor.  Sir  Christopher  Hatton. 

‘ He  refelled  Eliot's  deposition.  Eirst,  taking  God  to  witness 
on  his  soul  that  he  never  had  such  speech  with  him.  Secondly,  he 

40 


1582] 


JOHN  PAINE 


brought  two  places  of  Scripture  and  a statute  to  prove,  That  without 
two  sufficient  witnesses  no  man  should  he  condemned.  Thirdly,  he 
proved  Eliot  insufficient  to  be  a witness,  for  having  been  guilty, 
'ist,  of  oppression  of  poor  men,  even  unto  death;  zdly,  of  a rape  and 
other  notorious  lewdnesses ; '^dly,  of  breach  of  contract,  and  cozening 
the  Lady  Petre,  [widow  of  Sir  William  Petre,]  of  money;  ^thly,  of 
changing  often  his  religion;  5^/zfy,  of  malice  against  himself;  adding, 
that  he  was  also  attached  of  murder  and  such  like  acts,  and  was  a 
notorious  dissembler,  &c. 

‘ Hereupon  a jury  was  impanelled,  who,  on  Friday,  after  dinner, 
brought  in  their  verdict  guilty.  Upon  Saturday,  a little  before  dinner, 
coming  again  to  the  bar.  Judge  Gaudy  asked  Mr.  Paine  what  he 
could  say  for  himself;  who  answered.  That  he  had  said  sufficiently, 
alleging.  That  it  was  against  the  law  of  God  and  man  that  lie  slioidd 
be  condemned  for  one  man's  witness  notoriously  infamous.  Then  the 
Judge  said.  If  he  were  not  guilty  the  jury  would  have  found  it.  Mr. 
Paine  answered.  That  those  men  of  the  jury  are  poor  ignorant  men, 
not  at  all  understanding  what  treason  is.  But,  says  he,  if  it  please  the 
Queen  and  her  Council  that  I shall  die,  I refer  my  cause  to  God.  Then 
the  Judge  said  that  his  own  words  made  most  against  him;  and  if 
Ehot  had  sworn  falsely,  his  death  should  be  required  at  his  hands, 
the  which  no  man  knew  but  God  and  himself.  Mr.  Paine  said. 
That  all  was  but  treachery  in  seeking  of  his  blood.  In  fine.  Judge  Gaudy 
pronounced  the  sentence  of  condemnation,  and  afterwards  exhorted 
him  to  repent  himself,  although,  said  he,  you  may  better  instruct 
me  herein.  Mr.  Paine  demanded  the  time  when  he  should  suffer. 
It  was  answered,  on  Monday  following,  about  eight  of  the  clock. 

‘ After  he  was  returned  to  prison,  the  High  Sheriff  and  others 
came  to  him  and  demanded  whether  he  made  Jesus  Christ  the  only 
cause  of  his  salvation.  He  answered  affirmatively,  professing  unto 
them  the  Catholic  truth.  All  Sunday  till  five  of  the  clock,  one  Dr. 
Withers  and  Dr.  Sone  were  with  him,  persuading  him  earnestly  to 
change  his  religion,  the  which,  said  they,  if  you  will  alter,  we  doubt 
not  to  procure  mercy  for  you.  This  Mr.  Paine  told  me  himself, 
saying.  That  the  ministers,  by  their  foolish  babbling,  did  much  vex  and 
trouble  him.  I,  amongst  many,  coming  unto  him  about  ten  of  the 
clock  with  the  officers,  he  most  comfortably  and  meekly  uttered 
words  of  constancy  to  me,  and  with  a loving  kiss  took  his 
leave  of  me. 

‘ The  next  morning,  the  2d  of  April,  about  eight  of  the  clock, 
he  was  laid  on  the  hurdle,  and  drawn  to  the  place  of  execution,  where, 
kneeling  almost  half  an  hour,  he  earnestly  prayed,  then  arising  and 

41 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


viewing  the  gallows,  he  kissed  it  with  a snailing  countenance,  and 
ascended  the  ladder;  and  the  halter  being  fitted  to  his  neck,  he  lifted 
up  his  eyes  and  hands  towards  heaven  a pretty  while,  then  began  to 
speak  to  the  people.  And, 

‘ istj  He  made  to  them  a declaration  of  his  faith,  confessing  one 
God  in  essence  or  substance,  and  trinity  in  Persons,  and  that  the 
Word  was  incarnate  for  man’s  redemption,  &c.\  because  I had  in- 
formed him  that  the  common  people  thought  him  to  be  a Jesuit,  and 
that  they  said  the  Jesuits’  opinion  was  that  Christ  is  not  God. 

‘ zdly^  He  desired  God  to  forgive  him  all  the  sins  of  his  life  past, 
and  to  have  mercy  on  all  sinners. 

‘ He  forgave  all  who  ever  had  offended  him,  and  by  name 
Eliot,  for  whom  he  earnestly  prayed  that  God  would  make  him  his 
companion  in  heavenly  bliss. 

‘ ^thly,  He  declared  that  his  feet  did  never  tread,  his  hands  did 
never  write,  nor  his  wit  ever  invent,  any  treason  against  her  Majesty; 
but  that  he  always  wished  unto  her  as  to  his  own  soul,  desiring 
Almighty  God  to  give  her  in  earth  a prosperous  reign,  and  after- 
wards eternal  felicity. 

‘ The  Lord  Rich  willed  him  to  confess  that  he  there  died  a traitor, 
and  to  be  sorry  for  his  treason.  To  whom  very  patiently  he  an- 
swered, That  he  defied  all  treason,  and  to  confess  an  nntruth  uas  to 
condemn  his  own  soul.  I confess  truly,  said  he,  that  I die  a Christian 
Catholic  priest.  And  addressing  himself  to  my  Lord  Rich,  Sweet 
my  lord,  said  he,  certify  her  Majesty  thereof,  that  she  suffer  not  here- 
after innocent  blood  to  he  cast  away,  seeing  it  is  no  small  matter.  Som^e 
affirmed  that  he  had  confessed  his  treason  to  the  Lady  Poole.  He 
said.  That  he  knew  no  such  person.  Then  a minister  said  that  Mr. 
Paine's  brother  confessed  to  him  in  his  chamber,  seven  years  ago, 
that  he  talked  of  such  an  intention.  To  this  he  answered,  being 
somewhat  moved.  Bone  Deus  ! my  brother  is,  and  always  hath  been,  a 
very  earnest  Protestant;  yet  I know  he  will  not  say  so  falsely  of  me. 
And  then  he  desired  his  brother  should  be  sent  for.  They  called 
for  him,  but  then  he  w^as  in  town.  (And  when  some  of  us  came  from 
the  execution,  we  found  his  brother  in  our  inn,  of  whom  we  asked 
if  this  was  true,  uttering  to  him  all  the  matter.  He  swore  unto  us 
with  great  admiration  that  it  w^as  most  false,  and  told  us  that  he 
would  so  certify  my  Lord  Rich.  Immediately  he  was  sent  for  to 
my  Lord,  and  I took  horse  to  ride  away,  and  as  yet  hear  no  more 
of  it.) 

‘ To  conclude,  they  would  not  tarry  so  long  till  his  brother  should 
be  sent  for.  Mr.  Paine  often  confessed  that  he  died  a Christian 

42 


1582] 


JOHN  PAINE 


Catholic  priest.  They  desired  him  to  pray  with  them  in  English, 
but  he  was  attentive  to  his  end  in  contemplation;  and  being  often 
called  upon  by  the  ministers  to  join  with  them  in  the  Lord’s  Prayer, 
he  said,  That  he  had  prayed  in  a tongue  which  he  well  understood. 
A minister  asked  him  whether  he  repented  not  that  he  had  said 
Mass;  but  Mr.  Paine  did  not  hear  him,  being  in  contemplation. 

‘ After  all,  very  meekly,  when  the  ladder  was  about  to  be  turned, 
he  S2L\d.,  Jesus,  Jesus,  Jesus;  and  so  did  hang,  not  moving  hand  or  foot. 
They  very  courteously  caused  men  to  hang  on  his  feet,  and  set  the 
knot  to  his  ear,  and  suffered  him  to  hang  to  death,  commanding 
Bull,  the  hangman  of  Newgate,  to  despatch,  [in  the  quartering  of 
him,]  lest,  as  they  said,  he  should  survive,  and  rebuked  him  that  he 
did  not  despatch  speedily.  All  the  town  loved  him  exceedingly, 
so  did  the  keepers  and  most  of  the  magistrates  of  the  shire.  No 
man  seemed  in  countenance  to  mislike  him,  but  much  sorrowed 
and  lamented  his  death;  who  most  constantly,  catholicly,  patiently, 
and  meekly  ended  this  mortal  life  to  rise  triumphantly,  his  innocency 
known  to  all  the  world. 

‘ He  had  been  long  in  prison,  very  ill  used,  cruelly  handled,  and 
extremely  racked.  He  was  once  or  twice  demanded  whether  he 
would  go  to  their  church  (for  that  would  have  made  amends  for 
all  these  treasons).  Why,  said  he,  you  say  I am  in  for  treason; 
discharge  me  of  that,  and  then  you  shall  know  farther  of  my  mind  for 
the  other.  All  fair  means,  all  foul  means,  all  extremity,  all  policy 
were  used  to  find  that  which  was  not.  After  his  racking,  the 
Lieutenant  of  the  Tower  sent  to  him  his  servant  with  this  letter: — 

‘ I have  herewith  sent  you  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  and  I pray  you 
write  what  you  have  said  to  Eliot,  and  to  your  host  in  London,  con- 
cerning the  Queen  and  the  State;  and  thereof  fail  not,  as  you  will 
answer  at  your  uttermost  peril.’ 

Mr.  Paine’s  Answer. 

‘ Right  Worshipful, 

‘ My  duty  remembered,  being  not  able  to  write  without 
better  hands,  I have  by  your  appointment  used  the  help  of  your 
servant.  For  answer  unto  your  interrogations,  I have  already  said 
sufficient  for  a man  that  regardeth  his  own  salvation,  and  that  with 
such  advised  asseverations  uttered  as  amongst  Christian  men  ought  to 
be  believed,  yet  once  again  briefly  for  obedience’  sake. 

‘ First,  touching  her  Majesty,  I pray  God  long  to  preserve  her 
Highness  to  His  honour  and  her  heart’s  desire;  unto  whom  I always 

43 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


have,  and  during  life  will  wish,  no  w'orse  than  to  my  own  soul.  If  her 
pleasure  be  not  that  I shall  live  and  serve  her  as  my  sovereign  prince, 
then  will  I willingly  die  her  faithful  subject,  and,  I trust,  God’s  true 
servant. 

‘ Touching  the  State,  I protest  that  I am,  and  ever  have  been,  free 
from  the  knowledge  of  any  practice  whatsoever,  either  within  or 
without  the  realm,  intended  against  the  same;  for  the  verity  whereof, 
as  I have  often  before  you  and  the  rest  of  her  Grace’s  Commissioners 
called  God  to  witness,  so  do  I now  again;  and  one  day  before  His 
Majesty  the  truth  now  not  credited  will  be  then  revealed. 

For  Elioty  I forgive  his  monstrous  wickedness,  and  defy  his 
malicious  inventions;  wishing  that  his  former  behaviour  toward 
others,  being  well  known,  as  hereafter  it  will,  were  not  a sufficient 
disproof  of  these  devised  slanders. 

For  Host  or  other  person  living  in  London  or  elsewhere  (unless 
they  be  by  subornation  of  my  bloody  enemy  corrupted),  I know 
they  can  neither  for  word,  deed,  or  any  disloyalty  justly  touch  me; 
and  so  before  the  seat  of  God,  as  also  before  the  sight  of  men,  will 
I answer  at  my  utmost  peril. 

* Her  Majesty's  faithf id  subject,  and  your  worship's  humble  prisoner', 

‘ John  Paine,  Priest.' 

Mr.  Paine's  execution  is  recorded  by  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Annals, 
1582 : — John  Paine,  priest,  being  indicted  of  high  treason,  for  words 
by  him  spoken  to  one  Eliot,  was  arraigned,  condemned,  and  executed 
at  Chelmsford.' 

He  suffered  April  2,  1582. 


THOMAS  FORDE,  Priest  * 

Thomas  FORDE  was  bom  in  Devonshire,  brought  up  in 
Trinity  College,  Oxford,  where  he  took  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts  in  1567,  and  was  soon  after  admitted  Fellow  of  that 
College;  but  not  liking  the  Protestant  religion,  he  quitted  his 
Fellowship  and  all  other  temporal  hopes,  and  went  over  to  the 
College  or  Seminary  lately  instituted  at  Doway,  where  he  arrived  in 
1571 ; and  after  having  for  some  time  there  seriously  applied  himself 
to  the  study  of  divinity,  he  was  made  priest  in  1573,  at  the  same 

* Bd.  Thomas  Forde. — From  the  Records  of  Douay  College,  and  from 
Allen’s  Brief e Historie;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

44 


1582] 


THOMAS  FORCE 


time  with  those  two  eminent  divines,  Richard  Bristow  and  Gregory 
Martin — these  being  the  three  first  that  were  presented  to  holy 
orders  from  Doway  College.  He  took  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Divinity  in  1576,  and  soon  after  returned  into  England  upon  the 
mission,  where  he  laboured  for  some  years  with  great  fruit  in  the 
conversion  of  many  souls.  He  was  apprehended  on  the  17th  of 
July,  1581,  with  Father  Campion,  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Yates  of 
Lyford,  in  Berkshire,  and  >vith  him  was  carried  up  to  London  and 
cast  into  the  Tower,  and  condemned  the  November  following  for  the 
pretended  conspiracy  of  Rhemes  and  Rome;  whereas  he  had  never  been 
in  his  life  either  at  Rhemes  ori^om^,nor  had  the  witnesses  that  appeared 
against  him,  [Sledd  and  Munday,  the  Oates  and  Bedlow  of  those 
days,]  ever  so  much  as  seen  Mr.  Forde  before  his  imprisonment. 

ffe  received  sentence  of  death  the  21st  of  November  1581,  but  was 
not  executed  till  May  28,  1582.  In  the  meantime,  to  make  his 
execution  and  that  of  his  companions  more  plausible,  and  that  it 
might  appear  to  the  world,  if  they  were  not  guilty  of  the  pretended 
conspiracy  (which  even  the  Queen  herself  did  not  believe),  that  they 
were  at  least  disaffected  persons  to  her  Majesty,  and  as  such  deserved 
to  die,  they  sent  to  them  the  Queen’s  Attorney  and  Solicitor,  Popham 
and  Egerton,  with  two  civilians,  Hammond  and  Lewis,  to  propose  six 
articles  to  them  concerning  the  bull  of  Pius  V.,  and  what  obedience 
was  to  be  paid  to  that  decree,  and  what  they  thought  of  the  Pope’s 
deposing  power,  and  of  certain  passages  of  the  writings  of  Dr. 
Saunders  and  Dr.  Bristow — in  fine,  what  they  would  do  in  case  of 
an  invasion  on  account  of  religion. 

‘ To  these  interrogatories,  Mr.  John  Shert,  Mr.  Lawrence 
Richardson,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Cottam  would  make  no  other  answer 
but.  That  they  were  Catholics,  and  believed  in  all  points  as  the  Catholic 
Roman  Church  taught  them.  Mr.  Richardson  added.  That  in  all 
matters  not  repugnant  to  the  Catholic  religion  he  professed  obedience 
to  her  Majesty.  Mr.  Forde  answered.  That  he  did  not  know  what 
to  say  to  the  bull  of  Pius  V.,  as  being  a stranger  to  the  circumstances 
of  that  bull;  that  as  to  the  deposing  power,  he  thought  the  Pope  fnight 
have  a power  upon  certain  occasions,  which  he  did  not  name,  [as 
where  a whole  kingdom  would  otherwise  be  perverted,]  to  discharge 
subjects  from  their  allegiance;  That  he  would  not  pretend  to  answer 
for  the  doctrine  of  Dr.  Saunders  or  Dr.  Bristow;  let  them  answer 
for  themselves;  and  as  to  the  last  point,  he  thought  it  would  be  time 
enough  to  determine  what  was  to  be  done  when  the  case  should  happen. 
And  not  unlike  to  this  were  the  answers  of  Mr.  Robert  Johnson,  Mr. 
Luke  Kirby,  and  Mr.  William  Filbie. 

45 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


‘ On  the  28th  of  May  ^ 1582,  after  a long  series  of  cruel  treatments 
and  much  art  used  to  make  them  either  confess  the  feigned  treason 
or  deny  their  faith,  the  reverend  priests,  Mr.  Thomas  Forde,  Mr. 
John  Shert,  and  Mr.  Robert  Johnson,  were  all  trailed  upon  hurdles 
from  the  Tower  of  London  through  the  streets  to  Tyburn,  betwixt 
six  and  seven  of  the  clock  in  the  morning.  And  first  Mr.  Forde 
being  set  up  in  the  cart,  blessed  himself  with  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
being  so  weak  that  he  fell  dowm  in  the  cart,  and  after  he  was  up,  he 
said,  / am  a Catholic,  and  do  die  in  the  Catholic  religion.  And  there- 
with he  was  interrupted  by  Sheriff  Martin,  saying,  You  come  not 
hither  to  confess  your  religion,  but  as  a traitor  and  malefactor  to  the 
Queen’s  Majesty  and  the  whole  realm,  moving  and  stirring  of  sedi- 
tion; and  therefore  I pray  you  go  to  and  confess  your  fault,  and 
submit  yourself  to  the  Queen’s  mercy  and  no  doubt  but  she  would 
forgive  you. 

‘ Whereunto  Mr.  Forde  answered.  That  supposed  offence  zvhereof  I 
was  indicted  and  condemned  zvas  the  conspiring  of  her  Majesty's  death 
at  Rome  and  Rhemes,  whereof  I was  altogether  not  guilty.  For  the 
offence  was  supposed  for  conspiring  the  Queen's  Majesty's  death  in  the 
twenty-second  year  of  her  Majesty's  reign,  at  which  time  I was  in 
England  remaining,  and  long  before  that;  for  I have  remained  here 
for  the  space  of  six  or  seven  years,  and  never  during  that  time  departed 
this  realm, — whereof  I might  bring  the  zvitness  of  an  hundred,  yea  of 
five  hundred,  sujficient  men,  and  had  thereupon  been  discharged  at  the 
bar,  if  I zvould  have  disclosed  their  names  with  whom  I had  been, 
which  I did  forbear  to  do  for  fear  of  bringing  them  into  trouble.  Then 
Sheriff  Martin  said.  Here  is  your  own  handwriting,  with  the  testi- 
mony of  worshipful  men,  the  Queen’s  Attorney,  Dr.  Hammond, 
Dr.  Lewis,  and  others;  and  if  that  will  not  serve,  here  is  one  of  your 
own  companions  [Mundayj\  that  was  the  Pope’s  scholar,  to 
testify  your  offence.  Mr.  Forde  answered.  That  notwithstanding, 
I am  altogether  not  guilty,  whatever  you  have  written. 

‘ He  continued  for  the  most  part  in  prayer  secretly  to  himself 
during  the  time  that  the  Sheriff  or  any  other  spoke  to  him.  Then 
was  a scroll  of  his  examination  [of  which  we  have  spoken  above] 
read  by  a minister;  and  Munday,  the  Pope’s  scholar,  being  called 
as  a witness  against  him,  said.  That  Forde  was  privy  to  their  con- 
spiracies, but  was  not  able  to  affirm  that  ever  he  saw  him  beyond 
the  seas.  This  his  assertion  Mr.  Forde  utterly  denied  upon  his 
death;  and  being  asked  what  he  thought  of  the  Queen’s  Majesty,  and 
withal  willed  to  ask  her  and  the  whole  realm  forgiveness,  he  said. 
He  acknowledged  her  for  his  sovereign  and  Queen,  and  that  he  never 

46 


1582] 


JOHN  SHERT 


in  his  life  had  offended  her.  And  so  praying  secretly,  he  desired  all 
those  that  were  of  his  faith  to  pray  with  him,  and  ended  with  this 
prayer,  Jesii^  Jesii^  Jesu,  esto  mihi  Jesus;  and  hanged  until  his 
companion,  Mr.  Shert  (likely  to  terrify  him  the  more),  might  see 
him.’ 


JOHN  SHERT,  Priest  * 

He  was  born  in  Cheshire^  and  brought  up  in  Brazen-nose  College 
in  Oxford,  where  he  took  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  in 
1566.  But  soon  after  quitting  the  University,  he  became  a 
noted  schoolmaster  in  London.  Then  crossing  the  seas  to  the 
College  lately  erected  at  Dozvay,  he  was  admitted  in  1578,  there 
studied  his  divinity  and  was  made  subdeacon ; from  whence  he  was 
sent  to  Rome,  where  he  finished  his  studies  and  was  made  priest, 
and  so  returned  to  the  College,  now  translated  to  Rhemes;  and  from 
thence  was  sent  to  England  in  1579,  the  year  before  the  pretended 
conspiracy  of  Rhemes  and  Rome,  for  which  he  was  afterwards 
arraigned  and  condemned.  After  he  had  laboured  for  some  time 
in  his  mission,  he  was  apprehended  and  brought  to  the  Tower  on 
the  same  day  with  Mr.  Paine,  viz.,  July  14,  1581.  And  in  the 
November  following  he  was  condemned,  as  we  have  seen,  for  the 
pretended  conspiracy,  though  the  witnesses  had  never  seen  him  in 
their  lives  before  his  apprehension. 

‘ Being  brought  from  the  hurdle  [on  which  he  had  been  drawn 
from  the  Tower  to  Tyburn,^  and  seeing  his  companion,  Mr.  Forde, 
hanged  before  him,  with  a confident  courage,  smiling  countenance, 
and  with  his  hands  lifted  up,  he  spoke  as  followeth: — O happy 
Thomas  ! happy  art  thou  that  hast  run  that  happy  race  ! O benedicta 
anima  ! O blessed  soul ! thou  art  in  a good  case  ! thou  blessed  soul, 
pray  for  me.  And  being  lifted  into  the  cart,  he  desired  all  Catholics 
to  pray  for  him ; and  turning  to  the  place  of  execution  by  command- 
ment of  the  Sheriff  and  seeing  his  companion  bowelled  and  beheaded, 
he  kneeled  down  and  cried  out,  O Thomas!  O happy  Thomas! 
O blessed  sold!  happy  art  thou;  thy  blessed  sold  pray  for  me.  And 
being  found  fault  withal  because  he  prayed  to  those  that  were  dead, 
he  said,  O blessed  Lady,  Mother  of  God,  pray  for  me,  and  all  the 
Saints  of  heaven  pray  for  me.  The  Sheriff  finding  fault  with  this 

* Bd.  John  Shert. — From  Allen’s  Brief e Historic,  and  from  Arnoldus 
Raissius  in  his  printed  Catalogue  of  the  Martyrs  of  Douay  College,  and 
from  the  Records  of  that  house;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

47 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


as  erroneous  doctrine,  he  answered,  That  it  uas  both  sound  and  true 
doctrine,  tchich  he  icould  noic  seal  icith  his  blood.  After  which  he 
began  as  follows: — 

‘ O blessed  Lord ! to  Thee  be  all  honour  and  praise.  I give  Thee 
most  hearty  thanks  for  that  Thou  didst  create  me  of  nothing  to  Thy 
likeness  and  similitude.  Secondly,  For  my  redejjiption  by  the  death 
of  Thy  szceet  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  ?ny  Saviour  and  Redeemer.  And 
lastly.  That  Thou  zvilt  bring  ?ne.  Thy  poor  servant,  to  so  glorious  and 
happy  a death  for  Thy  sake;  although  in  the  eyes  of  zcorldlings  con- 
tumelious and  reproachful,  yet  to  me  most  joyful  and  glorious;  and 
for  the  ZL'hich  I yield  Thee  most  hearty  thanks.  Here  he  was  stopped 
from  proceeding  further  by  the  Sheriff,  who  said  to  him.  Ask  the 
Queen’s  forgiveness  for  these  treasons  whereof  thou  art  condemned; 
who  answered.  The  asking  of  forgiveness  doth  imply  an  offence  done, 
and  for  me  to  charge  ?nyself,  being  infiocent,  zcould  be  contrary  to  my 
duty.  We  have  been  racked  and  tormented  for  these  things,  and  nothing 
hath  been  found;  zee  have  also  been  tzcice  examined  since  our  con- 
demnation,  zchich  hath  fiot  been  seen  heretofore  in  any  jnalef actor. 
Those  supposed  treasons  for  zchich  I am  condemned  I leave  betzjceen 
God  and  myself,  and  upon  my  death  I am  altogether  innocent  and 
faultless,  and  I utterly  refuse  to  ask  her  forgiveness  for  this  fact  zchereof 
I am  condemned,  for  that  I am  not  guilty;  but  if  in  any  other  private 
matter  I have  offended,  I ask  her  and  all  the  zcorld  forgiveness;  for  it 
is  impossible  for  me  to  be  guilty  of  the  conspiracy  at  Rhemes  or  Rome, 
being  in  England  long  time  before  the  said  supposed  treasons  com- 
mitted, and  continuing  here  ever  since;  which  Munday,  his  accuser, 
did  not  much  deny,  for  he  said.  He  never  kneze  him  beyond  the  seas, 
neither  at  Rome  nor  at  Rhemes. 

‘ Then  Sheriff  Martin  requested  a minister  that  stood  by  to  read 
his  examination.  Who  answered.  That  as  the  man  is  obstinate  nozc, 
so  upon  his  examination  zcas  he  as  obstinate,  for  he  uttered  nothwg 
that  is  to  be  read.  The  Sheriff  desired  Mr.  Shert  again  to  acknow- 
ledge his  offence,  affirming  that  the  Queen  would  deal  ver}*  mercifully 
with  him,  and  that  he  had  authorin'  himself,  if  he  did  acknowledge 
his  fault,  to  stay  his  execution,  and  to  return  him  back  without  more 
ado.  Who  answered.  Should  I for  saving  this  carcase  condemn  my 
soul?  God  forbid! 

‘ Being  asked  what  he  thought  of  the  Queen’s  Majest}’,  he  an- 
swered, I acknozdedge  her  for  my  sovereign  lady  and  Queen,  for  zchose 
prosperous  estate  and  zcell  domg  I did  alzcays  pray.  And  being 
demanded  whether  he  thought  her  to  be  supreme  governor  under 
Christ  of  the  Church  of  England,  he  said,  / udll  give  to  Casar  that 

48 


1582] 


JOHN  SHERT 


which  is  his,  and  to  God  that  which  helongeth  to  God.  She  is  not, 
nor  cannot  be,  nor  any  other,  hut  only  the  supreme  pastor.  What ! do 
you  mean  that  whore  of  Babylon  the  Pope  ? said  the  Sheriff.  Take 
heed,  Mr.  Sherijf,  said  Mr.  Shert,  for  the  day  will  come  when  that 
shall  he  a sore  word  for  your  sold,  and  then  it  shall  repent  you  that  ever 
you  called  Christ’s  Vicar  upon  earth  the  Whore.  When  you  and  1 
shall  stand  at  one  bar  before  that  equal  Judge  who  judgeth  all  things 
aright,  then,  I say,  will  you  repent  your  saying,  and  then  must  I give 
testimony  against  you. 

‘ And  the  hangman  making  ready  at  the  importunate  clamour  of 
the  people,  who  cried  to  despatch,  saying.  That  he  had  lived  too 
long,  he  delivered  his  handkerchief  to  the  hangman  with  two  shillings 
therein,  saying.  Take  this  for  thy  hire,  and  I pray  God  forgive  thee. 
Then  with  a loud  voice,  that  all  might  hear  him,  he  denounced  as 
follows:  Whosoever  dieth  out  of  the  Catholic  Church  dieth  in  the 
state  of  damnation.  Therewith,  turning  almost  round  about,  he 
held  up  his  hands,  wagging  them  to  the  people,  and  then  began  to 
pray  as  followeth : Domine  Jesu  Christe,  fili  Dei  vivi,  pone  passionem, 
crucem  et  mortem  tuam,  etc.,  with  his  Pater,  Ave,  and  other  prayers. 
And  when  the  cart  was  trailed  away,  his  hands  being  before  on  high, 
he  lit  upon  the  rope,  and  so  held  it,  and  the  officers  pulled  them  down. 
The  Sheriff  then  said.  Notwithstanding  his  obstinacy,  see  how  willing 
he  is  to  live.  And  so  he  hanged  till  he  was  dead;  but  it  seemed  to 
me  that  his  hands  by  chance  as  he  was  putting  them  down,  fell 
upon  the  rope,  which  he  held  fast  in  his  hands,  as  in  that  case  he 
would  have  done  any  other  thing  if  he  had  chanced  upon  it.’ 


ROBERT  JOHNSON,  Priest.^ 

He  was  born  in  Shropshire , though  he  is  called  Vigorniensis  in 
the  Doway  Diary,  from  his  being  of  the  diocese  of  Worcester. 
In  his  youth  he  was  for  some  time  a servant  in  a gentleman’s 
family;  but  quitting  this  service,  he  went  abroad,  and  was  received 
into  the  English  College  of  Doway,  where,  after  he  had  sufficiently 
qualified  himself  by  virtue  and  learning,  he  was  made  priest,  and 
sent  upon  the  mission  in  1576,  long  before  the  pretended  conspiracy 

* Bd.  Robert  Johnson. — From  the  same  authors;  see  also  Lives  of 
E.  M.,  I.  ii. 


49 


D 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


of  Rhemes  and  Rome.  In  what  part  of  England  he  exercised  his 
functions,  or  where  and  in  what  manner  he  was  first  apprehended, 
I have  not  found ; but  this  I have  found,  that,  on  the  5th  of  December 
1580,  he  was,  from  some  other  prison,  translated  to  the  Tcwer^  where 
he  was  at  three  different  times  most  cruelly  racked;  and  in  the 
November  following  he  was  brought  to  the  bar,  and  condemned  with 
Father  Campion  and  others,  though  his  execution  was  put  off  till 
the  28th  of  May  1582. 

‘ Being  brought  from  the  hurdle,  he  was  commanded  to  look 
upon  Mr.  Shert^  who  was  hanging,  and  then  immediately  cut  down ; 
and  so  being  helped  into  the  cart,  he  was  commanded  again  to  look 
back  towards  Mr.  Shert,  who  was  then  in  quartering.  And  after  he 
had  turned  and  signed  himself  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  saying.  In 
nomine  Patris,  etc.,  Despatch,  quoth  the  Sheriff,  and  speak  quietly. 
I would  be  sorry,  answered  Mr.  Johnson,  to  trouble  or  ojfend  your 
worship. — You  shall  not  offend  me,  saith  the  Sheriff,  so  that  you 
offend  not  God.  Johnson:  I am  a Catholic,  and  am  condemned  for 
conspiring  the  Queen's  death  at  Rhemes,  with  the  other  company  who 
were  condemned  with  me.  I protest  that  as  for  some  of  them  with 
whom  I was  condemned  to  have  conspired  withal,  I did  never  see  them 
before  we  met  at  the  bar,  neither  did  I ever  write  unto  them,  or  receive 
letters  from  them;  and  as  for  any  treasons,  I am  not  guilty  in  deed 
nor  thought.  [Here  his  examination  was  read,  and  his  answers  to 
the  six  articles.  Then  the  Sheriff  said,]  You  shall  hear  also  what 
your  own  companion,  named  Munday,  can  say  against  you.  Where- 
upon Munday  was  called,  and  came  nigh  to  the  cart. 

'Johnson. — Munday,  didst  thou  ever  know  me  beyond  the  seas,  or 
was  I ever  in  thy  company? 

‘ Munday. — I was  never  in  your  company,  neither  did  I ever 
know  you  beyond  the  seas;  but  I was  privy  to  your  most  horrible 
treasons,  whereof  you  were  most  clearly  convicted.  I pray  God 
you  may  repent,  and  that  you  may  die  a good  subject. 

‘ Johnson. — Munday,  God  give  thee  grace  to  repent  thee  of  thy 
deeds;  truly  thou  art  a shrewd  fellow ; but  there  is  no  time  now  to  reason 
these  matters  with  thee;  only  I protest  before  God  I am  not  guilty  of 
any  treason. 

‘ Sheriff. — Dost  thou  acknowledge  the  Queen  for  lawful  Queen  ? 
Repent  thee,  and  notwithstanding  thy  traitorous  practices,  we  have 
authority  from  the  Queen  to  carry  thee  back. 

‘ Johnson. — / do  acknowledge  her  as  lawfid  as  Queen  IMary  was. 
I can  say  no  more;  hut  pray  to  God  to  give  her  grace,  and  that  she 
may  now  stay  her  hand  from  shedding  of  innocent  blood. 

50 


1582] 


ROBERT  JOHNSON 


‘ Sheriff. — Dost  thou  acknowledge  her  supreme  head  of  the 
Church  in  ecclesiastical  matters  ? 

^Johnson. — I acknowledge  her  to  have  as  full  and  great  authority 
as  ever  Queen  Mary  had;  and  more  with  safety  and  conscience  I cannot 
give  her, 

‘ Sheriff. — Thou  art  a traitor  most  obstinate. 

'Johnson. — If  I be  a traitor  for  maintaining  this  faiths  then  all  the 
kings  and  queens  of  this  realm  heretofore,  and  all  our  ancestors,  were 
traitors , for  they  maintained  the  same. 

‘ Sheriff. — What ! you  will  preach  treason  also,  if  we  suffer  you  ? 

'Johnson. — I teach  hut  the  Catholic  religion. 

' Hereupon  the  rope  was  put  about  his  neck,  and  he  was  willed 
to  pray,  which  he  did  in  Latin.  They  willed  him  to  pray  in  English, 
that  they  might  witness  with  him.  He  said,  I pray  that  prayer 
which  Christ  taught  in  a tongue  I well  understand.  A minister  cried 
out.  Pray  as  Christ  taught:  to  whom  Mr.  Johnson  replied.  What! 
do  you  think  Christ  taught  in  English  } He  went  on  saying  in  Latin 
his  Pater,  Ave,  and  Creed,  and  In  manus  tuas,  etc.  And  so  the  cart 
was  drawn  away,  and  he  finished  this  life  as  the  rest  did.  They  all 
hanged  until  they  were  dead,  and  so  were  cut  down  and  quartered.’ 

Two  days  after,  viz.,  on  the  30th  of  1582,  four  more  reverend 
priests,  Mr.  William  Filbie,  Mr.  Luke  Kirby,  Mr.  Laurence  Richard- 
son, whose  right  name  Johnson,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Cottam,  suffered 
for  the  same  cause  at  the  same  place.  All  these  are  mentioned  by 
Mr.  Stow  in  his  Annals. 


WILLIAM  FILBIE,  Priest.^ 

He  was  born  in  Oxford,  and  there  educated  in  Lincoln  College; 
but  not  liking  the  established  religion,  he  forsook  that  Uni- 
versity and  went  oxqx to  Doway  or  Rhemes,  where,  continuing 
his  studies  in  the  English  College,  he  was  made  priest  in  1581 ; and 
returning  soon  after  to  England  upon  the  mission,  and  happening 
to  go  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Yates  of  Lyford,  at  the  same  time  as  Father 
Campion  and  his  companions  were  there  apprehended,  he  was  also 
made  a prisoner,  and  conducted  to  London  with  them.  My  author 
relates  that  in  their  way  to  London,  lodging  at  Henley,  Mr.  Filbie 
' had  in  his  sleep  a significant  dream  or  vision  of  the  ripping  up  of 

* Bd.  William  Filbie. — From  the  Douay  Diary,  and  from  Allen’s  Briefe 
Historic  in  1582;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

51 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


his  body,  and  taking  out  of  his  bowels : the  terror  whereof  caused  hirh 
to  cry  so  loud,  that  the  whole  house  was  raised  thereby;  which  after- 
wards was  accomplished  in  his  own.  Father  Campion^ s,  and  others 
his  companions’  martyrdom.’ 

He  was  committed  to  the  Tozver  with  the  rest  on  the  22nd  of 
July,  and  arraigned  and  condemned  the  following  November^  upon 
the  testimony  of  witnesses  that  had  never  seen  him  in  their  lives 
before  his  imprisonment;  and  whereas  he  showed  a more  than 
ordinary  cheerfulness  and  constancy  upon  this  occasion,  he  was 
ordered  to  be  pinioned  with  iron  manacles,  which  he  endured  from 
the  time  that  he  received  sentence,  November  20,  till  the  30th  of 
May,  when  he  was  executed.  On  which  day,  being  Wednesday, 
he  was  drawn  with  his  three  companions  ‘ from  the  Tower  of  London 
along  the  streets  to  Tyburn,  about  seven  of  the  clock  in  the  morning. 

‘ When  they  were  come  to  the  place  of  execution,  Mr.  Filbie, 
being  the  youngest  (not  above  twenty-seven  years  of  age),  was  first 
taken  from  the  hurdle;  and  being  lifted  into  the  cart,  he  blessed 
himself  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  saying.  In  nomine  Pains,  etc.,  and 
then  said.  Let  me  see  my  brethren,  looking  to  the  others  who  lay  on 
the  hurdle;  and  therewithal  holding  forth  his  hands  to  them,  he  said. 
Pray  for  me.  Then  speaking  to  the  company  he  said,  I am  a Catholic, 
and  I protest  before  Almighty  God  that  I am  mnocent  of  all  these 
matters  whereof  I am  condemned;  and  I hope  to  be  saved  by  the  merits 
and  death  of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  beseeching  Him  to  have  meixy 
on  me,  and  forgive  me  mine  offences.  And  therewithal  a proclamation 
was  read  for  keeping  the  peace;  and  at  the  end  thereof  was  said, 
God  save  the  Queen,  to  which  he  said.  Amen. 

‘ The  people  asking  him  for  what  Queen  he  prayed,  he  answered. 
For  Queen  Elizabeth,  beseeching  God  to  send  her  a long  and  quiet 
reign  to  His  good-will,  and  make  her  His  servant,  and  preserve  her  from 
her  enemies.  With  that  Mr.  Topcliff  and  others  willed  him  to  say, 
God  save  her  from  the  Pope.  To  whom  he  answ^ered.  He  is  not  hei' 
enemy.  After  that,  one  of  the  Sheriff’s  men  standing  in  the  cart 
with  Mr.  Filbie  said  to  him.  What  hast  thou  there  in  thy  handker- 
chief } and  therewithal  taking  the  handkerchief  from  him,  found  a 
little  cross  of  wood  within  it,  which  he  holding  up  in  his  hands, 
said.  Oh  ! what  a villainous  traitor  is  this  that  hath  a cross  ! divers 
times  repeating  it,  and  some  of  the  people  saying  the  same.  M here- 
unto Mr.  Filbie  answ-ered  nothing,  onty  smiling  at  them.  He  was 
no  more  ashamed,  says  my  author  in  the  margin,  of  this  his  Saviour  s 
banner  than  of  his  crown,  wEich  he  made  shift  to  shave. 

‘ Then  the  articles,  wdth  the  preface  of  the  book  printed  by 

52 


LUKE  KIRBY 


1582] 

authority,  were  read,  and  his  answers  to  them.  To  the  sixth  article 
he  answered.  That  if  he  had  been  in  Ireland  he  would  have  done  as  a 
priest  should  have  done;  that  is,  to  pray  that  the  right  might  take  place. 
Some  upon  this  asked  him.  Did  Saunders  do  well  in  that  business 
of  Ireland?  I know  not,  said  he;  I was  not  privy  to  his  doings;  I 
never  saw  or  spoke  with  him;  let  him  answer  for  himself. 

‘ Then  Sheriff  Martin  called  upon  the  hangman  to  despatch; 
and  the  rope  being  about  his  neck,  the  Sheriff  said,  Filbie,  the  Queen 
IS  merciful  unto  you,  and  we  have  authority  from  her  to  carry  you 
back  if  you  will  ask  her  mercy  and  confess  your  fault;  don’t  refuse 
mercy  offered;  ask  the  Queen  forgiveness.  To  whom  Mr.  Filbie 
answered,  / never  offended  her.  Well,  then,  said  the  Sheriff,  make 
an  end;  and  thus  desiring  all  Catholics  to  pray  for  him,  he  prayed, 
saying  his  Pater  and  Ave,  and  In  manus  tuas,  etc.;  and  when  the  cart 
was  drawing  away,  he  said.  Lord,  receive  my  soul;  and  so  hanged, 
knocking  his  breast  several  times,  till  some  pulled  down  his  hands; 
and  so  he  finished  his  mortal  life.’ 


LUKE  KIRBY,  Priest  * 

He  was  born  in  the  bishopric  of  Durham,  according  to  Raissius; 
others  say  at  Richmond,  in  Yorkshire.  He  was  Master  of  Arts 
in  one  of  our  Universities;  but  going  abroad  to  Doway,  in 
Flanders,  was  received  into  the  English  College  there,  1576,  and 
made  priest  in  1577,  and  the  year  following  sent  upon  the  mission; 
where  he  had  not  been  long  before  he  again  went  abroad,  and  travelled 
to  Rome,  partly  for  devotion,  and  partly  for  further  improvement  in 
learning.  Here  he  remained  in  the  English  College  till  1580,  when 
he  returned  into  England,  and  was  not  long  after  apprehended;  for 
I find  by  a printed  diary  of  things  transacted  in  the  Tower  of  London 
from  1580  till  1585,  that  on  the  5th  of  December  1580,  Luke  Kirby, 
Thomas  Cottam,  and  other  priests,  were  brought  to  the  Tower  from 
other  prisons,  and  that  these  two,  on  the  loth  of  the  same’ month, 
suffered  the  torture  called  The  Scavenger's  Daughter,  of  which  I 
find  frequent  mention  in  the  memoirs  of  the  sufferings  of  the 
Catholics  in  those  days.  Raissius  and  the  Doway  Diary  tell  us  that 
Mr.  Kirby  was  thrust  into  a hoop  or  circle  of  iron,  in  which  his 
whole  body  was,  as  it  were,  folded  up,  and  his  hands,  feet,  and  head 

* Bd.  Luke  Kirby. — From  Allen’s  Briefe  Historie,  and  from  Raissius’s 
Catalogue;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  1.  ii. 

53 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


bound  fast  together.  Perhaps  this  cruel  engine  is  the  same  as  that 
which  the  other  diary  calls  The  Scavenger's  Daughter. 

On  the  20th  of  November  following,  Mr.  Kirby  received  sentence 
of  death,  at  the  same  time  and  for  the  same  cause  with  Father 
Campion  and  others,  but  suffered  not  till  the  28th  of  May  1582. 
When  Mr.  Filbie  had  finished  his  course,  he  was  brought  from  the 
hurdle  to  see  him  hang;  ‘ and  being  lifted  up  into  the  cart,  he  began 
thus:  O my  friends^  O my  friends!  I am  come  hithei'  for  supposed 
treason^  although  indeed  it  be  for  my  conscience.  Then  he  prayed,  O 
my  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  by  whose  death  and  passion  I hope  to  be 
saved^  forgive  me^  sinful  sinner ^ my  manifold  sins  and  offences,  &c. 
And  being  commanded  to  turn  towards  the  place  of  execution,  his 
companion  Mr.  Filbie  being  beheaded,  and,  as  the  manner  is,  the 
executioner  lifting  up  his  head  between  his  hands,  and  crying,  God 
save  the  Queen,  Mr.  Kirby  said.  Amen;  and  he  being  asked  what 
Queen,  he  answered.  Queen  Elizabeth,  to  whom  he  prayed  God  to 
send  a lo7ig  and  prosperous  reign,  and  to  preserve  her  from  her  enemies. 
Mr.  Charke,  the  minister,  bid  him  say.  From  the  Pope's  curse  and 
power.  Mr.  Kirby  replied.  If  the  Pope  levy  war  against  her  or  curse 
her  unjustly,  God  preserve  her  from  him  also,  and  so  direct  her  in  this 
life  as  that  she  may  further  and  mamtain  Christ’s  Catholic  religion, 
and  at  last  inherit  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

‘ After  this  he  made  a solemn  protestation  of  his  innocency  in 
that  whereof  he  was  condemned,  adding.  That  if  there  were  any  man 
living  that  could  justly  accuse  him  in  any  07ie  point  of  that  whereof 
he  was  condemned,  he  was  ready  to  submit  himself  to  he7'  Majesty's 
clemency;  and  seeing  Munday  present,  he  desired  he  might  be 
brought  in  to  say  what  he  could;  who  being  brought  in,  said  that 
being  at  Rome,  Mr.  Kirby  persuaded  him  and  another  young  man 
named  Robinson  to  stay  there  and  not  to  come  to  England,  for  that 
shortly  some  stir  or  trouble  was  like  to  come ; and  seeing  that  could 
not  stay  him,  he  said  that  he  willed  him  to  persuade  those  that 
w^ere  his  friends  to  the  Catholic  religion  against  the  great  day.  Mr. 
Kirby  answered.  That  it  was  imlike  that  he,  who  knew  before  his 
departure  from  Rome  how  he  was  affected  m religion,  would  utte7'  a7iy 
such  words  to  hhn  to  persuade  the  people.  Munday  replied.  That  it 
was  like,  because  he  delivered  him  some  hallowed  pictures  to  carry 
with  him.  Mr.  Kirby  answered.  That  because  he  mistrusted  hhn  he 
woidd  not  deliver,  nor  did  not  deliver,  any  to  him;  but  he  said  he  gave 
him  two  Julios  to  buy  pictures,  and  that  now  he  was  very  ungratefidly 
dealt  withal,  being  by  him  falsely  accused,  he  having  been  such  a bene- 
factor to  all  his  country7nen,  although  he  knew  them  to  be  otherwise 

54 


LUKE  KIRBY 


1582] 

affected  in  religion  than  himself  was;  For,  he  said,  he  spoke  to  some 
of  the  Pope's  chief est  officers,  and  was  like  through  them  to  come  to 
trouble.  To  others,  he  said,  he  gave  the  shirt  off  his  own  hack,  and 
travelled  with  others  forty  miles  for  their  safe  conduct,  and  only  for 
good-will.  And  as  for  Munday,  he  had  written  a letter  to  a friend 
in  Rhemes  to  deliver  him  fifteen  shillings,  which  he  never  received, 
because  he  never  went  to  receive  it;  and  he  urged  Munday  again,  in 
the  fear  and  love  of  God,  to  say  but  the  truth;  alleging  farther  How 
one  Nichols,  who  in  his  book  uttered  much  more  of  him  than  Munday 
did,  yet  his  conscience  accusing  him,  he  ca7ne  to  his  chamber  in  the 
Tower,  and  in  the  presence  of  four,  whereof  he  named  his  keeper  to 
be  one,  recanted  and  denied  that  which  before  he  had  affirmed  in  his 
book.  See  Mr.  Kirby's  letter  below. 

‘ Then  the  Sheriff  interrupted  him,  and  said.  Even  as  he  hath 
recanted  his  error  and  is  sorry  for  it,  so  do  you.  Mr.  Kirby,  not 
regarding  his  words,  passed  on,  and  showed  likewise  that  this 
Munday,  in  presence  of  Sir  Owen  Hopton  and  others,  did  say  that 
he  could  charge  him  with  nothing,  which  Munday  denied;  but  he 
affirmed  it  again,  and  said  that  thereupon  one  that  was  present  said 
that  upon  that  confession  he  might  take  advantage.  The  Sheriff 
asked  who  that  was . He  answered , It  was  one  Coudridge . After  this 
his  answer  to  the  six  articles  was  read.  Where  to  the  first,  being 
examined,  he  said.  That  the  Excommunication  o/Pius  V.  was  a matter 
of  fact,  wherein  the  Pope  might  err,  the  which  I do  leave  to  himself  to 
answer  for.  [And  as  to  the  power  of  deposing  princes  for  certain 
causes,]  he  now  explained  himself.  That  it  was  a question  disputable 
in  schools,  and  he  did  only  yield  his  opinion.  Notwithstanding,  said 
he,  1 do  acknowledge  to  my  Queen  as  much  duty  and  authority  as  ever 
I did  to  Queen  Mary,  or  as  any  subject  in  France,  Spain,  or  Italy  doth 
acknowledge  to  his  King  or  Prince.  And  as  for  Dr.  Saunders  and 
Bristow,  they  might  err  in  their  private  opinions,  the  which  I will 
defend  no  farther  than  they  do  agree  with  the  judgment  of  Christ’s 
Catholic  Church. 

‘ Being  demanded  whether  he  thought  the  Queen  to  be  supreme 
governess  of  the  Church  of  England,  he  answered.  He  was  ready 
to  yield  her  as  much  authority  as  any  other  subject  ought  to  yield  his 
Prince,  or  as  he  woidd  yield  to  Queen  Mary,  and  more  with  safety  of 
conscience  he  could  not  do.  Then  Sheriff  Martin  told  him.  That  the 
Queen  was  merciful,  and  would  take  him  to  her  mercy,  so  he  would 
confess  his  duty  towards  her  and  forsake  that  man  of  Rome,  and  that 
he  had  authority  himself  to  stay  the  execution  and  carry  him  back 
again.  Who  answered.  That  to  deny  the  Pope's  authority  was  denying 

55 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


a point  of  faiths  which  he  would  not  do  for  saving  his  life,  being  sure 
that  this  would  be  to  damn  his  soul.  Then  was  it  tendered  him  that 
if  he  would  but  confess  his  fault  and  ask  the  Queen’s  forgiveness 
she  would  yet  be  merciful  to  him.  He  answered  again,  That  his 
conscience  did  give  him  a clear  testimony  that  he  never  offended,  and 
therefore  he  would  neither  confess  that  whereof  he  was  innocent,  neither 
ask  forgiveness  where  no  offence  was  committed  against  her  Majesty. 
Well,  then,  said  Sheriff  Martin,  do  but  acknowledge  those  things 
which  your  fellow  Bosgrave  hath  done,  such  as  appeareth  by  his 
examination,  and  I will  yet  save  your  life;  who  denied  likewise  to 
do  this.  [By  these  numbers  of  proffers,  says  my  author,  it  is  plain 
they  judged  them  innocent  in  their  conscience  of  those  pretended 
treasons.] 

‘ Then  the  people  cried.  Away  with  him,  and  he  began  to  pray 
in  Latin.  The  ministers  and  others  desired  him  to  pray  in  English, 
and  they  would  pray  with  him;  who  answered.  That  in  praying  with 
them  he  should  dishonour  God;  but  if  you  were  of  one  faith  with  me, 
then,  said  he,  I would  pray  with  you.  Withal  he  desired  all  those 
that  were  Catholics  to  pray  with  him,  and  he  would  pray  with  them; 
and  so,  after  he  had  ended  his  Patei'  Noster  and  began  his  Ave,  the 
cart  was  drawn  away,  and  there  he  hanged  till  he  was  dead,  and  till 
his  two  companions,  Richardson  and  Cottani,  were  brought  to  take 
a view  of  him.  His  speeches  were  intricate  because  many  did 
speak  unto  him,  and  of  several  matters;  but  here  are  the  principal 
things  by  him  uttered  to  my  remembrance.’ 

A True  Copy  of  a Letter  sent  by  Mr.  Kirby  to  some  of  his  Friends. 

‘ My  most  hearty  commendations  to  you  and  the  rest  of  my 
dearest  friends.  If  you  send  anything  to  me,  you  must  make  haste, 
because  we  look  to  suffer  death  very  shortly,  as  already  it  is  signified 
to  us.  Yet  I much  fear  lest  our  unworthiness  of  that  excellent 
perfection  and  crown  of  martyrdom  should  procure  us  a longer  life. 

‘ Within  these  few  days  John  Nichols  came  to  my  chamber 
window  with  humble  submission  to  crave  mercy  and  pardon  for  all  his 
wickedness  and  treacheries  committed  against  us,  and  to  acknow- 
ledge his  books,  sermons,  and  infamous  speeches  to  our  infamy 
and  discredit  to  be  wicked,  false,  and  most  execrable  before  God  and 
man.  Which,  for  preferment,  promotion,  hope  of  living,  and  favour 
of  the  nobility,  he  committed  to  writing  and  to  the  view  of  the  world ; 
whereof  being  very  penitent  and  sorrowful  from  his  heart,  rather 
than  he  would  commit  the  like  offence  again,  he  wisheth  to  suffer 

56 


LUKE  KIRBY 


1582] 

a thousand  deaths.  For  being  pricked  in  conscience  with  our  unjust 
condemnation,  which  hath  happened  contrary  to  his  expectation, 
albeit  he  offered  matter  sufficient  in  his  first  book  of  recantation  for 
our  adversaries  to  make  a bill  of  indictment  against  us,  yet  he 
minded,  [expected,]  then  nothing  less,  as  now  he  protesteth.  He 
knoweth  in  conscience  our  accusations  and  the  evidence  brought 
against  us  to  be  false,  and  to  have  no  colour  of  truth,  but  only  of 
m^alice  forged  by  our  enemies;  and  for  Sledd  and  Munday^  he  is 
himself  to  accuse  them  of  this  wicked  treachery  and  falsehood,  and 
of  their  naughty  and  abominable  life,  of  which  he  was  made  privy, 
and  which  for  shame  I cannot  commit  to  writing.  In  detestation  of 
his  own  doings  and  of  their  wickedness,  he  is  minded  never  hereafter 
to  ascend  into  pulpit,  nor  to  deal  again  in  any  matter  of  religion;  for 
which  cause  he  hath  forsaken  the  ministry,  and  is  minded  to  teach 
a school,  as  I understand  by  him,  in  Norfolk.  In  proof  whereof  he 
showed  me  his  new  disguised  apparel,  as  yet  covered  with  his 
minister’s  weed.  I wished  him  to  make  amends  for  all  his  sins, 
and  to  go  to  a place  of  penance;  and  he  answered  me,  he  was  not  yet 
conformable  to  us  in  every  point  of  religion,  nor  ever  was,  but  lived 
at  Rome  in  hypocrisy,  as  he  hath  done  ever  since  in  his  own  pro- 
fession. Again  he  thought,  that  if  ever  he  should  depart  the  realm, 
he  could  not  escape  burning. 

‘ He  offered  to  go  to  Mr.  Lieutenant  and  to  Mr.  Secretary 
Wahingham^  and  declare  how  injuriously  I and  the  rest  were  con- 
demned, that  he  himself  might  be  free  from  shedding  innocent  blood, 
albeit  he  was  somewhat  afraid  to  show  himself  in  London ^ where 
already  he  had  declared  our  innocent  behaviour,  and  his  own 
malicious  dealing  towards  us  in  his  book  and  sermons. 

‘ To  give  my  censure  and  judgment  of  him,  certain  I think  that 
he  will  within  a short  time  fall  into  infidelity,  except  God  of  His 
goodness  in  the  meantime  be  merciful  unto  him,  and  reclaim  him 
by  some  good  means  to  the  Catholic  faith ; yet  it  should  seem  he  hath 
not  lost  all  good  gifts  of  nature,  whereas  in  conscience  he  was  pricked 
to  open  the  truth  in  our  defence,  and  to  detect  his  own  wickedness, 
and  treacheries  of  others  practiseid  against  us  to  our  confusion. 
Now  I see,  as  all  the  world  hereafter  shall  easily  perceive,  that  the 
doings  of  this  man  do  confirm  the  old  saying.  That  rather  than  God 
will  have  wilful  ynurther  concealed^  He  procureth  the  birds  of  the  air 
to  reveal  it. 

‘ I am  minded  to  signify  to  Sir  Francis  Walsingham  this  his  sub- 
mission unto  us,  except  in  the  mean  time  I shall  learn  that  he  hath 
(as  he  promised  faithfully  to  me)  already  opened  the  same.  Mr. 

57 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


Richardson  and  Mr.  Filbie  have  now  obtained  some  bedding,  who 
ever  since  their  condemnation  have  laid  upon  the  boards.  Mr.  Hart 
hath  had  many  and  great  conflicts  with  his  adversaries.  This 
morning,  the  loth  of  January^  he  was  committed  to  the  dungeon, 
where  he  now  remaineth.  God  comfort  him;  he  taketh  it  very 
quietly  and  patiently.  The  cause  was  for  that  he  would  not  yield  to 
Mr.  Reynolds  of  Oxford  in  any  one  point,  but  still  remained  constant 
the  same  man  he  was  before  and  ever.  Mr.  Reynolds,  albeit  he  be 
the  best  learned  of  that  sort  that  hath  from  time  to  time  come  hither 
to  preach  and  confer,  yet  the  more  he  is  tried  and  dealt  withal,  the 
less  learning  he  hath  showed.  Thus  beseeching  you  to  assist  us  with 
your  good  prayers,  whereof  now  especially  we  stand  in  need,  as  we, 
by  God’s  grace,  shall  not  be  unmindful  of  you,  I bid  you  farewell, 
this  loth  January  1582. 

‘ Yours  to  death  and  after  death, 

' Luke  Kirby.’ 

N.B. — Mr.  Hart  here  mentioned  was  Mr.  John  Hart,  a native 
of  Oxfordshire,  who,  for  conscience’  sake,  leaving  the  University  of 
Oxford,  passed  over  into  Flanders,  was  admitted  into  the  English 
College  of  Doway  in  1571,  made  Bachelor  of  Divinity  in  that  uni- 
versity in  1577,  and  the  year  following  ordained  priest.  Returning 
into  England,  he  was  apprehended  injune  1580,  and  on  the  29th  of 
December  of  that  same  year  was  from  the  Marshalsea  translated  to 
the  Tower,  He  was  cruelly  tortured  in  prison,  and  in  the  November 
following  condemned  to  die;  but  on  the  day  designed  for  execution 
he  was  by  a reprieve  taken  off  the  sledge  and  returned  to  prison: 
he  was  afterwards  sent  into  banishment  in  1584,  and  entered  into  the 
Society  of  Jesus.  Mr.  Reynolds  published  in  print  his  conference 
with  Mr.  Hart,  though,  as  it  is  supposed,  very  partially,  ’Tis 
allowed  at  all  hands  that  Mr.  Hart  acquitted  himself  with  honour  in 
this  controversy;  whom  therefore  Mr.  Camden  is  pleased  to  com- 
pliment with  the  title  of  Vir  prce  cceteris  doctissimus.  He  died  at 
Jareslaw  in  Poland,  1594. 


58 


1582] 


LAURENCE  RICHARDSON 


LAURENCE  RICHARDSON,  alias  JOHNSON, 

Priest. 

Laurence  RI  chard  son  was  bom  in  Lancashire^  and 
educated  in  Brazen-nose  College  in  Oxford^  and  was  a Fellow 
of  that  College,  but  quitting  his  Fellowship  and  the  Protestant 
religion,  as  a great  many  of  the  most  hopeful  subjects  did  in  those 
days,  he  went  over  to  Doway  College  in  1573,  where,  having  passed 
through  his  course  of  divinity,  he  was  made  priest  in  1577.  His 
labours  upon  the  mission  were  in  his  native  county  of  Lancashirey 
where  he  was  much  esteemed  for  his  extraordinary  zeal  and  piety. 
He  was  apprehended  in  some  part  of  the  year  1581,  and  being  in 
prison  at  the  time  that  the  pretended  plot  of  Rhemes  and  Rome  was 
set  on  foot  by  the  enemies  of  the  Catholics,  he  was  also  charged, 
with  the  rest  of  the  priests  then  in  prison,  of  that  pretended  con- 
spiracy, though  he  was  in  England  at  the  time  that  he  was  asserted 
to  have  been  plotting  at  Rhemes ^ and  the  wretches  that  were  his 
accusers  had  never  seen  him  there  or  elsewhere  before  his  imprison- 
ment. However,  all  this  was  not  regarded  in  his  trial,  and  he  was 
condemned,  November  21,  1581,  and  executed  the  30th  of  May 
1582.  My  author,  an  eye-witness  of  his  death,  tells  us,  ‘ That 
immediately  after  the  cart  was  drawn  away  from  Mr.  Kirhy^  Mr. 
Richardson  and  Mr.  Cottaniy  priests  and  graduates,  were  brought 
together  to  look  upon  him  whilst  he  was  hanging ; and  that  he  being 
cut  down,  they  were  put  up  into  the  cart,  where,  with  cheerful 
countenances,  they  signed  themselves  with  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
saying.  In  nomine  PatriSy  etc.  Mr.  Cottamy  turning  him  about,  said, 
God  bless  you  all;  our  Lord  bless  you  ally  with  a smiling  countenance. 
Mr.  Richardson  being  commanded  by  the  Sheriff’s  man  to  look 
upon  his  companion  who  was  in  cutting  up,  said.  Oh!  God's  will 
be  done:  with  that,  one  Field y a preacher,  said.  Despatch y despatch: 
to  whom  Mr.  Cottam  said,  with  smiling  countenance.  What  are  you 
— an  executioner  or  a preacher?  fie y fie!  A minister  standing  by 
said.  Leave  off  those  jests;  it  is  no  time  to  jest;  he  is  a preacher,  and 
not  an  executioner;  he  cometh  to  exhort  you  to  die  well.  Mr. 
Cottam  replied.  Truly  by  his  words  he  seemed  to  be  an  executioner; 
for  he  saidy  Despatch y despatch.  Then  Mr.  Richardson  being  placed 

* Bd.  Laurence  Richardson,  alias  Johnson. — From  Raissius’s  Catalogue 
of  Martyrs,  and  Douay  Diary;  his  death  from  Allen’s  Brief e Historie;  see 
also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  1.  ii. 


59 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


right  under  the  place  where  he  was  to  hang,  divers  persons  moved 
speeches  to  him  all  at  one  time.  To  whom  he  answered,  I pray 
you  do  not  trouble  me:  if  you  demand  any  questions  of  me^  let  them  be 
touching  the  matter  whereof  I was  condemned^  and  do  not  move  new 
questions;  and  thereupon  he  was  turned  back  to  look  upon  Mr.  Kirby , 
who  was  then  in  quartering,  which  he  did;  and  the  head  being  cut 
off,  they  held  it  up,  saying,  God  save  the  Queen:  and  he  being  de- 
manded what  he  said,  I say  ^ Amen^  I pray  God  save  her. 

‘ And  further  he  said,  I am  come  hither  to  die  for  treason^  and  I 
protest  before  God  I am  not  guilty  of  any  treason^  more  than  all  Catholic 
bishops  that  ever  were  in  this  land  since  the  conversion  thereof  till 
our  time;  and  were  they  alive,  they  might  as  well  be  executed  for  treason 
as  I am  now.  To  whom  a minister  replied.  The  case  is  not  the 
same;  for  then  Popish  priests  lived  under  Popish  princes,  and  did 
not  disobey  them,  and  so  were  no  traitors.  Whilst  they  were  talking 
with  Mr.  Richardson,  Mr.  Cottam  took  Bull  the  hangman  by  the 
sleeve,  and  said  to  him,  God  forgive  thee  and  make  thee  His  servant; 
take  heed  in  time  and  call  for  grace,  and  no  doubt  but  God  will  hear  thee. 
Take  example  by  the  executioner  of  St.  Paul,  who  during  the  time  of  the 
Saint's  execution,  a little  drop  of  blood  falling  from  St.  Paul  upon  his 
garment,  white  like  milk,  did  afterwards  call  him  to  remembrance  of 
himself,  and  so  he  became  penitent  for  his  sins,  and  became  a good 
man;  whose  example  I pray  God  thou  mayest  follow,  and  I pray 
God  give  thee  His  grace. 

‘ Then  the  six  articles  were  read,  and  Mr.  Richardson's  answer, 
who  said.  As  touching  the  doctrine  of  Dr.  Saunders  and  Dr.  Bristow, 
he  allowed  of  it  no  further  than  they  agreed  with  the  true  Catholic 
Church  of  Rome.  Topcliff  and  some  ministers  said  he  built  his  faith 
upon  Saunders:  to  whom  he  answered,  I build  not  my  faith  upon 
any  one  man  whatsoever,  but  upon  the  whole  Catholic  Church.  Then  the 
rope  being  put  about  both  their  necks,  and  fastened  to  the  post,  the 
Sheriff  said.  Now,  Richardson,  if  thou  wilt  confess  thy  faults  and 
renounce  the  Pope,  the  Queen  will  extend  her  mercy  towards  thee, 
and  thou  shalt  be  carried  back  again.  Mr.  Richardson  answered,  I 
thank  her  Majesty  for  her  mercy;  but  I must  not  confess  an  untruth 
or  renounce  my  faith. 

‘ All  this  while  Mr.  Cottam  was  in  prayer,  and  uttering  divers 
good  sentences,  saying.  All  that  we  here  sustain  is  for  saving  of  our 
souls;  and  therewithal  lifting  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  he  said,  O Lord, 
Thou  knowest  our  innocency.  Then  he  was  bid  to  confess  his  treasons. 
O Lord,  said  he,  how  willingly  would  I confess  if  I did  know  anything 
that  did  charge  me;  and  if  we  had  been  guilty  of  any  such  thing,  surely 

60 


1582] 


THOMAS  COTTAM 


one  or  other  of  us,  either  by  racking  or  death,  would  have  confessed  it, 
or  else  we  had  been  such  people  as  never  were  heard  of.  And  I protest 
before  God,  that  before  my  coming  into  England  I was  prepared  to  go  into 
the  Indies;  and  if  I were  to  be  set  at  liberty,  I would  never  rest  but  on 
the  journey  towards  those  countries.  With  that  the  Sheriff  said,  The 
Queen  will  be  merciful  to  thee,  if  thou  wilt  thyself.  He  answered, 
I thank  her  Grace;  saying  further.  Do  with  me  what  you  think  good. 
Therewithal  the  Sheriff  commanded  that  the  rope  should  be  loosed 
from  the  post,  and  he  removed  down  from  the  cart. 

‘ Then  Mr.  Richardson  was  once  more  called  upon  to  confess 
and' ask  pardon  of  the  Queen.  He  answered.  That  he  had  never 
offended  her  to  his  knowledge.  Then  he  was  willed  to  pray,  which 
he  did,  desiring  all  Catholics  to  pray  with  him.  He  said  his  Pater, 
Ave,  and  Creed;  and  when  the  cart  began  to  move,  he  said.  Lord, 
receive  my  sold!  Lordjesu,  receive  my  soul T 


THOMAS  COTTAM,  Priest,  S.J  * 

Thomas  COTTAM  was  bom  in  Lancashire,  and  brought  up 
in  Brazen-nose  College,  in  Oxford,  where  he  took  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  March  23,  1568,  from  whence  he  went  to 
London,  and  was  there  for  some  time  a schoolmaster;  but  embracing 
the  Catholic  religion,  he  left  the  kingdom  and  went  over  to  Doway, 
to  the  English  College  lately  founded  there.  From  Doway,  after  some 
time,  he  was  sent  to  Rome,  where  he  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus. 
‘ But  there,  falling  into  a consuming  and  lingering  sickness,  he  was, 
by  his  superiors,  sent  to  Lyons,  in  France,  to  try  if  by  change  of  air 
he  might  be  recovered;  but  the  sickness  so  grew  and  increased 
upon  him  that  he  was  made  an  unfit  man  for  them  and  thereupon 
they  dismissed  him.  Whilst  -Mr.  Cottam  was  at  Lyons,  Sledd, 
that  infamous  Judas,  intending  to  work  some  mischief,  came  from 
Rome  in  the  company  of  divers  Englishmen,  whose  names  and 
marks  he  took  very  diligently;  and  being  come  to  Lyons,  found  Mr. 
Cottam  there,  and  travelling  in  his  company  from  thence  for  some 
days,  understood  of  him  that  he  meant  very  shortly  to  return  home 
to  his  native  country.  Whereupon  Sledd  took  his  marks  more 
exactly  and  precisely;  and  being  arrived  at  Paris,  he  there  presented 

* Bd.  Thomas  Cottam. — From  Allen’s  Briefe  Historic,  and  from 
Raissius’s  Catalogue,  p.  37;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

61 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 

to  the  English  Ambassador  the  names  and  marks  he  had  taken,  who 
sent  them  over  to  the  Queen’s  Council,  and  from  them  they  were 
sent  to  the  searchers  of  the  ports.’ 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Cottam  went  to  Rhemes,  where  the  College 
had  lately  been  translated  from  Doway,  and  there,  ‘ being  a deacon 
and  a good  preacher  long  before,  he  was  made  priest;  and  hearing 
of  company  that  was  ready  to  go  into  England,  he  made  great  haste 
to  go  with  them,  and  earnest  suit  to  have  leave,  partly  for  his  health, 
and  especially  for  the  great  zeal  he  had  to  gain  and  save  souls. 

‘ He  arrived  at  Dover  in  Jime  1580,  in  the  company  of  Mr. 
Johfi  Hart  and  Mr.  Edward  Rishton,  two  learned  priests  (who  are 
also  both  condemned),  and  another,  a layman.  After  these  four 
had  been  searched  to  their  skins  and  nothing  found  about  them, 
Mr.  Hart  was  stopped  and  taken  for  Mr.  Orton  (whom  he  nothing 
at  all  resembled).  Mr.  Cottam  was  likewise  stopped  because  the 
marks  which  Sledd  had  given  of  him  were  indeed  very  clear  and 
apparent  in  him.  And  for  the  avoiding  of  charges,  Mr.  Allen, 
then  Mayor  of  Dover,  and  Stevens,  the  searcher,  requested  the 
layman,  Mr.  Cottam^s  companion,  [Dr.  Ely,  Professor  of  the  Canon 
and  Civil  Law  in  the  University  of  Doway,'\  who  called  himself 
Havard,  to  carry  him  as  a prisoner  to  my  Lord  Cohhani,  who  agreed 
very  easily  thereunto;  but  as  soon  as  they  were  out  of  the  towm, 
I cannot,  said  Havard,  in  conscience,  nor  will  not,  being  myself  a 
Catholic,  deliver  you,  a Catholic  priest,  prisoner  to  my  Lord  Cohham; 
hut  we  will  go  straight  to  London,  and  when  you  come  there,  shift  for 
yourself,  as  I will  do  for  myself.  Coming  to  London,  Mr.  Cottam 
went  immediately  to  one  of  the  prisons,  and  there  conferred  with 
a Catholic,  a friend  of  his,  recounting  to  him  the  order  and  manner 
of  his  apprehension  and  escape.  His  friend  told  him  that  in  con- 
science he  could  not  make  that  escape,  and  persuaded  him  to  go  and 
yield  himself  prisoner,  whereupon  he  went  to  his  friend  Havard, 
[Dr.  Ely^  and  requested  him  to  deliver  him  the  Mayor  of  Dover's 
letter  to  my  Lord  Cohham.  Why,  what  will  you  do  with  it?  said 
Havard.  I will  go,  said  Mr.  Cottam,  and  carry  it  to  him  and  yield 
myself  prisoner,  for  I am  fully  persuaded  that  I cannot  make  this 
escape  in  conscience.  Why,  said  Havard,  this  counsel  that  hath  been 
given  you  proceedeth,  I confess,  from  a zealous  mind,  hut  I doubt 
whether  it  carrieth  with  it  the  weight  of  knowledge;  you  shall  not  have 
the  letter,  nor  you  may  not  in  conscience  yield  yourself  to  the  persecutor 
and  adversary,  having  so  good  means  offered  to  escape  their  cruelty. 
But  Mr.  Cottam  still  persisting  in  his  demands.  Well,  said  Mr. 
Havard,  seeing  you  will  not  be  turned  from  this  opinion,  let  us  go  first 

62 


1582] 


THOMAS  COTTAM 


and  consult  with  such  a man  (naming  one  but  newly  come  over, 
whom  Mr.  Cottam  greatly  honoured  and  reverenced  for  his  singular 
wit  and  learning  and  for  his  rare  virtues),  and  if  he  he  of  your  opinion, 
you  shall  have  the  letter,  and  go  in  God's  name.  When  they  came 
to  this  man,  he  utterly  disliked  of  his  intention,  and  dissuaded  him 
from  so  fond  a cogitation.  Mr.  Cottam,  being  assuaged  but  not 
altogether  satisfied,  went  quietly  about  his  business,  and  never  left 
London  for  the  matter.  The  Mayor  of  Dover's  letter  being  sent  back 
to  him  again,  within  two  or  three  days  after  cometh  up  the  host  of 
the  inn  where  Mr.  Cottam  was  taken. 

‘ This  host,  as  Providence  would  have  it,  met  with  Havard,  and 
taking  him  by  the  shoulder,  said.  Gentleman,  you  had  like  to  have 
undone  me,  because  the  prisoner  you  promised  to  deliver  is  escaped. 
Wherefore  you  must  come  with  me  to  one  Mr.  Andrews,  my  Lord 
Cohham's  deputy,  and  give  him  satisfaction  in  the  matter.  Havard 
was  somewhat  amazed  at  this  sudden  summoning,  but  after  awhile, 
coming  to  himself,  he  said.  Why,  my  host,  if  I deliver  you  the 
prisoner  again,  you  will  he  contented?  Yes,  said  the  other.  Deliver 
me  the  prisoner  and  I have  nothing  to  say  to  you.  Upon  this  they 
went  to  Mr.  Cottam' s lodging,  but  he  was  removed,  the  people  of 
the  house  knew  not  whither.  The  host  would  fain  have  had  this 
Havard,  so  called  for  the  time,  to  go  with  him  to  the  said  Andrews, 
but  Havard  sought  all  means  to  avoid  his  company,  being  sure, 
if  he  had  once  come  within  the  persecutor’s  paws,  he  should  not 
escape  them  so  easily;  and  being  then  loth  to  fall  into  further  trouble, 
he  said  to  the  other.  My  host,  there  is  no  such  necessity  why  I should 
go  to  Mr.  Andrews,  for  if  I did,  perhaps  he  woidd  pick  some  quarrel 
with  me  hy  reason  of  the  prisoner's  escape,  and  I might  come  to  trouble 
and  you  woidd  reap  no  gain  or  profit  thereby.  But  this  I will  do  for 
your  discharge,  I will  bring  you  to  a merchant  who,  I think,  will  give 
you  his  hand  that  I shall  bring  you  the  prisoner  by  four  of  the  clock, 
or  else  that  1 shall  deliver  you  my  body  again.  I am  content,  saith  he, 
so  that  I have  the  one  of  you  two.  To  the  merchant,  therefore, 
they  went,  who,  at  the  request  of  Havard,  his  brother-in-law,  gave 
his  hand  and  promise  for  the  performance  of  the  condition  before 
specified.  (Which  promise,  though  punctually  performed,  cost 
the  merchant  eight  months’  imprisonment  afterwards;  but  how 
justly  will  be  one  day  examined  before  the  just  Judge.)  Thus 
Havard,  leaving  his  host  in  the  merchant’s  house,  went  forth  into 
the  city,  with  another  in  his  company,  to  see  if  he  could  meet  with 
Mr.  Cottam. 

‘ And  coming  into  Cheapside,  there  by  chance  he  met  him,  and 

63 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


after  ordinary  salutations,  he  said,  Mr.  Cottam,  such  a man  is  come 
to  town,  and  hath  so  seized  upon  me  for  your  escape,  that  either  you 
or  I must  needs  go  to  prison;  you  know  my  state  and  condition,  and 
may  guess  how  I shall  be  treated,  if  once  I appear  under  my  right 
name  before  them;  you  know  also  your  own  state.  Now  it  is  in 
your  choice  whether  of  us  shall  go,  for  one  must  go,  there  is  no 
remedy;  and  to  force  you  I will  not,  for  I had  rather  sustain  any 
punishment  whatsoever.  Mr.  Cottani,  lifting  up  his  eyes  and  hands 
to  heaven,  said  these  words:  Now  God  he  blessed!  I should  never 
while  I lived  have  been  without  scruple^  if  I had  escaped  from  them. 
Nothing  grieveth  me^  but  that  I have  not  despatched  some  business 
that  I have  to  do.  Why,  said  Havard,  ’tis  but  ten  of  the  clock  yet, 
and  you  may  despatch  your  business  by  four  of  the  clock  and  then 
you  may  go  to  them.  Whither  is  it^  said  he,  that  I must  go?  To 
the  sign  of  the  Star^  quoth  Havard,  in  New  Fish  Street.,  and  there 
you  must  inquire  for  one  Mr.  Andrews,  my  Lord  Cohham's  deputy; 
to  him  you  must  surrender  yourself.  I will,  said  he;  and  so  they 
parted,  and  never  saw  one  the  other  after. 

‘ Mr.  Cottam,  after  he  had  despatched  all  his  business,  went  at 
four  o’clock  all  alone  to  the  place  appointed,  and  there  yielded 
himself  prisoner  (an  invincible  proof  of  his  being  innocent  of  any 
treason),  and  was  carried  to  the  court,  lying  then  at  Nonesuch  or 
Otlands,  from  whence,  after  five  days’  conference  with  divers 
ministers  that  laboured,  but  in  vain,  to  pervert  him,  he  was  sent  to 
the  Marshalsea  for  religion,  and  not  for  treason,  and  from  thence  to 
the  Tower,  there  to  be  racked,  not  for  to  reveal  any  secret  treason, 
as  the  adversaries  most  falsely  pretend,  but  tormented  because  he 
would  not  confess  his  private  sins  unto  them,  as  he  both  confidently 
and  truly  affirmed  to  their  faces  at  his  arraignment.  After  a long 
confinement,  he  was  led  to  Westminster,  and  there  unjustly  con- 
demned [with  Father  Campio7i  and  others;  and  on  the  30th  of 
May  following  drawn  to  Tyburn,  where  we  have  seen  his  behaviour 
in  the  cart,  and  how  he  was  set  down  again  before  Mr.  Richardson^ s 
execution.] 

* When  the  cart  was  drawn  away  from  Mr.  Richardson,  Mr. 
Cottam  said,  O good  Laurence,  pray  for  me:  Lord  Jesus,  receive  thy 
sold;  which  he  repeated  several  times.  All  this  time  Mr.  Cottam 
was  with  the  Sheriff  and  the  ministers  upon  the  ground,  having 
the  rope  still  about  his  neck.  I could  not  well  hear  what  persuasions 
the  Sheriff  and  ministers  had  with  him,  but  I do  conjecture  that 
what  they  said  was,  that  if  he  would  renounce  his  faith  he  should 
have  his  pardon,  for  I heard  him  well  utter  these  words,  I will  not 

64 


1582] 


THOMAS  COTTAM 


swerve  a jot  from  my  faith  for  anything;  yea,  if  I had  ten  thousand 
lives,  I would  rather  lose  them  all  than  forsake  the  Catholic  faith  in 
any  point;  and  with  that  he  was  lifted  up  into  the  cart  again,  and  the 
sheriff  said  withal,  Despatch  him,  since  he  is  so  stubborn. 

‘ Then  he  was  turned  backward  to  look  upon  Mr.  Richardson, 
who  was  then  in  quartering,  which  he  did,  saying.  Lord  Jesus,  have 
mercy  upon  them ! O Lord,  give  me  grace  to  endure  to  the  end; 
Lord,  give  me  constancy  to  the  end.  Which  saying  he  uttered  almost 
for  all  the  time  that  Mr.  Richardson  was  in  quartering,  saving  once 
that  he  said.  Thy  soul  pray  for  me;  and  at  the  last  he  said,  O Lord,  what 
a spectacle  hast  Thou  made  unto  me!  which  he  repeated  twice  or 
thrice.  And  then  the  head  of  Mr.  Richardson  was  held  up  by  the 
executioner,  who  said,  as  the  custom  is,  God  save  the  Queen;  to 
which  Mr.  Cottam  said,  I beseech  God  to  save  her  and  bless  her,  and 
with  all  my  heart  I wish  her  prosperity  as  my  liege  and  sovereign 
Queen  and  chief  governess.  They  willed  him  to  say.  And  supreme 
head  in  matters  ecclesiastical;  to  whom  he  answered.  If  I would 
have  put  in  those  words  I had  been  discharged  almost  two  years  since. 
Then  the  Sheriff  said.  You  are  a traitor  if  you  deny  that.  Mr. 
Cottam  said.  No,  that  is  a matter  of  faith;  and  unless  it  be  for  my 
conscience  and  faith,  I never  offended  her  Majesty.  And  with  that 
he  looked  up  to  heaven  and  prayed  secretly;  then  uttered  these 
words.  In  te  Domine  speravi,  non  confundar  in  ceternum — In  Thee, 
O Lord,  have  I hoped;  let  m^e  not  be  confounded  for  ever:  and  O 
Domine,  tuplura  pro  me  passus  es,  etc. — O Lord,  Thou  hast  suffered 
more  for  me, — three  times  repeating  plura,  more. 

‘ Then  the  Sheriff  said  to  him.  Yet,  Cottam,  call  for  mercy  and 
confess,  and  no  doubt  the  Queen  will  be  merciful  unto  you.  Who 
answered.  My  conscience  giveth  me  a clear  testimony  that  I never 
offended  her:  adding.  That  he  wished  her  as  much  good  as  to  his  own 
soul;  and  for  all  the  gold  under  the  cope  of  heaven  he  would  not  wish 
that  any  one  hair  of  her  head  should  perish  to  do  her  harm;  and  that 
all  that  he  did  here  suffer  was  for  saving  his  soul;  desiring  Almighty 
God,  for  His  sweet  Son’s  sake.  That  He  would  vouchsafe  to  take  him 
to  His  mercy,  saying.  That  Him  only  he  had  offended;  and  desiring 
God  that  if  there  were  anything  more  unspoken  which  were  convenient 
to  be  spoken.  He  woidd  now  put  it  into  his  mind. 

‘ And  then  he  prayed,  desiring  forgiveness  of  all  the  world,  and 
saying.  That  he  did  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart  forgive  all.  Adding, 
That  the  sins  of  this  realm  have  deserved  infinite  punishment  and  God's 
just  indignation,  and  desiring  Him,  of  His  mercy,  that  He  would  turn 
His  wrath  from  this  people,  and  call  them  to  repentance,  to  see  and 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


acknowledge  their  sins.  Then  he  begged  all  Catholics  to  pray  with 
him;  and  having  said  his  Pater,  and  being  in  the  middle  of  his  Ave, 
the  cart  was  driven  away.  He  hanged  till  he  was  dead;  and  being 
stripped,  he  was  found  to  wear  within  his  shirt  a shirt  of  very  coarse 
canvas,  without  sleeves,  which  reached  down  beneath  his  middle, 
which  was  likely  in  the  nature  of  a hair  shirt  for  the  punishment  of 
his  body;  with  which  kind  of  things  England  is  not  now  acquainted.’ 

He  suffered  May  30,  1582. 

Father  Lewis  of  Grenada,  in  his  abridgment  of  his  Catechism, 
chap.  22,  gives  an  account  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Cottam  and  the  other 
six,  his  companions,  from  an  eye-witness,  and  looks  upon  them  as 
illustrious  martyrs. 


WILLIAM  LACY,  Priest  * 

WILLIAM  LACY  was  a Yorkshire  gentleman,  [born  at 
Hauton,]  who  for  some  time  enjoyed  a place  of  trust  in  that 
country  under  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  had  a fair  prospect  of 
being  advanced  higher  had  not  his  religion  stood  in  his  way.  He  was 
one  of  the  chief  gentlemen  of  those  days  whose  house  w^as  open  to 
the  priests  that  came  over  from  the  Colleges  abroad,  where  they 
always  met  with  a kind  welcome,  and  were  sure  to  want  no  service 
or  assistance  that  he  could  afford  or  procure  them.  But  as  he  was 
taught  by  these  gentlemen  that  neither  he  nor  his  could  in  conscience 
frequent  the  Protestant  churches,  his  absenting  himself  was  soon 
taken  notice  of,  and  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  his  charge.  Neither 
was  this  all,  but  so  many  means  were  found  to  distress  him,  and 
such  heavy  fines  imposed  upon  him  every  month  for  his  and  his 
family’s  recusancy,  that  he  was  obliged  to  leave  his  house  and  home, 
and  to  travel  about,  sheltering  himself  sometimes  with  one  friend, 
sometimes  with  another ; and  being  never  able  to  stay  long  in  a place 
without  danger  of  being  apprehended  and  imprisoned  by  the 
adversaries  of  his  faith.  At  length,  his  wdfe  dying,  he  took  a resolu- 
tion, though  he  was  now  pretty  well  advanced  in  years,  to  go  abroad 
in  order  to  dedicate  the  remainder  of  his  days  to  the  service  of  God 
and  his  neighbours  in  the  ecclesiastical  state. 

* Bd.  William  Lacy. — From  Bridgewater’s  Concertatio,  edition  of 
1588,  fol.  96,  2;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

66 


1582] 


WILLIAM  LACY 


He  had  no  sooner  taken  this  resolution,  but  he  took  the  first 
opportunity  to  pass  over  into  France  to  the  College  lately  translated 
from  Doway  to  Rhemes^  where  he  was  received  according  to  his 
merits,  and  diligently  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  divinity,  fre- 
quenting the  schools  with  the  young  divines,  and  giving  great  edifica- 
tion to  all  by  his  humility  and  other  virtues.  After  having  for  some 
time  exercised  himself  in  this  manner  in  the  English  College  at 
Rhemes^  he  went  from  thence  to  Pont-d-Musson^  in  Lorraine,  to 
follow  his  studies  there;  from  whence  his  devotion  carried  him  to 
Rome,  to  visit  the  holy  places  consecrated  by  the  sufferings  of  the 
apostles  and  martyrs.  Here  he  procured  a dispensation  that  he 
might  be  made  priest ; for  having  been  married  to  a widow,  he  could 
not  be  ordained  without  a dispensation — which  was  the  easier 
granted  him  in  consideration  of  his  personal  merit  and  great  virtues. 
So  having  made  the  Spiritual  Exercises  in  the  English  College  of 
Rome,  he  received  all  his  orders,  and  shortly  after  returned  home  to 
labour  in  the  mission,  which  he  did  with  great  fruit  for  the  space  of 
about  two  years,  bringing  over  many  souls  to  Christ  and  His  Church. 

He  frequently  visited  the  Catholics  that  were  prisoners  for  their 
conscience  in  York  Castle,  where,  on  the  22d  oi  July  1582,  having 
been  with  others  present  at  Mass,  celebrated  before  day  by  Mr.  Bell, 
and  making  the  best  of  his  way  out  of  the  Castle,  upon  the  keepers 
and  turnkeys  taking  an  alarm,  he  was  seized  under  the  Castle  walls, 
and  carried  in  the  morning  before  the  Lord  Mayor  of  York  and 
Councillor  Check,  who,  having  strictly  examined  him,  committed 
him  prisoner  to  the  Castle,  with  orders  that  he  should  be  loaded  with 
irons;  which  he  kissed  when  they  were  put  on  him  by  the  keepers. 
With  this  load  of  chains  he  was  hurried  away  to  Thorp,  the  Arch- 
bishop’s seat,  to  be  examined  by  him.  What  passed  here,  says  my 
author,  between  him  and  the  Archbishop,  we  could  by  no  means 
come  to  know,  because  after  this  interview  Mr.  Lacy  was  cast  into  a 
dungeon  by  himself,  so  that  we  could  not  have  any  access  to  him. 

Upon  the  nth  of  August  he  was  brought  to  the  bar,  where  he 
was  arraigned  for  having  been  made  priest  at  Rome;  which  he 
acknowledged,  and  which  appeared  from  the  letters  of  ordination 
he  had  about  him  at  the  time  of  his  apprehension.  But  the  judge, 
not  content  with  this  confession,  pressed  him  farther  with  that 
murthering  question  whether  he  acknowledged  the  Queen  to  be 
supreme  head  of  the  Church  of  England.  He  replied.  That  in  this 
matter,  as  well  as  in  all  other  things,  he  believed  as  the  Catholic  Church 
of  God  and  all  good  Christians  believed.  Upon  this  he  was  brought 
in  guilty  of  high  treason,  and  had  sentence  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high 

67 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


treason.  He  heard  the  fatal  sentence  with  a serene  countenance  and 
an  undaunted  courage,  saying,  God  be  for  ever  blessed  ! I am  now  old^ 
and  by  the  course  of  nature  could  not  expect  to  live  long.  This  will 
be  no  more  to  me  than  to  pay  the  common  debt  a little  before  the  time. 
I am  rejoiced,  therefore,  at  the  things  which  have  been  said  to  me;  we 
shall  go  into  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  so  shall  be  with  the  Lord 
for  ever. 

The  day  appointed  for  his  death  was  the  22d  of  August,  when 
Mr.  Lacy  and  Mr.  Kirkeman,  another  gentleman  of  the  same 
character,  were  laid  upon  a hurdle  and  drawn  to  the  place  of  execu- 
tion. On  the  way  they  made  their  confessions  to  each  other;  and 
when  they  came  to  the  gallows,  Mr.  Lacy  first  made  his  prayer  to 
prepare  himself  for  his  last  conflict,  and  then  ascending  the  ladder, 
began  to  speak  to  the  people,  and  to  exhort  them  to  provide  for  the 
salvation  of  their  souls  by  flying  from  heresy.  But  the  ministers 
apprehending  that  the  cause  of  their  religion  would  suffer  by  such 
discourses,  procured  to  have  his  mouth  effectually  stopped  by 
hastening  the  hangman  to  fling  him  off  the  ladder,  and  so  put  an 
end  to  his  mortal  life. 

He  suffered  at  York,  August  22,  1582. 


RICHARD  KIRKEMAN,  Priest  * 

He  was  born  at  Addingham,  in  Yorkshire,  of  a gentleman’s 
family,  and  being  already  advanced  in  learning,  went  over  to 
the  English  College  of  Doway,  where,  following  his  studies,  he 
was  made  priest  and  sent  upon  the  mission  in  1578.  His  apostolic 
labours  were  in  the  Northern  provinces,  where,  being  on  a journey, 
he  was  stopped  on  the  8th  of  August,  1582,  by  Justice  Worthy  within 
two  miles  of  Wakefield,  who  having  examined  him  who  he  was, 
what  business  brought  him  into  that  part  of  the  country,  &c.,  and 
not  being  satisfied  with  his  answers,  was  for  sending  him  and  his 
servant  to  prison  as  vagrants  and  dangerous  fellows.  Mr.  Kirkeman, 
perceiving  how  matters  were  like  to  go,  thought  it  best  to  acquaint 
the  justice  with  what  he  was,  and  to  leave  the  issue  to  Providence; 

* Bd.  Richard  Kirkeman. — From  Bridgewater’s  Concertatio,  fol.  100, 
and  from  the  Douay  Records;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

68 


1582] 


RICHARD  KIRKEMAN 


and  accordingly,  calling  for  a pen,  he  wrote  with  his  own  hand.  That 
he  was  a Catholic  priest.  Upon  this  the  justice  asked  him  no  more 
questions,  but  ordered  his  baggage  to  be  searched  (where  they  found 
a chalice  and  other  utensils  for  saying  Mass),  and  both  him  and  his 
servant  to  be  carried  to  York^  where  the  assizes  were  forthwith  to  be 
held.  Their  first  night’s  lodging  was  at  Tadcaster^  where  they  had 
the  bare  floor  for  their  bed.  The  next  day  they  arrived  at  York, 
where  Mr.  Kirkeman  was,  without  more  ado,  immediately  brought 
to  the  bar. 

Here  many  questions  were  put  to  him,  as  where  he  had  lived; 
whether  he  had  ever  been  beyond  the  seas,  and  in  what  place,  and 
for  how  long  a time;  whether  he  had  not  withdrawn  her  Majesty’s 
subjects  from  their  allegiance ; whether  he  had  said  Mass  in 
and  where,  &c.  To  these  questions  he  candidly  answered.  That  he 
had  lived  with  Mr.  Dimock,  who  died  in  prison  for  the  Catholic  faith; 
that  he  had  been  two  years  abroad;  that  he  never  withdrew  any  man 
from  his  allegiance  to  the  Queen,  but  persuaded  as  many  as  he  could 
to  embrace  the  true  religion,  and  administered  the  Holy  Sacrament, 
as  time  and  place  would  permit;  that  he  had  said  Mass  in  Nor- 
thumberland, but  a's  to  particular  places  and  persons,  he  would  not 
7iame  them.  Upon  these  answers  an  indictment  was  drawn  up  against 
him,  and  a jury  impanelled,  who  brought  him  in  guilty  of  high 
treason, — first,  for  being  a priest  of  the  Seminary  of  Doway  or 
Rhemes;  secondly,  for  persuading  the  Queen’s  subjects  to  the 
Catholic  religion. 

After  the  jury  had  brought  in  their  verdict,  Mr.  Kirkeman  was 
carried  to  the  gaol,  where  he  was  again  examined  by  Justice  Worthy 
and  Justice  Manwaring,  who  not  being  able  to  extort  out  of  him 
what  they  wanted,  Mr.  Worthy  in  a passion  called  him  Papist  and 
traitor,  and  loaded  him  with  reproaches  and  injuries.  To  whom 
Mr.  Kirkeman  calmly  replied.  You  might,  sir,  with  the  same  justice 
charge  the  apostles  also  with  being  traitors,  for  they  taught  the  same 
doctrine  as  I now  teach,  and  did  the  same  things  for  which  you 
condemn  me. 

After  this  he  was  brought  again  to  the  bar  to  receive  sentence, 
which  was  pronounced  upon  him  in  the  usual  form.  Mr.  Kirkeman, 
with  a wonderful  calmness  and  modesty,  addressing  himself  to  the 
judge  upon  this  occasion,  begged  of  him.  That  he  would  consider 
well  what  he  did;  that  he  looked  upon  himself  as  a wretched  sinner  and 
infinitely  unworthy  of  so  great  an  honour  as  that  of  martyrdom.  The 
judge,  who  understood  not  this  language,  told  him.  That  the  sen- 
tence pronounced  upon  him  was  agreeable  to  what  the  law  directed 

69 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1582 


in  those  cases,  and  that  he  had  now  nothing  else  to  do  but  to  prepare 
himself  for  death.  The  confessor  again  begged  of  him,  To  consider 
his  unworthiness  of  so  great  a favour.  The  judge  warmly  answered 
him,  That  his  wickedness  had  well  deserved  that  kind  of  death.  It 
must  then  he  so,  said  Mr.  Kirkeman,  and  I must  be  honoured  with  so 
sublime  a dignity.  Good  God!  how  unworthy  am  I of  it!  But 
since  it  is  Thy  holy  wilf  Thy  holy  will  he  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in 
heaven  ; and  with  that  he  began  with  a loud  voice  that  hymn  of  joy 
and  thanksgiving,  Te  Deum  laudamus. 

Four  days  before  his  death  he  was  sent  for  by  the  High  Sheriff 
and  two  ministers.  What  passed  between  them  was  kept  private, 
nor  had  the  Catholics  any  opportunity  of  learning  it  from  himself ; 
for  from  that  time  he  was  kept  in  a dungeon  by  himself,  waiting 
with  patience,  and  preparing  himself  for  his  passage  into  eternity. 

On  the  22d  of  August  he  was  pinioned  down  on  the  hurdle,  and 
drawn  with  Mr.  Lacy  to  the  place  of  execution.  Here  he  employed 
himself  in  silent  prayer  till  his  companion  had  happily  finished  his 
course;  then  being  called  upon  by  the  officers,  he  cheerfully  went  up 
the  ladder;  and,  addressing  himself  to  the  multitude  of  spectators, 
which  was  very  great,  he  began  to  make  an  exhortation  to  them,  but 
was  interrupted  and  ordered  to  desist.  Upon  which,  going  up  a 
little  higher  on  the  ladder,  and  lifting  up  his  eyes  towards  his  heavenly 
country,  upon  which  his  soul  aspired,  he  pronounced  these  words 
of  the  royal  prophet,  Heu  mihi^  quia  incolatus  meus  prolongatus  est; 
hahitavi  cum  hahitantihus  Cedar ^ multum  incola  fuit  anima  mea  ! And 
so  was  flung  off  the  ladder,  and  yielded  up  his  soul  to  his  Creator. 


JAMES  THOMPSON,  Priest.^ 

Mr.  JAMES  THOMPSON  was  born  and  brought  up  in 
Yorkshire^  in  the  west  part  thereof,  and  about  the  city  of 
York.  From  thence  he  went  over  to  the  College  lately 
translated  from  Doway  to  Rhemes^  where  he  was  made  priest,  and 
sent  back  to  England  in  1581.  He  was  apprehended  on  the  nth  of 

* Bd.  James  Thomson. — From  Bridgewater’s  Concertatio,  fol.  loi ; 
and  from  a Manuscript  account  sent  over  to  Douay,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ralph 
Fisher;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

70 


1582] 


JAMES  THOMPSON 


August^  1582,  in  the  city  of  York,  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Branton,  a 
Catholic,  then  prisoner  for  his  conscience  in  the  Kidcote;  and  being 
examined  by  the  Council*  what  he  was,  he  frankly  owned  himself 
to  be  a priest.  At  which,  when  some  seemed  to  be  surprised,  because 
he  had  been  for  some  years  before  well  known  in  that  city,  and  they 
could  not  imagine  how  he  should  be  made  a priest,  he  told  them. 
He  had  been  beyond  the  seas,  and  was  ordained  there,  though  his  stay 
was  but  short,  not  above  one  year,  because  the  state  of  his  health 
obliged  him  to  return  home  sooner  than  he  had  designed. 

They  bid  him  tell  them  sincerely  whether  his  returning  into 
England  was  not  in  order  to  reconcile  the  Queen’s  subjects  to  the 
Church  of  Rome.  He  answered.  That  the  cause  of  his  returning  into 
England  was  that  which  he  had  already  told  them;  for  he  had  laboured 
under  a very  ill  state  of  health  from  Candlemas  till  the  beginning  of 
May.  But  withal,  says  he,  I will  tell  you  ingenuously  that  I returned 
in  order  to  do  some  service  to  my  country.  They  asked  him  if  he 
had  reconciled  any.  He  answered.  That  where  opportunity  was 
offered  he  had  7iot  been  wanting  to  his  duty.  They  asked  how  many 
and  what  persons  he  had  reconciled.  He  desired  to  be  excused 
from  answering  a question  by  which  he  might  bring  others  into 
danger.  Then  they  asked  whether  he  acknowledged  the  Queen’s 
Majesty  for  the  supreme  head  of  the  Church.  He  answered.  That 
he  did  not  acknowledge  her  for  such.  Very  well,  said  they;  you  need 
say  no  more;  you  have  said  enough.  He  answered.  Blessed  be  God! 

Yet  not  content  with  this,  they  further  asked  him  whether  he 
would  take  arms  against  the  Pope  if  he  should  invade  the  kingdom. 
He  replied.  When  that  time  shall  come,  I will  shew  myself  a true 
patriot.  But,  said  they,  will  you  fight  against  the  Pope  now  ? He 
answered.  No.  Upon  which,  after  many  reproaches  and  injuries, 
they  ordered  him  to  prison,  and  commanded  that  he  should  be 
loaded  with  double  irons;  where  he  remained  for  seventeen  days, 
and  then,  chained  as  he  was,  was  led  through  the  streets  from  his 
first  prison  to  the  Castle.  Here  he  was  put  to  the  common  side 
amongst  the  felons,  where  he  remained  some  time ; and  then,  through 
the  interest  of  friends,  was  removed  to  a chamber  where  he  had  the 
company  of  two  other  priests,  prisoners  for  the  same  cause. 

On  the  25th  of  November  he  was  brought  to  the  bar,  tried  and 
condemned,  and  had  sentence  of  death  pronounced  upon  him  in  the 
usual  form  as  in  cases  of  high  treason;  at  the  hearing  of  which  he  was 
so  transported  with  joy,  that  he  seemed  to  have  quite  forgot  the 


* Senatus. 

71 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1583 


pains  of  his  disease  under  which  he  had  so  long  laboured.  After 
sentence  he  spent  his  time,  night  and  day,  either  in  prayer  and 
meditation,  or  in  labouring  to  gain  souls  to  God  and  His  Church, 
in  which  he  had  good  success  by  the  Divine  blessing  and  the  oppor- 
tunity of  the  place;  for  being  put  again  into  the  company  of  felons 
after  his  condemnation,  he  prevailed  on  some  of  them,  by  his 
exhortations  and  good  example,  to  renounce  their  errors  and  sins, 
and,  in  spite  of  the  devil  and  his  ministers,  to  die  good  Catholics 
and  true  penitents. 

When  the  day  of  execution  was  come,  and  the  hurdle  upon  which 
he  was  to  be  drawn  to  the  gallows  was  before  his  eyes,  being  asked 
by  one  how  he  found  himself  affected,  he  answered.  That  in  all  his 
life  he  had  never  been  so  joyful.  A minister  upon  this  occasion  offered 
to  talk  to  him,  but  Mr.  Thompson  would  not  have  anything  to  say 
to  him;  and  the  rest  that  were  to  suffer  with  him  (though  not  for 
the  same  cause)  followed  his  example,  and  plainly  told  the  minister. 
That  they  would  by  no  means  give  ear  to  his  doctrine.  When  he  was 
come  to  the  place  of  execution,  he  there  prayed  for  a long  time  and 
with  great  fervour,  and  then  going  up  the  ladder,  he  spoke  to  the 
people,  declaring.  That  he  died  in  the  Catholic  faith  and  for  the 
Catholic  faiths  calling  God  to  witness.  That  he  had  never  been  guilty 
of  any  treason  against  his  Queen  or  country.  So,  after  he  had  again 
prayed  for  a while,  commending  his  soul  to  his  Creator,  he  was  flung 
off  the  ladder,  and  was  observed,  whilst  he  was  hanging,  first  to  lift 
up  his  hands  towards  heaven,  then  to  strike  his  breast  with  his  right 
hand,  and,  lastly,  to  the  great  astonishment  of  the  spectators,  dis- 
tinctly to  form  the  sign  of  the  cross. 

He  suffered  at  York  the  28th  of  November  1582. 


[ 1583.  ] 

WILLIAM  HART,  Priest  * 

Mr.  hart  was  born  in  the  city  of  Wells^  in  Somersetshire,  and 
brought  up  in  Lincoln  College,  Oxford,  where  his  happy 
genius  and  great  talents  were  much  admired.  From  thence 
he  passed  over  to  Doway  (disliking  the  religion  and  manners  of 
Oxford)  to  pursue  his  studies  in  the  English  College  in  that  Univer- 

* Bd.  William  Hart. — From  Bridgewater’s  Concertatio,  fol.  104;  and 
from  the  Douay  Records;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

72 


1583] 


WILLIAM  HART 


sity.  From  whence,  in  the  year  1578,  he  removed  with  the  rest  of 
the  students  to  Rhemes.  In  this  journey  his  courage  and  patience 
was  admirable,  when,  labouring  under  a violent  fit  of  the  stone,  he 
nevertheless  went  the  whole  way  on  foot,  bearing  the  most  acute 
pains,  joined  to  the  labour  of  the  journey,  with  a wonderful  calmness 
and  evenness  of  mind,  to  the  great  edification  of  his  companions, 
to  whom,  during  his  whole  stay  at  Doway  and  Rhemes^  he  was  a 
perfect  pattern  of  modesty  and  piety.  His  disease  still  growing 
upon  him,  his  superiors  sent  him  to  Spa  to  try  the  waters  there; 
but  all  in  vain:  the  physicians  declaring  that  there  was  no  remedy 
for  him  but  cutting.  He  submitted,  in  hopes  of  thereby  prolonging 
his  life  to  labour  in  the  Lord’s  vineyard,  offered  up  what  he  was  to 
suffer  as  a penance  for  his  sins,  and  underwent  all  with  great  courage, 
having  his  soul  so  fixed  in  God  by  prayer,  that  he  scarce  seemed 
to  take  any  notice  of  so  painful  an  operation,  at  which  both  the 
surgeon  and  others  that  were  present  were  much  astonished. 

Some  time  after  his  return  to  Rhemes  he  was  sent  by  superiors  to 
Rome  to  the  English  College  there,  which  at  that  time,  and  for  many 
years  before  and  after,  was  chiefly  supplied  with  students  from 
Doway  and  Rhemes.  Here  continuing  to  apply  himself  with  great 
ardour  to  his  studies,  and  making  daily  progress  in  the  science  of 
the  saints,  having  attained  to  great  perfection  both  in  virtue  and 
learning,  he  was  made  priest  and  sent  upon  the  mission.  In  England 
he  diligently  employed  his  talents  to  the  greater  glory  of  God  and 
conversion  of  many  souls,  chiefly  in  and  about  York;  for,  besides 
a singular  piety  towards  God,  a great  love  for  his  neighbours,  and 
an  extraordinary  zeal  for  the  Catholic  faith,  which  were  from  the 
beginning  very  eminent  in  him,  his  carriage  and  behaviour  was  so 
winning  as  to  make  him  agreeable  to  all;  and  his  eloquence  (for 
which  he  was  called  another  Campion) y joined  to  an  extraordinary 
gift  he  had  in  preaching,  was  such  as  easily  made  its  way  into  the 
hearts  of  his  hearers.  His  devotion  was  great  to  the  tremendous 
mysteries,  which  whilst  he  celebrated  he  was  often  observed  to  shed 
abundance  of  tears;  and  his  charity  was  very  remarkable  towards 
numbers  of  poor  Catholics  that  were  prisoners  in  those  days  for 
their  conscience,  and  who,  in  York  especially,  were  daily  perishing 
through  the  many  incommodities  of  their  imprisonment,  joined  to 
the  hard-heartedness  and  barbarity  of  their  keepers.  These  he 
daily  visited,  refusing  no  labour  nor  danger  for  their  comfort  and 
assistance,  encouraging  them  to  suffer  with  patience,  procuring 
them  what  assistance  he  was  able,  hearing  their  confessions,  and 
administering  the  sacraments  to  them. 

73 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1583 

The  night  that  Mr.  Lacy  and  others  were  apprehended,  who  had 
been  assisting  at  Mass  in  York  Castle^  Mr.  Hart  was  one  of  the 
company,  but  he  escaped  by  getting  down  the  wall,  and  made  his 
way  through  a muddy  pool  or  moat,  in  which  he  was  up  to  the  chin 
in  water  and  mire.  But  within  six  months  after,.  God  was  pleased 
he  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  who  rushed  into  his 
chamber  the  night  after  Christmas  Day,  when  he  was  in  bed  and 
asleep,  and  seized  upon  him.  At  the  first  surprise,  and  perhaps  not 
yet  fully  awake,  he  bid  them  Keep  off  and  not  touch  him  for  he  was 
an  anointed  priest;  adding  withal.  That  he  would  dress  himself  imme- 
diately and  accompany  them.  As  soon  as  he  w^as  dressed  they  carried 
him  to  the  house  of  the  High  Sheriff,  w^here  they  kept  him  till  day, 
and  then  he  was  brought  before  the  Lord  President  of  the  North, 
who  having  examined  him,  sent  him  prisoner  to  the  Castle,  where 
he  w^as  lodged  in  a dungeon,  which  was  his  only  chamber  till  his 
dying  day.  And  whereas  he  could  not  help  discovering,  both  by 
his  countenance  and  w^ords,  the  great  joy  of  his  soul  in  suffering  for 
such  a cause,  they  loaded  him  on  St.  John's  Day  with  double  irons 
to  tame  his  courage,  but  all  in  vain;  for,  in  proportion  to  what  he 
suffered  for  Christ,  he  found  still  greater  consolations  from  Christ. 

During  his  confinement  he  had  several  conferences  with  some 
of  the  chief  of  the  Protestant  ministers  in  York,  namely,  with  Dean 
Hutton,  Mr.  Bunny,  ]\Ir.  Pace,  and  Mr.  Palmer,  in  wLich  these 
gentlemen  had  no  reason  to  boast  of  their  success,  though  they  w^ere 
pleased  to  publish  that  they  did  not  doubt  but  that  he  w ould  easily 
be  brought  over  to  their  side. 

When  he  was  brought  to  the  bar,  the  Judge  asked  him  wLy  he 
had  left  his  native  country  to  go  beyond  the  seas.  He  answ^ered. 
For  no  other  reason,  my  Lord,  hut  to  acquire  virtue  and  learning;  and 
whereas  I found  religion  and  virtue  flourishing  in  those  countries,  I 
took  holy  orders  {to  which  I perceived  myself  called  hy  a certain  impidse 
from  God),  to  the  end  that,  renouncing  the  world,  I might  he  more  at 
liberty  to  sei've  my  Make)'.  They  asked  him  how^  he  had  employed 
his  time  since  his  return  into  England.  He  answered.  In  instructing 
the  ignorant  and  administering  the  sacraments  for  the  benefit  of  the 
souls  of  his  countrymen.  They  told  him  he  was  guilty  of  high  treason 
— first,  for  quitting  the  kingdom  w'ithout  the  leave  of  her  Majesty, 
and  adhering  to  her  capital  enemy,  the  Pope;  secondly,  for  with- 
drawing her  Majesty’s  subjects  from  their  obedience  by  reconciling 
them  to  the  Church  of  Rome,  as  he  had  done  Mr.  John  Wright  and 
one  Couling.  Mr.  Hart  replied.  That  his  going  out  of  England 
could  be  no  treason,  since  he  went  to  no  other  end  hut  to  improve  himself 

74 


1583] 


WILLIAM  HART 


in  learning  and  virtue;  that  his  obedience  to  the  Pope  in  spiritual 
matters  was  no  ways  inconsistent  with  his  allegiance  to  his  Queen;  and 
that  he  called  God  to  witness  that  he  had  never  in  his  life  entertained 
so  much  as  a thought  derogatory  to  the  authority  of  the  Queen,  whom 
he  acknowledged  his  lawful  sovereign,  or  tending  to  withdraw  her  sub- 
jects from  their  obedience;  and  that  neither  Mr.  Wright  nor  Couling, 
nor  any  other,  could  say  that  he  had  ever  spoke  so  much  as  one  word 
to  them  to  dissuade  them  from  their  obedience  to  her  Majesty. 

However,  upon  these  two  heads  an  indictment  of  treason  was 
drawn  up  and  a jury  impanelled,  who,  as  directed  by  the  judges, 
brought  him  in  guilty.  And  accordingly  he  had  sentence  to  die  as 
in  cases  of  high  treason.  He  received  the  sentence  with  a perfect 
conformity  to  the  will  of  God,  using  those  words  of  holy  Job, 
Dominus  dedit,  etc. — The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  has  taken  away; 
as  it  has  pleased  the  Lord,  so  has  it  been  done:  may  the  name  of  the 
Lord  be  blessed;  adding.  That  he  was  in  good  hopes  that  now  a short 
time  would  put  an  end  to  his  mortal  life  and  all  its  miseries,  to  be  suc- 
ceeded by  true  and  everlasting  joys. 

The  six  last  days  before  execution  he  prepared  himself  for  his 
exit  by  a rigorous  fast,  spending  withal  whole  nights  in  prayer  and 
contemplation,  and  ardently  wishing  for  that  happy  hour  that  should 
eternally  unite  him  to  the  sovereign  object  of  his  love.  When  he 
was  brought  out  of  his  dungeon  on  the  day  he  was  to  suffer,  he  took 
his  leave  of  the  Catholic  prisoners,  earnestly  recommending  his  last 
conflict  to  their  prayers.  Then  addressing  himself  to  the  chief 
jailor,  he  bid  him  farewell,  thanking  him  for  his  kindnesses,  though 
indeed  he  had  met  with  little  or  no  kindness  or  favour  from  him. 
Being  fastened  down  upon  the  hurdle,  he  was  drawn  through  the 
streets  to  the  place  of  execution,  having  his  eyes  fixed  upon  heaven, 
and  his  soul  in  silence  attentive  to  God.  Before  he  came  to  the 
gallows,  he  was  met  by  two  ministers,  Mr.  Bunny  and  Mr.  Pace,  who 
made  it  their  business  to  affront  him,  and  to  persuade  the  people 
that  he  did  not  die  for  his  religion,  but  for  treason.  As  soon  as  he 
arrived  at  the  place,  he  cheerfully  went  up  the  ladder,  and  began  to 
pray  in  silence.  They  asked  him  if  he  prayed  for  the  Queen.  He 
answered.  That  he  had  always  prayed  for  her  to  that  day,  and  as  long 
as  he  lived  would  not  cease  to  pray  for  her;  that  he  willingly  acknow- 
ledged her  for  his  sovereign,  and  professed  a ready  obedience  to  her  in 
all  things  which  were  not  inconsistent  with  the  Catholic  religion.  Then 
Mr.  Bunny  stepped  out  and  read  aloud  to  the  people  the  bull  of 
Pius  Quintus,  by  which  he  had  excommunicated  the  Queen,  &c., 
pretending  thereby  to  prove  that  Mr.  Hart  must  needs  be  a traitor, 

75 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1583 


and  that  the  business  of  his  coming  over  was  to  withdraw  her 
Majesty’s  subjects  from  their  allegiance.  Mr.  Hart  answered,  in 
short,  That  far  from  having  any  such  thoughts,  he  had  ever  prayed 
for  the  Queen's  safety  and  the  happy  state  of  the  kingdom.  But  Mr. 
Pace  was  particularly  troublesome  to  the  holy  confessor,  continually 
loading  him  with  reproaches  and  injuries.  To  which  Mr.  Hart 
made  no  other  reply  than  this:  Good  Mr.  Pace,  he  so  kind  as  to  let 
me  be  quiet  this  short  time  I have  to  live;  which  he  several  times 
repeated.  Then  lifting  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  he  began  the  psalm. 
Ad  te  levavi  oculos  meos,  etc.,  but  was  again  interrupted  by  the 
ministers  calling  upon  him  to  join  with  them  in  prayer,  which  he 
refused  to  do,  telling  them.  That  his  faith  and  theirs  was  not  the 
same.  But  he  desired  the  Catholics  to  pray  for  him  and  to  bear 
witness  that  he  died  in  and  for  the  Catholic  faith,  and  not  for  any 
crime  whatsoever,  or  treason  against  the  State.  With  that  he  was 
thrown  off  the  ladder,  and  according  to  sentence,  was  cut  down 
alive  and  quartered.  And  though  the  Lord  Mayor  and  other 
magistrates,  who  were  present  at  the  execution,  sought  to  hinder 
the  Catholics  from  carrying  home  with  them  any  relics  of  the 
confessor,  yet  some  there  were  who,  in  spite  of  all  their  precautions 
and  threats,  carried  off  some  of  his  blood,  or  fragments  of  his  bones, 
or  pieces  of  his  clothes,  which  they  kept  as  treasures, — so  great  was  the 
veneration  they  had  for  his  virtue  and  the  cause  for  which  he  died. 

Mr.  Hart  suffered  at  York,  March  15,  1582-3.  He  has  a place 
in  Mr.  Wood's  Athence  Oxonienses , who  acknowledges  that  he  was 
executed  for  his  character.  ‘ This  Mr.  Hart,'  says  the  Protestant 
historian,  ‘ was  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  for  being  a Roman 
priest.’ 

Dr.  Bridgewatei' , in  his  Concertatio,  has  published  several  of 
Mr.  Hart's  letters,  in  one  of  which  he  gives  an  account  of  what  had 
passed  in  his  conferences  with  the  Protestant  divines.  In  the  others 
he  encourages  his  penitents,  especially  such  as  were  prisoners  for 
their  conscience,  to  constancy;  exhorts  them  to  neglect  no  oppor- 
tunity of  frequenting  the  sacraments  as  most  powerful  means  of 
Divine  grace  (lamenting  that  he  himself  was  deprived  of  that  benefit, 
no  priest  being  allowed  to  come  near  him);  expresses  his  ardent 
desire  to  be  dissolved,  and  to  be  with  Christ,  only  regretting  that  he 
had  not  better  served  so  good  a Lord;  and  forbids  them  to  grieve 
upon  his  occasion,  whose  death  was  to  be  so  great  a gain.  These 
letters  are  nine  in  all,  and  are  very  edifying.  Besides  which,  I have 
met  with  a copy  of  a letter  which  he  wrote  to  his  mother  a few  days 
before  his  death,  with  which  I shall  here  present  the  reader. 

76 


WILLIAM  HART 


1583] 

‘ Most  Dear  and  Loving  Mother, 

‘ Seeing  that  by  the  severity  of  the  laws,  by  the  wickedness 
of  our  times,  and  by  God’s  holy  ordinance  and  appointment,  my 
days  in  this  life  are  cut  off,  of  duty  and  conscience  I am  bound 
(being  far  from  you  in  body,  but  in  spirit  very  near  you)  not  only 
to  crave  your  daily  blessing,  but  also  to  write  these  few  words  unto 
you.  You  have  been  a most  loving,  natural,  and  careful  mother 
unto  me ; you  have  suffered  great  pains  in  my  birth  and  bringing 
up;  you  have  toiled  and  turmoiled  to  feed  and  sustain  me,  your 
first  and  eldest  child;  and,  therefore,  for  these,  and  all  other 
your  motherly  cherishings,  I give  you  (as  it  becometh  me  to 
do)  most  humble  and  hearty  thanks,  wishing  that  it  lay  in  me 
to  shew  myself  as  loving,  natural,  and  dutiful  a son  as  you  have 
shewed  yourself  a most  tender  and  careful  mother.  But  I cannot 
express  my  love,  shew  my  duty,  declare  my  affection,  testify  my 
good-will  towards  you ; so  little  am  I able  to  do,  and  so  much  I think 
myself  bound  unto  you.  I had  meant  this  spring  to  have  seen  you 
if  God  had  granted  me  my  health  and  liberty;  but  now  never  shall 
I see  you,  or  any  of  yours,  in  this  life  again;  trusting  yet  in  heaven 
to  meet  you,  to  see  you,  and  to  live  everlastingly  with  you. 

‘ Alas  ! sweet  mother,  why  do  you  weep  ? why  do  you  lament  ? 
why  do  you  take  so  heavily  my  honourable  death  ? Know  you  not 
that  we  are  born  once  to  die,  and  that  always  in  this  life  we  may 
not  live  ? Know  you  not  how  vain,  how  wicked,  how  inconstant, 
how  miserable  this  life  of  ours  is  ? Do  you  not  consider  my  calling, 
my  estate,  my  profession  ? Do  you  not  remember  that  I am  going 
to  a place  of  all  pleasure  and  felicity  ? Why  then  do  you  weep  ? 
why  do  you  mourn  } why  do  you  cry  out  ? But  perhaps  you  will 
say,  I weep  not  so  much  for  your  death  as  I do  for  that  you  are 
hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered.  My  sweet  mother,  it  is  the  favour- 
ablest,  honourablest,  and  happiest  death  that  ever  could  have 
chanced  unto  me.  I die  not  for  knavery,  but  for  verity;  I die  not 
for  treason,  but  for  religion;  I die  not  for  any  ill  demeanour  or 
offence  committed,  but  only  for  my  faith,  for  my  conscience,  for 
my  priesthood,  for  my  blessed  Saviour  Jesus  Christ;  and,  to  tell  you 
truth,  if  I had  ten  thousand  lives,  I am  bound  to  lose  them  all  rather 
than  to  break  my  faith,  to  lose  my  soul,  to  offend  my  God.  We 
are  not  made  to  eat,  drink,  sleep,  to  go  bravely,  to  feed  daintily,  to 
live  in  this  wretched  vale  continually;  but  to  serve  God,  to  please 
God,  to  fear  God,  and  to  keep  His  commandments;  which  when  we 
cannot  be  suffered  to  do,  then  rather  must  we  choose  to  lose  our  lives 
than  to  desire  our  lives. 


77 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1583 


‘ Neither  am  I alone  in  this  kind  of  suffering,  for  there  have  of 
late  suffered  twenty  or  twenty-two  priests,  just,  virtuous,  and  learned 
men,  for  the  self-same  cause  for  the  which  I do  now  suffer.  You 
see  James  Fenn  and  Body  are  imprisoned  for  religion,  and 
I daresay  they  are  desirous  to  die  the  same  death  which  I shall  die. 
Be  contented,  therefore,  good  mother;  stay  your  weeping,  and 
comfort  yourself  that  you  have  borne  a son  that  hath  lost  his  life 
and  liberty  for  God  Almighty’s  sake,  who  shed  His  most  precious 
blood  for  him.  If  I did  desire  or  look  for  prefeiment  or  promo- 
tion, credit  or  estimation  in  this  world,  I could  do  as  others  do;  but, 
alas  ! I pass  not  for  this  trish-trash ; I contemn  this  wretched  world ; 
I detest  the  pleasures  and  commodities  thereof,  and  only  desire  to 
be  in  heaven  with  God,  where  I trust  I shall  be  before  this  my  last 
letter  come  to  you. 

‘ Be  of  good  cheer,  then,  my  most  loving  mother,  and  cease  from 
weeping,  for  there  is  no  cause  why  you  should  do  so.  Tell  me,  for 
God’s  sake,  would  you  not  be  glad  to  see  me  a Bishop,  a King,  or 
an  Emperor  ? Yes,  verily,  I dare  say  you  would.  How  glad,  then, 
may  you  be  to  see  me  a martyr,  a saint,  a most  glorious  and  bright 
star  in  heaven.  The  joy  of  this  life  is  nothing,  and  the  joy  of  the 
after  life  is  everlasting;  and  therefore  thrice  happy  may  you  think 
yourself  that  your  son  William  is  gone  from  earth  to  heaven,  and  from 
a place  of  all  misery  to  a place  of  all  felicity.  I wish  that  I were 
near  to  comfort  you,  but  because  that  cannot  be,  I beseech  you, 
even  for  Christ  Jesus's  sake,  to  comfort  yourself.  You  see  how  God 
hath  brought  me  up,  and  how  He  hath  blessed  me  many  ways;  a 
thousand  times,  then,  unhappy  should  I be  if  for  His  sake  I should 
not  lose  this  miserable  life  to  gain  that  blessed  and  eternal  life 
wherein  He  is. 

‘ I can  say  no  more,  but  desire  you  to  be  of  good  cheer,  because 
myself  am  well.  If  I had  lived,  I would  have  holpen  you  in  your 
age,  as  you  have  holpen  me  in  my  youth.  But  now  I must  desire 
God  to  help  you  and  my  brethren,  for  I cannot.  Good  mother,  be 
contented  with  that  which  God  hath  appointed  for  my  perpetual 
comfort;  and  now,  in  your  old  days,  serve  God  after  the  old  Catholic 
manner.  Pray  unto  Him  daily;  beseech  Him  heartily  to  make  you 
a member  of  His  Church,  and  that  He  will  save  your  soul.  For 
Jesus's  sake,  good  mother,  serve  God.  Read  that  book  that  I gave 
you,  and  die  a member  of  Christ's  body,  and  then  one  day  we  shall 
meet  in  heaven,  by  God’s  grace. 

‘ Recommend  me  to  my  father-in-law,  to  my  brethren,  to 
Andrew  Gibbon's  mother,  and  to  Mrs.  Body,  and  all  the  rest.  Serve 

78 


1583] 


RICHARD  THIRKILL 


God,  and  you  cannot  do  amiss.  God  comfort  you.  Jesus  save 
your  soul,  and  send  you  once  to  heaven.  Farewell,  good  mother, 
farewell  ten  thousand  times.  Out  of  York  Castle^  the  loth  of 
March,  1583. 

‘ Your  most  loving  and  obedient  son, 

‘ William  Hart.’ 


RICHARD  THIRKILL,  or  THIRKELD,  Priest  * 

He  was  born  at  Cunsley,  in  the  bishopric  of  Durham.  Where, 
or  what  education  he  had  at  home,  I have  not  found;  but  he 
seems  to  have  been  pretty  well  advanced  in  age  before  he  went 
abroad;  for  he  is  called  an  old  man  in  the  account  of  his  death,  which 
was  within  four  years  after  he  was  made  priest.  His  education 
abroad  was  in  the  English  College  of  Doway  and  Rhemes.  He  was 
made  priest  in  the  year  1579;  and  as  he  was  coming  home  from  the 
place  where  he  had  been  ordained,  lifting  up  his  hands  to  heaven 
with  astonishment,  he  cried  out,  O good  God!  and  directing  his 
discourse  to  one  of  his  companions,  God  alone  knows,  said  he,  how 
great  a gift  this  is  that  hath  been  conferred  upon  us  this  day.  ‘ He 
considered,’  says  my  author,  who  was  one  of  his  intimate  friends, 

‘ how  excellent  and  singular  a gift  it  was  to  offer  up  daily  to  God, 
for  his  own  and  the  whole  people’s  salvation,  the  precious  blood  of 
Christ,  the  spotless  and  undefiled  Lamb ; and  the  frequent  meditation 
of  this  gift  produced  in  his  soul  that  daily  increase  of  Divine  love 
and  heavenly  courage,  that  there  was  now  nothing  in  life  he  desired 
more  than,  in  return  for  what  Christ  had  done  for  him,  to  shed  also 
his  blood  in  Christ  and  for  Christ.'  My  author  adds,  that  he  had 
often  heard  him  say,  that  for  eight  whole  years  he  had  made  it  the 
subject  of  his  prayers  that  he  might  one  day  lay  down  his  life  for 
his  faith;  which  at  length  was  granted  him  in  the  following  manner. 

His  mission  was  chiefly  in  and  about  York,  where,  on  the  24th 
of  March,  nine  days  after  the  execution  of  Mr.  Hart,  going  by  night 
to  visit  a Catholic  who  for  his  conscience  was  confined  in  the  prison 
upon  the  bridge,  he  was  apprehended  upon  suspicion  of  being  a 
priest;  Avhich  he  readily  owned,  saying,  I will  never  deny  my  voca- 
tion; do  with  me  what  you  will.  He  was  carried  before  the|^Lord 

* Bd.  Richard  Thirkill,  or  Thirkeld. — From  Bridgewater’s  Concertatio , 
fol.  1 16;  and  from  the  Diary  or  Journal  of  Douay  College;  see  2l\so  Lives  of 
E.  M.,  II.  i. 


79 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1583 

Mayor,  and  to  him  also  as  boldly  confessed  what  he  was;  who  sent 
him  for  that  night  to  the  house  of  Standeven^  the  High  Sheriff, 
whose  first  business  w^as  to  find  out  and  plunder  his  lodging,  and 
seize  upon  his  books.  Church  stuff,  &c.  After  which  he  was  com- 
mitted to  the  Kidcote  Prison  on  the  next  day,  where  he  remained 
till  the  27th  of  May,  which  was  the  day  of  his  trial.  In  the  mean 
time,  he  was  twice  examined  by  the  Dean  of  York  and  three  of  the 
Council  concerning  his  character  and  functions;  and  he  was  very 
free  in  his  answers,  only  where  any  other  person  was  concerned. 
They  asked  him  for  what  reasons  he  had  gone  beyond  the  seas,  and 
with  what  design  he  had  returned  into  England.  He  answered. 
That  it  was  for  conscience’  sake,  that  he  might  serve  God  the  better; 
and  that  he  had  returned  into  his  own  country  in  order'  to  gain  souls 
to  God  and  His  Church;  confessing  also.  That  he  had  said  Mass,  and 
performed  the  rest  of  the  functions  of  his  ministry,  as  occasion  required. 
They  touched  also  upon  the  question  of  the  supremacy;  but  the 
Dean  seemed  unwilling  to  have  that  matter  pressed  hom^e.  How- 
ever, Mr.  Thirkill  signified  to  them  that  he  thought  the  spiritual 
jurisdiction  did  not  belong  to  her  Majesty,  but  to  the  Pope. 

What  were  the  dispositions  of  the  soul  of  this  holy  man  in  the 
horror  and  solitude  of  his  prison,  we  may  learn  from  his  epistles, 
of  which  Dr.  Bridgewater  has  published  six,  all  \ery  edifying  and 
full  of  the  spirit  of  the  martyrs.  Let  us  hear  what  he  writes  in  one 
of  them  to  one  of  his  ghostly  children.  ‘ The  world,’  says  he,  ‘ dear 
daughter,  begins  now  to  seem  insipid,  and  all  its  pleasures  grow 
bitter  as  gall,  and  all  the  fine  shews  and  delights  it  affords  appear 
quite  empty  and  good  for  nothing.  Now  it  is  seen  that  there  is  no 
true  joy,  no  object,  no  agreeable  pleasure,  that  can  afford  any  solid 
delight,  but  one  alone,  and  that  is  Christ.  I experience  now  that 
the  greatest  pleasure,  joy,  and  comfort  is  in  conversing  with  Him; 
that  all  time  thus  employed  is  short,  sweet,  and  delightful;  and 
those  words  that  in  this  conversation  He  speaks  to  me  so  penetrate 
my  soul,  so  elevate  my  spirit  above  itself,  so  moderate  and  change 
all  fleshly  affections,  that  this  prison  of  mine  seem.s  not  a prison,  but 
a paradise;  my  crosses  become  light  and  easy,  and  the  being  deprived 
of  all  earthly  comforts  affords  a heavenly  joy  and  happiness.  O 
happy  prison*!  O blessed  confinement  1 O solitude  full  of  com- 
fort I O goal  a long  time  desired  I where  hast  thou  stayed  so  long  ? 
O crosses  1 where  have  you  been  all  this  while  } O solitude  I why 
didst  thou  not  suffer  me  to  relish  thy  sweetness  sooner  ? But, 
wretch  as  I am  1 I see  it  was  my  unworthiness  (which  is  still  as  great 
as  ever)  that  hitherto  kept  me  from  such  an  honour;  that  my  being 

80 


1583] 


RICHARD  THIRKILL 


so  propense  to  vice  would  not  suffer  me  to  attain  to  so  great  a blessing 
as  these  crosses;  that  my  iniquity  and  sins  have,  with  good  reason, 
delayed  and  hindered  my  being  promoted  to  so  happy  a state  as 
this  solitude.  These  jewels  of  so  great  a price,  all  these  riches  the 
great  God  has  been  pleased  to  confer  upon  me  here  in  my  prison; 
all  which  I ascribe  to  Him,  and  acknowledge  to  be  His  gift.  His 
mercy.  His  love;  attributing  nothing  to  myself.  To  Him  therefore 
be  all  praise,  honour,  and  glory,  for  so  unspeakable  a benefit  bestowed 
upon  this  poor,  wretched,  and  altogether  undeserving  servant.’ 
So  he. 

The  day  of  his  trial  he  was  led  from  the  Kidcote  to  the  Castle, 
guarded  by  the  Sheriff  and  his  men.  He  was  dressed  in  his  cas- 
sock, which  made  him  appear  more  venerable;  and  his  countenance, 
air,  and  behaviour  expressed  so  much  courage  and  constancy,  joined 
with  such  sweetness  and  modesty,  as  both  ravished  and  astonished 
the  beholders.  When  he  was  brought  to  the  bar,  so  great  was  the 
press  of  the  people  crowding  to  see  him,  that  my  author  complains 
he  could  not  hear  the  particulars  of  his  trial  and  answers;  but  the 
issue  was,  that  he  was  found  guilty  of  the  indictment,  from  the  answers 
he  had  before  returned  when  he  was  under  examination,  particularly 
because  he  had  confessed  his  having  sacramentally  absolved  and 
reconciled  the  Queen’s  subjects  to  the  Church  of  Rome.  The  jury 
having  brought  in  their  verdict,  Mr.  Thirkill  was  carried  back  to 
the  Castle,  and  put  down  into  the  condemned  hold  amongst  the 
felons,  yet  so  that  he  had  an  opportunity  of  calling  upon  the  Catholic 
prisoners  to  pray  for  him,  and  to  assure  them.  It  was  a great  pleasure 
to  him  to  suffer  for  so  good  a cause ^ for  which,  if  he  had  a thousand 
lives,  he  would  willingly  lay  them  all  down. 

He  passed  the  whole  night  in  instructing  the  malefactors  and 
disposing  them  to  die  well;  and  on  the  next  morning,  being  the  28th 
of  May,  at  eight  o’clock,  he  was  again  ordered  before  the  judges. 
Four  Catholic  prisoners,  who  were  to  make  their  appearance  at  the 
bar  that  same  morning,  took  the  opportunity,  as  they  passed  by  him, 
to  beg  his  prayers  and  his  blessing,  which  he  gave  them.  A good 
old  woman,  who  was  likewise  summoned  to  appear  there  for  the 
profession  of  her  faith,  was  still  more  courageous;  for  coming  up  to 
him  at  the  bar,  and  kneeling  down,  she  asked  his  blessing  in  open 
court,  which  Mr.  Thirkill,  graciously  smiling,  immediately  gave  her, 
and  defended  what  he  had  done  against  some  upon  the  bench 
(who  pretended  chat  in  giving  his  blessing  he  had  usurped  the 
prerogative  of  C/im/),  maintaining  that  in  his  quality  of  a minister 
of  God  he  had  a power  from  Him  to  bless  in  His  name. 

81 


F 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1583 

My  author,  who  seems  to  have  been  an  eye-witness  of  what 
passed  on  this  occasion,  tells  us  that  at  first  Mr.  Thirkill,  coming  up 
to  the  bar,  and  leaning  over  it  with  his  face  towards  the  judges, 
seemed  to  the  spectators  to  be  fixed  in  contemplation ; but  when  the 
other  Catholics  were  called  upon  by  name,  and  arraigned  for 
recusancy,  he  turned  a little  back  to  hear  what  they  would  answer. 
Amongst  the  rest,  a gentleman  of  good  note  was  brought  to  the 
bar,  together  with  his  lady,  both  arraigned  for  not  going  to  church 
(on  which  account  they  were  both  afterwards  cast  into  prison). 
This  gentleman,  being  sick  and  weak,  did  not  answer  so  loud  as  to 
be  well  heard  by  the  court;  upon  which  one  cried  out.  He  looks  at 
the  priest;  and  another,  a gentleman  on  the  bench,  said.  This  is  the 
traitor  who  has  persuaded  him  to  all  this.  Upon  which  a third,  w'ho 
was  also  one  of  the  bench,  and  a kinsman  of  the  gentleman,  said, 
Cousin.,  I heg  you  would  think  seriously  on  the  matter;  now  is  the  time, 
before  the  jury  bring  in  their  verdict:  your  submission  afterwards  will 
come  too  late.  Dond  wilfully  fling  away  your  goods  and  possessions : 
adding,  at  the  same  time,  If  this  traitor  of  a p7'iest  were  not  here,  no 
doubt  but  my  cousin  would  be  much  more  tractable.  Here  Mr.  Thirkill 
spoke:  'Tis  better,  said  he,  to  cast  away  one's  goods  than  to  run  the 
risk  of  losing  one's  sold.  Then  turning  to  the  gentleman.  Let  your 
goods  go,  said  he;  stick  you  close  to  God,  and  with  great  courage  confess 
His  holy  name.  And  whereas  the  judges  commanded  him  to  be 
silent,  he  told  them.  It  was  an  exceeding  great  joy  and  pleasure  to 
him  to  see  the  courage  and  constancy  of  these  Catholics  in  maintaining 
so  good  a cause,  and  that  it  was  his  duty  to  exhort  and  encourage  them 
on  these  occasions. 

Upon  this,  one  of  the  judges,  calling  upon  him  by  his  name,  said, 
Richard  Thirkill,  come  up  to  the  bar.  What  can  you  say  for  yourself 
why  sentence  of  death  should  not  be  pronounced  upon  you,  as  you 
have  been  here  arraigned  and  found  guilty  of  high  treason  ? Mr. 
Thirkill  replied.  That  he  had  yesterday  brought  five  reasons  out  of 
the  holy  Fathers,  by  which  he  had  demonstrated  that  he  was  not  guilty 
of  high  treason — [viz.,  in  his  exercising  the  power  of  the  keys  in 
absolving  sinners;^  but  these  reasons  were  not  regarded,  and  the 
judge  immediately  proceeded  to  pronounce  sentence;  by  which  he 
was.  To  be  carried  back  to  the  place  from  whence  he  came,  and  from 
thence  to  be  drawn  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  there  hanged,  cut 
down  alive,  dismembered,  bowelled,  and  quartered.  Which  sentence, 
as  soon  as  the  confessor  had  heard,  falling  on  his  knees,  he  gave 
most  hearty  thanks  to  God,  and  pronounced  aloud  these  words, 
Hcec  dies  quam  fecit  Dominus,  etc. — This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord 

82 


1583] 


RICHARD  THIRKILL 


has  made;  let  us  be  glad  and  rejoice  therein.  Then,  that  his  pre- 
sence might  no  longer  encourage  the  other  Catholics,  he  was  hurried 
out  of  the  court  and  thrust  into  the  lowest  dungeon  in  the  Castle. 

On  the  next  day  he  was  drawn  from  the  Castle  to  the  place  of 
execution,  where  he  suffered  according  to  sentence,  though,  as  to 
the  particulars  of  his  words  and  actions  there,  my  author  complains 
he  could  not  get  any  certain  account  of  them,  such  care  was  taken 
to  prevent  the  Catholics  and  the  rest  of  the  people  from  being 
present  at  his  death,  guards  being  set  for  that  purpose  at  the  gates, 
the  Lord  Mayor  having  ordered  that  day  a general  meeting  of  the 
citizens  under  pretence  of  making  a proper  choice  for  the  militia. 
However,  my  author  was  assured  by  persons  of  credit  that  he  was 
cut  down  alive  according  to  the  letter  of  the  sentence ; and  that  the 
faithful  might  not  gather  up  any  of  his  blood,  they  had  ordered  a 
great  fire  of  straw  to  be  made  upon  the  place  to  consume  all  in  such 
a manner  that  nothing  of  it  might  be  found. 

He  suffered  at  York,  the  29th  of  May,  1583.  He  is  called 
Thrilkill  by  Dr.  Bridgewater  and  Bishop  Yepez,  and  Thrilkeld  by 
Cardinal  Allen  in  his  Answer  to  the  book  called  The  Execution  of 
Justice  in  England,  or,  Justitia  Britannica. 


JOHN  SLADE,  SCHOOLMASTER,  and 
JOHN  BODY,  M.A  * 

These  two  are  commonly  joined  together,  because  they  were 
tried  and  condemned  at  the  same  time  and  for  the  same  cause, 
though  they  neither  suffered  at  the  same  place  nor  on  the  same 
day.  Mr.  Stow  makes  mention  of  them  in  his  Chronicle  of  1583; 
‘ John  Slade,  schoolmaster,’  says  he,  ‘ and  John  Body,  Master  of 
Arts,  being  both  condemned  of  high  treason  for  maintaining  of 
Roman  power,  were  drawn,  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered.’ 

Mr.  Slade  was  born  in  Dorsetshire;  and,  after  his  education  at 
home  in  grammar  learning,  he  became  a schoolmaster,  as  we  learn 
from  Mr.  Stow,  above  quoted.  Mr.  Body  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Wells,  in  Somersetshire ; his  father  was  a wealthy  merchant  there, 
and  had  been  Mayor  of  the  town.  He  was  brought  up  in  New 
College,  Oxford,  where  he  took  his  degree  of  Master  in  Arts,  and 

* Ven.  John  Slade  and  John  Body,  M.A. — From  a Douay  MS.  and  other 
Memoirs;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  III.  i.,  and  Acts  of  E.  M. 

83 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1583 


for  some  time  studied  the  canon  and  civil  law;  but  not  liking  the 
established  religion,  he  went  over  to  Doway  College,  the  common 
refuge  in  those  days  of  such  as  left  England  for  the  Catholic  cause. 
There  he  arrived  May  i,  1577,  and  was  for  some  time  a convictor  in 
that  house.  After  his  return  home,  both  he  and  Mr.  Slade  were  so 
zealous  in  maintaining  the  old  religion  that  they  were  apprehended 
upon  that  account  by  the  enemies  of  their  faith,  and  prosecuted 
upon  the  article  of  the  supremacy.  My  manuscript  lays  their  death 
at  the  door  of  Couper,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  as  particularly  busy 
in  procuring  their  condemnation;  but  if  Heylin's  Chronology,  in  his 
Help  to  English  History,  be  exact,  by  which  he  makes  Couper  to 
have  entered  upon  the  bishopric  only  in  1584,  he  could  not  have 
prosecuted  them  in  1583,  at  least  not  in  quality  of  Bishop  of 
Winchester . 

They  were  both  arraigned  together  at  Winchester , and  there 
tried  and  condemned;  and  what  was  very  singular  in  their  case  is, 
that  they  were  twice  at  different  times  sentenced  to  death  upon  the 
same  indictment;  which  Cardinal  Allen,  in  his  answer  to  Justitia 
Britannica,  chap,  i.,  imputes  to  a consciousness  in  their  prosecutors 
of  the  first  sentence  having  been  unjust  and  illegal.  The  whole  and 
sole  cause  of  their  condemnation  was  that  they  denied  the  Queen’s 
spiritual  supremacy  and  maintained  that  of  the  Pope,  as  appears 
from  the  account  of  their  trial  and  execution,  published  by  a Pro- 
testant and  an  eye-witness. 

They  both  suffered  with  great  constancy.  Mr.  Slade  was  hanged, 
drawn,  and  quartered  at  Winchester,  October  30;  Mr.  Body  at 
Andover,  November  2,  1583.  My  manuscript  relates  that,  as  he 
was  drawn  along  the  streets  on  a hurdle,  his  head  being  in  danger 
of  being  hurt  by  the  stones,  an  honest  old  man,  pitying  him,  offered 
him  his  cap,  in  part  to  save  his  head;  which  Mr.  Body  with  thanks 
refused,  adding  withal,  that  he  was  just  now  going  to  give  his  head, 
life,  and  all,  for  his  Saviour’s  sake.  Cardinal  Allen  also  informs  us, 
from  the  printed  history  of  his  execution,  that  Mr.  Kingsmell  having 
called  upon  him  at  the  gallows  to  confess  the  crime  for  which  he 
was  condemned,  that  the  people  might  know  the  cause  for  which  he 
died,  Mr.  Body,  after  he  had  professed  his  obedience  and  fidelity 
to  the  Queen  in  all  civil  matters,  spoke  thus  to  the  people:  Be  it 
known, ’said  he,‘  to  all  you  that  are  here  present,  that  I suffer  death  this 
day  because  I deny  the  Queen  to  be  the  supreme  head  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  in  England.  I never  committed  any  other  treason,  unless 
they  will  have  hearing  Mass  or  saying  the  Hail  Mary  to  be  treason. 
His  mother,  as  my  manuscript  relates,  hearing  afterwards  of  her  son’s 

84 


1584] 


GEORGE  HAYDOCK 


happy  death,  made  a great  feast  upon  that  occasion,  to  which  she 
invited  her  neighbours,  rejoicing  at  his  death  as  his  marriage,  by 
which  his  soul  was  happily  and  eternally  espoused  to  the  Lamb. 

I find  also  amongst  those  that  suffered  this  year,  1583,  in  an  old 
catalogue  kept  in  Doway  College,  the  name  of  William  Chaplam^ 
priest,  of  whom  it  is  there  said,  Obiit  in  vinculis,  that  he  died  in 
bonds  or  in  prison.  He  was  made  priest  at  Rhemes  in  1581.  • 


[ 1584.  ] 

GEORGE  HAYDOCK,  Priest  * 

George  HAYDOCK  was  ^onto  Evan  Win  Hay  dock  oi 

Cottam  Hall^  near  Preston^  in  Lancashire.  The  father,  after 
the  death  of  his  lady,  went  abroad  to  the  English  College  of 
Doway,  and  though  he  was  well  advanced  in  years,  resuming  his 
studies,  was,  after  some  time,  made  priest,  and  returning  into 
England,  laboured  for  some  years  with  great  fruit  in  the  vineyard 
of  his  Lord.  He  was  also  agent  or  procurator  for  the  College,  which 
office  he  discharged  to  the  general  satisfaction  of  his  brethren.  Two 
of  his  sons  followed  the  same  course  of  life  as  the  father  had  made 
choice  of — Richard,  who  went  with  his  father  to  Doway  in  1573,  and 
was  ordained  priest  in  1577,  and  going  afterwards  to  Rome,  became 
at  length  Doctor  of  Divinity;  and  George,  of  whom  we  are  now 
treating,  who  had  also  his  education  for  four  years  at  Doway  College, 
where  he  learnt  his  humanity,  and  from  thence  was  sent  to  Rome, 
where  he  went  through  his  course  of  philosophy  and  began  his 
divinity.  But  the  climate  not  agreeing  with  his  health,  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  Rome,  being  as  yet  only  deacon,  and  to  go  into  France, 
where  he  remained  at  Rhemes  three  months,  and  was  made  priest; 
and  from  thence  returned  into  England  to  labour  there  for  the 
benefit  of  the  souls  of  his  neighbours. 

He  had  scarce  arrived  at  London,  when,  by  the  treachery  of  one 
Haukinson,  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  pursuivants  on  the  6th  of 
February  1581-82,  in  St.  Paul’s  Churchyard,  and  was  by  them 
carried  into  the  church,  where  one  of  the  ministers  conferred  for  a 
while  with  him,  and  offered  him  his  liberty  without  more  ado  if  he 

* Ven.  George  Haydock. — From  Bridgewater’s  Concertatio,  fol.  133 
and  from  the  Journals  and  other  Memoirs  of  Douay  College;  see  also  Dia- 
rium  Turris;  J.  Gillow,  Haydock  Papers;  C.R.S.,  v.;  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Acts  of 
E.  M. 


8s 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


would  renounce  the  Pope;  which  Mr.  Haydock  refusing  to  do,  the 
pursuivants  carried  him  and  Mr.  Arthur  Pits  (whom  they  also 
apprehended)  before  Mr.  Popham,  the  Queen’s  attorney,  by  whom 
they  were  strictly  examined — as  they  were  again  the  next  day  by 
Cecil,  Lord  Treasurer,  who  sent  them  both  to  the  Tower.  Here, 
between  Norris,  the  pursuivant,  and  Sir  Owen  Hopton,  Lieutenant 
of  the  Tower,  Mr.  Haydock  had  all  his  money  juggled  away;  and 
that  the  matter  might  be  kept  the  more  secret,  the  Lieutenant  lodged 
him  in  a remote  place  by  himself,  suffering  none  of  his  friends  to 
come  near  him.  By  which  means,  for  a year  and  three  months  he 
was  not  only  deprived  of  all  human  comfort  and  assistance,  but  also 
of  the  benefit  of  the  sacraments,  excepting  once,  when  a zealous 
priest  contrived  a way  of  coming  at  him  and  administering  the  holy 
mysteries  to  him. 

A little  before  his  happy  end,  he  had  another  place  assigned  for 
him,  where  he  was  not  so  narrowly  watched  but  that  sometimes  his 
friends  might  come  to  see  him,  by  which  means  he  had  both  an 
opportunity  of  communicating  oftener,  and  others  were  greatly 
edified  by  conversing  with  him  and  beholding  his  humility  and 
patience;  for  besides  all  other  incommodities  of  his  imprisonment 
which  he  had  to  endure,  he  was  continually  struggling  with  a linger- 
ing disease,  which  he  had  first  contracted  in  Italy,  and  which  now 
returned  upon  him  in  prison,  and  frequently  caused  most  violent 
stitches  and  pains.  After  he  had  been  a long  time  tried  in  this 
school  of  patience,  it  pleased  God  that  he  should  at  length  be  called 
forth  to  give  proofs  of  his  fortitude  and  courage  also  in  the  profession 
of  his  faith  and  in  sealing  it  with  his  blood.  He  was  brought,  there- 
fore, before  Mr.  Fleetwood,  the  Recorder  of  the  city,  and  others,  to 
be  examined;  upon  which  occasion  he  showed  so  much  intrepidity 
in  maintaining  the  cause,  that  the  examiners,  being  resolved  to  make 
away  with  him,  put  those  murthering  questions  to  him — what  he 
thought  of  the  power  of  the  Pope  and  of  the  Queen  in  spirituals. 
To  which  he  readily  answered,  that  he  believed  the  Bishop  of  Rome 
was,  under  Christ,  the  chief  head  of  the  Church  upon  earth,  and  that 
this  dignity  and  authority  could  not  belong  to  the  Queen  or  any 
other  woman.  This  was  enough.  However,  to  make  him  more 
odious  to  her  Majesty,  they  pressed  him  still  further,  and  did  not 
leave  off  till,  by  force  of  questions  and  inferences,  they  had  brought 
him,  though  against  his  will,  to  say  that  the  Queen  was  a heretic, 
and,  without  repentance,  would  be  eternally  lost.  This  examina- 
tion was  upon  the  i8th  oi  January  1583-84,  on  which  day  the  Church 
celebrates  the  festivity  of  St.  Peter’s  chair  at  Rome;  and  it  was  a 

86 


1584] 


GEORGE  HAYDOCK 


subject  of  great  satisfaction  to  Mr.  Hay  dock  that  he  should  be  called 
forth  to  maintain  the  authority  of  the  successor  of  St.  Peter  on  that 
day  of  his  chair,  as  he  signified  afterwards  to  his  companions. 

On  the  6th  of  February  (the  very  day  on  which  he  had  been  first 
apprehended  two  years  before)  he  was  carried  from  the  Tower  to 
Westminster  Hall,  and  there  arraigned  for  high  treason,  with  his 
four  companions,  Mr.  Fenn,  Mr.  Hemerford^  Mr.  Nutter,  and  Mr. 
Munden.  They  were  all  brought  in  guilty  by  the  jury,  and  the  next 
day  received  sentence  of  death  as  in  cases  of  high  treason.  The 
cause  for  which  they  were  sentenced  to  die  is  thus  set  down  by 
Mr.  Stow  in  his  Chronicle,  1584 : ‘ The  7th  of  February , John  Fenn  (he 
should  say  James),  George  Haddock,  John  Munden,  John  Nutter, 
and  Thomas  Hemerford  were  all  five  found  guilty  of  high  treason, 
in  being  made  priests  beyond  the  seas  and  by  the  Pope’s  authority, 
since  a statute  made  in  anno  primo  of  her  Majesty’s  reign,  and  had 
judgment  to  be  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered;  who  were  all 
executed  at  Tyburn  on  the  12th  of  February  ' So  Mr.  Stow,  who 
takes  no  notice  of  the  pretended  plot  of  Rome  and  Rhemes,  which 
they  were  also  pleased  to  charge  upon  them,  their  very  adversaries 
being  sensible  there  were  no  grounds  for  any  such  accusation. 

Mr.  Haydock  received  the  sentence  of  death  with  incredible 
joy,  returning  hearty  thanks  to  God  for  so  great  a favour;  and 
whereas  his  apprehension  and  his  arraignment  both  happened  on 
the  day  of  his  patroness,  St.  Dorothy,  virgin  and  martyr,  he  attri- 
buted this  happy  event  to  her  prayers,  and  marked  it  down  in  the 
calendar  of  his  breviary,  which,  when  he  was  going  to  die,  he  be- 
queathed to  Mr.  Creagh,  Archbishop  of  Armagh,  at  that  time 
prisoner  in  the  Tower  for  the  Catholic  religion.  In  the  meanwhile, 
being  wholly  intent  on  preparing  himself  for  his  happy  passage,  he 
was  alarmed  by  a rumour  spread  about  the  city,  which  was  brought 
to  him  in  the  Tower,  that  the  Queen  had  changed  her  mind,  and 
that  he  was  not  to  suffer.  Upon  which,  when  his  friends  con- 
gratulated with  him,  he,  on  the  other  side,  who  saw  himself,  as  he 
thought,  just  in  the  haven,  and  was  very  unwilling  to  be  drove  back 
again  into  the  midst  of  the  dangers  of  the  tempestuous  sea  of  this 
mortal  life,  conceived  a great  grief;  but  his  confessarius , a man  of  great 
prudence  and  experience,  encouraged  him,  assuring  him  that  these 
rumours  were  industriously  spread  about  only  to  make  the  world 
believe  that  the  Queen  was  averse  to  these  cruelties,  to  take  off  the 
odium  of  them  from  her  Majesty,  as  if  they  were  extorted  from  her 
against  her  inclinations;  and  that  such  reports  as  these,  as  it  had 
been  found  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Forde,  Mr.  Shert,  &c.,  were 

87 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


indeed  a sign  that  hejand  his  companions  would  certainly  suffer. 
Upon  this  Mr.  Haydock  was  freed  from  his  fears,  and  wholly 
applied  himself,  by  watching,  fasting,  and  prayer,  to  prepare  for 
his  last  end. 

On  the  1 2th  of  February  (Dr.  Bridgewater  says  the  13th),  Mr. 
Haydock  early  in  the  morning  said  Mass  in  his  chamber,  to  prepare 
himself  by  the  holy  viaticum  for  his  journey  into  eternity;  and  then, 
with  his  four  companions,  was  drawn  through  the  streets  from  the 
Tower  to  Tyburn.  When  they  were  come  to  the  place,  Mr.  Hay- 
dock,  though  the  youngest  of  them  all,  was  first  ordered  up  into 
the  cart,  into  which  he  ascended  with  great  alacrity.  Here,  the  rope 
being  now  about  his  neck,  he  was  called  upon  by  Spencer,  the 
Sheriff,  and  by  the  ministers,  to  confess  his  treason  against  the 
Queen  and  to  ask  her  pardon.  He  answered,  I call  God  to  witness, 
upon  my  soul,  that  I am  innocent  of  the  pretended  treason,  and 
therefore  I have  no  occasion  to  ask  her  pardon.  He  added  withal, 
that  he  acknowledged  her  for  his  Queen,  and  wished  her  all  happiness, 
and  had  offered  up  several  prayers  to  God  for  her  that  very  day; 
and  that  such  was  his  disposition  in  regard  to  her  Majesty,  that  if 
he  were  alone  with  her  in  a wilderness,  where  he  might,  without 
danger,  do  to  her  what  he  pleased,  he  would  not  hurt  her  with  the 
prick  of  a pin,  though  he  might  have  the  whole  world  for  so  doing. 

The  Sheriff,  who  showed  himself  a bitter  enemy  to  Mr.  Haydock 
and  his  fellow-confessors,  told  him,  that  since  his  condemnation 
they  had  discovered  far  more  heinous  Crimes  of  him;  and,  upon 
this,  the  infamous  Mwiday  was  called  for,  who  pretended  that  he 
had  heard  him,  when  he  was  at  Rome,  wish  for  the  Queen’s  head. 
Mr.  Haydock  answered,  I am  just  now  going  to  appear  before  the 
bar  of  Divine  justice,  to  give  an  account  of  all  I have  done  in  my 
life;  I call,  therefore,  God,  the  Judge  of  my  soul,  to  witness  that  I 
never  spoke  any  such  words,  or  ever  desired  any  such  thing;  and  thoUy 
Munday,  said  he,  if  thou  hadst  heard  me  say  such  words,  why  didst 
thou  7iot  appear  witness  against  me  at  my  trial?  Because,  said 
Munday,  I knew  nothing  of  the  business.  But,  said  the  Sheriff,  did 
you  not  say  the  Queen  was  a heretic  ? Yes,  said  Mr.  Haydock,  1 
own  I said  so.  With  that  the  officers  and  ministers  made  a great 
outcry,  calling  him  a thousand  traitors,  and  loading  him  with 
reproaches  and  injuries.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Haydock,  not 
attending  to  their  cries,  said  his  prayers  to  himself.  One  of  the 
ministers,  who  was  in  the  cart  with  him,  would  have  had  him  pray 
aloud  in  English,  that  the  people  might  join  with  him  in  prayer; 
but  the  confessor,  putting  away  the  minister  from  him  as  well  as 

88 


1584] 


JAMES  FENN 


he  could,  told  him  he  had  nothing  to  say  to  him  or  his^  but  that  he 
desired  all  Catholics  to  pray  with  him  to  their  common  Lord^  for  his 
and  their  whole  country's  salvation. 

One  of  the  crowd  cried  out,  There  are  no  Catholics  here.  Yes, 
said  another,  we  are  all  Catholics.  / call  those  Catholics^  said  Mr. 
Hay  dock  y who  follow  the  faith  of  the  Holy  Catholic  Roman  Church. 
God  grant  that  the  Catholic  faith  may  receive  some  increase  by  my 
blood.  The  Catholic  faith y said  the  Sheriff;  the  diabolical  faith! 
Drive  away  the  cart  and  hang  the  villainous  traitor.  The  cart  was 
drove  away,  and  Mr.  Hay  dock  was  suffered  to  hang  but  a very 
little  while,  when  Spencer,  the  Sheriff,  ordered  the  rope  to  be  cut, 
and  the  whole  butchery  to  be  performed  upon  him  whilst  he  was 
alive  and  perfectly  sensible;  and  so,  through  most  cruel  torments, 
he  passed  to  a better  life,  February  12,  1583-84. 


JAMES  FENN,  Priest.^ 

He  was  born  [about  1540]  at  MojitacutCy  in  Somersetshire,  and 
brought  up  in  Oxford — first  in  New  College y where  his  two 
elder  brothers,  John  and  Robert,  studied  at  that  time,  and 
in  July  as  in  Corpus  Christi  College.  But  being  about  to  be  received 
Fellow  of  the  College,  he  boggled  at  the  oath  of  supremacy  which 
was  tendered  him  upon  that  occasion,  and  thereupon  was  expelled 
the  house.  However,  he  stayed  a while  longer  in  the  University, 
and  was  tutor  to  some  young  scholars  in  Gloucester  Hall ; but  not 
finding  himself  safe  here,  he  retired  from  Oxford  into  his  native 
county,  Somersetshire y where  he  was  entertained  by  a gentleman  of 
fortune  in  quality  of  tutor  or  preceptor  to  his  sons,  whom  he  brought 
up  in  the  fear  of  God  and  the  love  of  the  old  religion,  though  their 
father,  who  was  a worldly  man,  had  another  way  of  thinking.  Here 
Mr.  Fenn  married  a wife,  by  whom  he  had  two  children  [Frances  and 
John\ ; and  having  undergone  divers  persecutions  for  his  conscience, 
and,  after  some  time,  lost  his  wife,  he  betook  himself  to  the  service 
of  Sir  Nicholas  PointZy  an  eminent  Catholic  gentleman,  whom  he 
served  in  quality  of  steward,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  his  master 
and  all  that  had  any  dealings  with  him.  And  such,  indeed,  was 
his  conduct  in  every  station  of  life  that  he  went  through,  as  not  only 

* Ven.  James  Fenn. — From  Bridgewater,  fol.  \\'iy  Athence  Oxon.,  etc.; 
Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Acts  of  E.  M. 


89 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


faithfully  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office,  but  also  to  behave 
himself  with  so  much  edification  that  the  whole  tenor  of  his  life 
was  a perpetual  sermon,  by  which  he  strongly  recommended  virtue 
and  piety  to  all  that  conversed  with  him. 

A learned  and  pious  priest,  who  used  to  frequent  Sir  Nicholases 
house,  taking  notice  of  the  excellent  qualifications  and  rare  virtues 
of  Mr.  Fenn^  thought  it  a pity  that  his  talents  should  not  be  employed 
in  greater  things,  and  seriously  advised  him  to  quit  that  worldly 
employ,  and  go  over  to  Rhemes  to  the  English  College,  lately  trans- 
lated thither  irom  Dow  ay , that,  receiving  holy  orders,  and  returning 
into  his  country,  he  might  be  serviceable  to  the  souls  of  many. 
Mr.  Fenn  took  the  counsel  of  the  holy  man,  and  giving  up  his 
stewardship,  went  over  to  Rhemes,  where  he  was  made  priest,  as 
appears  by  the  College  Diary,  anno  1580,  and  so  was  sent  upon  the 
mission.  His  labours  were  in  his  own  native  county,  Somersetshire , 
where  he  reconciled  several  persons  of  distinction  to  the  Catholic 
'Church.  But  it  was  not  long  before  he  was  apprehended  by  the 
persecutors,  though  not  yet  known  to  be  a priest,  and  sent  to  Ilchester 
gaol,  where  he  was  lodged  amongst  the  felons  and  loaded  with  irons. 
And  that  nothing  might  be  wanting  to  his  disgrace,  he  was  exposed, 
chained  and  fettered  as  he  was,  in  a public  place  on  a market-day, 
for  a show  to  all  the  people;  but  the  success  did  not  answer  the 
design  and  expectation  of  his  adversaries.  For  such  was  the  invin- 
cible patience,  such  the  modesty  of  his  countenance  and  the  tran- 
quillity of  soul  which  discovered  itself  in  his  whole  behaviour  on 
this  occasion,  that  the  spectators  conceived  a great  veneration  for 
him,  and  many  began  to  look  more  seriously  into  their  religion,  being 
not  a little  shocked  to  see  a man  treated  in  this  manner  barely  for 
following  the  dictates  of  his  conscience  in  matters  of  religion. 

The  magistrates  in  the  county  being  alarmed  at  this,  acquainted 
the  Queen’s  Council,  by  letters,  with  the  whole  matter,  who  ordered 
Mr.  Fenn  to  be  sent  up  to  London,  where  he  was  examined  by 
Secretary  Walsingham,  and  sent  prisoner  to  the  Marshalsea.  Here 
he  was  kept  for  two  whole  years,  the  jailors  and  turnkeys  not  knowing 
him  to  be  a priest,  and,  therefore,  treating  him  with  more  humanity 
than  otherwise  they  would  have  done,  and  not  prohibiting  any  one 
to  visit  him;  which  opportunity  Mr.  Fenn  made  good  use  of,  not 
only  to  confirm  the  Catholics  in  their  faith,  and  administer  the  holy 
sacraments  to  as  many  as  applied  to  him,  but  also  to  reconcile 
several  Protestants  to  the  Church.  In  the  mean  time,  he  prayed 
much,  meditated  often,  exercised  himself  daily  in  the  works  of 
mercy,  both  corporal  and  spiritual,  to  his  fellow  prisoners,  especially 

90 


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JAMES  FENN 


those  of  the  household  of  faith.  He  had  a particular  charity  for 
pirates  and  other  unhappy  malefactors  who  were  to  suffer  the  law 
for  their  crimes,  whom  he  visited  as  much  as  he  could,  and  exhorted 
with  great  affection  to  make  good  use  of  their  time,  and  to  appease 
the  wrath  of  God  by  penitence,  and  to  seek  a reconciliation  with  his 
Divine  Majesty  in  the  communion  of  the  Catholic  Church,  which 
alone  had  received  from  Christ  the  keys  of  heaven,  and  the  power  of 
remitting  and  retaining  sins.  And  such  was  the  force  and  unction 
that  accompanied  his  words,  that  he  brought  several  of  those  hard- 
ened sinners  to  repentance  and  confession;  and  among  the  rest,  a 
noted  pirate,  whom  he  found  so  deeply  oppressed  with  the  load  of 
his  sins  as  to  be  absolutely  in  despair  of  salvation;  whom  he  so 
effectually  exhorted  and  encouraged,  by  setting  before  his  eyes  the 
greatness  of  God’s  mercy,  and  the  power  He  had  given  to  His 
ministers,  that  he  cast  himself  at  his  feet,  and  desired  to  be  admitted 
into  the  Catholic  Church,  and  to  make  his  confession,  which  he  did, 
after  Mr.  Fenn  had  given  him  proper  instructions  as  far  as  the 
shortness  of  his  time  would  permit.  The  next  day  he  also  admitted 
him  to  the  holy  communion,  to  his  unspeakable  comfort;  and  so 
stout  was  this  convert,  that,  being  to  die  the  following  day,  he 
absolutely  refused  the  communion  and  prayers  of  the  Protestant 
ministers,  neither  regarding  their  threats  nor  their  promises;  and 
at  the  place  of  execution  publicly  professed  that  he  died  a Catholic, 
and  blessed  the  providence  of  God  that  had  brought  him  to  a place 
where  he  had  met  with  such  holy  company  as  taught  him  to  be  a 
Christian. 

As  Mr.  Fenn's  words  carried  with  them  a particular  virtue,  by 
which  he  made  a great  impression  on  the  souls  of  those  that  con- 
versed with  him,  so  in  his  very  countenance  and  mien  there  was 
something  exceedingly  engaging  and  attracting,  more  especially 
when  he  was  speaking  of  God  and  of  heavenly  things  (which  he  did 
as  often  as  he  had  opportunity),  or  when  he  was  celebrating  the 
sacred  mysteries;  insomuch  that  those  who  saw  him  or  heard  him 
on  these  occasions  found  themselves  wonderfully  affected  and 
stirred  up  to  devotion  by  that  heavenly  air  which  showed  itself  in 
the  whole  man.  A certain  gentleman  who  once  assisted  at  his  Mass 
declared  to  a priest  of  his  acquaintance,  that  he  found  in  his  soul 
at  that  time  such  unusual  sentiments  of  devotion  as  he  had  never 
experienced  before  or  since,  so  that  he  could  not  refrain  from  shedding 
an  abundance  of  tears,  and  this  by  seeing  the  heavenly  mien  of  the 
holy  priest,  and  that  air  of  recollection  and  devotion  which  was  so 
remarkable  in  him  upon  that  occasion. 

91 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


One  year  before  his  happy  end  he  seemed  to  have  a foreknowledge 
of  his  death,  and  prepared  himself  for  it  by  a more  strict  retirement 
(only  when  the  necessities  of  his  neighbours  required  his  attendance) 
and  a more  continual  prayer,  joined  to  much  watching  and  fasting; 
till  the  time  now  drawing  near  when  God  would  crown  His  servant, 
he  was  discovered  to  be  a priest,  and  committed  to  a more  close 
confinement.  And  as  it  pleased  the  Ministry  at  that  time  to  pick 
out  some  of  the  many  priests  they  had  then  in  prison  to  make  an 
example  of  them  for  the  terror  of  the  Catholics,  he  was  one  that 
was  marked  out  for  the  butchery.  And  as  a preparation  for  this,  he 
was  called  to  an  examination,  and  had  the  usual  murthering  questions 
put  to  him  concerning  the  supremacy ; to  which  he  answered  in  such 
manner  as  to  profess  all  due  obedience  to  the  Queen  in  temporals 
and  the  Pope  in  spirituals;  declaring  withal  that  he  was  a Catholic, 
and  that  there  was  not  any  one  article  of  the  Catholic  religion  for 
which  he  was  not  willing  to  lay  down  his  life. 

When  his  trial  came  on,  though  they  wanted  not  matter  sufficient 
for  his  condemnation,  on  account  of  his  priesthood  and  the  answers 
he  had  given  to  the  examiners,  yet  to  make  the  proceedings  against 
him  more  plausible  in  his  indictment,  they  affirmed  that  James  Fenn 
and  George  Hay  dock  ^ in  such  a year,  month,  and  day  (which  were 
all  named),  had  conspired  together  at  Rome  to  kill  the  Queen,  and 
had  returned  into  England  in  order  to  perpetrate  their  wickedness. 
Mr.  Fenn  being  called  upon  by  the  judges  to  answer  for  himself, 
called  God  and  all  the  court  of  heaven  to  witness  that  this  accusation 
was  most  notoriously  false ; that,  indeed,  he  had  never  been  at  Rome 
in  his  life,  nor  ever  any  nearer  it  than  Rhemes;  that  he  had  never 
seen  Mr.  Hay  dock  till  he  met  him  at  the  bar,  and  that  at  the  very 
time  when  he  was  pretended  to  have  been  plotting  at  Rome  he  was 
actually  in  England,  as  he  could  demonstrate,  and  that  he  believed 
he  could  make  it  appear  that  he  was  then  prisoner  in  the  Marshalsea ; 
that  he  had  never  entertained  so  much  as  the  first  thought  of  any 
treason  against  the  Queen,  and  that  he  would  not  for  the  whole 
kingdom  of  England  have  done  her  the  least  hurt,  though  he  could 
be  sure  of  doing  it  with  impunity. 

The  judge  told  him  that  although  there  might  be  some  error  in 
the  circumstances  of  time,  place,  &c.,  yet  that  he  had  been  sufficiently 
convicted  of  treason,  and  therefore  was  to  look  for  nothing  else  but 
to  die;  and  so  neither  witness  nor  any  evidence  whatsoever  being 
produced  to  prove  the  pretended  plot,  to  the  astonishment  of  all 
that  were  there,  he  directed  the  jury  to  find  him  guilty  of  the  indict- 
ment, and  accordingly  pronounced  sentence  upon  him  as  in  cases 

92 


1584] 


JAMES  FENN 


of  high  treason;  which  barefaced  iniquity  convinced  all  that  the  true 
cause  of  Mr.  Fenn's  condemnation  and  death  was  no  other  than  his 
character  and  religion. 

Having  received  sentence,  he  was  carried  to  the  Tower,  and 
there  kept  in  a dungeon,  loaded  with  irons,  from  Friday,  the  day  of  his 
condemnation,  till  Wednesday  following,  which  was  the  day  of  his 
execution.  In  the  meantime  Mr.  Popham,  the  Attorney-general, 
and  a doctor  of  the  civil  law,  formerly  schoolfellow  to  Mr.  Fenn, 
came  to  him  to  exhort  him  to  comply  and  acknowledge  the  Queen’s 
authority  and  obey  the  laws,  promising  that  if  he  would,  they  would 
use  their  best  endeavours  to  save  his  life.  The  confessor  told  them 
he  willingly  acknowledged  the  Queen’s  authority  in  all  temporal 
matters,  but  that  he  neither  could  nor  would  acknowledge  her 
supreme  head  of  the  Church,  but  only  as  one  of  the  sheep,  subject  in 
spirituals  to  that  shepherd  to  whom  Christ  committed  His  whole  flock, 
and  that  he  was  ready  to  die  in  and  for  the  profession  of  this  faith. 

On  the  day  of  execution  he  was  laid  on  a hurdle  to  be  drawn 
with  his  companions  from  the  Tower  to  Tyhiirn.  It  was  a moving 
spectacle  to  many  to  see  his  little  daughter  Frances,  with  many 
tears,  take  her  last  leave  of  her  father  upon  this  occasion,  whilst  the 
good  man,  who  had  long  since  been  dead  to  all  things  in  this  world, 
looking  upon  her  with  a calm  and  serene  countenance,  and  lifting 
up  his  hands  as  well  as  he  could,  for  they  were  pinioned,  gave  her  his 
blessing,  and  so  was  drawn  away.  At  Tyhurn  he  was  not  suffered 
to  speak  many  words ; but  after  he  had  prayed  for  a while,  he  only 
declared  to  the  people  his  innocence  of  the  crime  that  had  been  falsely 
laid  to  his  charge  in  the  court,  and  then  recommended  himself  and 
the  Queen,  to  whom  he  wished  all  manner  of  happiness,  to  God’s 
mercy.  And  so  the  cart  being  drawn  away,  he  was  left  hanging  for 
a little  while,  and  then  cut  down  alive,  bowelled,  and  quartered. 
His  quarters  were  disposed  on  four  gates  of  the  city,  and  his  head 
upon  London  Bridge. 

Mr.  Roherf^Fenn,  brother  to  Mr.  James,  was  also  a priest  of 
Doway  College,  and  a great  sufferer  for  his  religion.  Exiliiim, 
car  ceres,  vincula  et  cruciatus  immanes,  says  Dr.  Bridgewater,  oh 
Catholicce  veritatis  testimonium  constantissime  perpessus  est.  Mr. 
John  Fenn,  the  other  brother,  was  likewise  a priest.  Both  one  and 
the  other  were  ejected  from  their  Fellowships  in  Oxford  for  the 
Catholic  religion.  And  Mr.  John  Fenn  had  a great  hand  in  the 
book  called  Concertatio  Ecclesice  Catholicce,  etc.,  published  by  Dr. 
Bridgewater.  In  his  latter  days  he  was  confessor  to  the  English 
Augustine  nuns  at  Louvain. 


93 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


THOMAS  HEMERFORD,  Priest. 

Mr.  HEMERFORD ^ or  EMERFORD^  was  born  in  Dorset- 
shire, and  brought  up  in  Oxford,  where  he  took  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Law  in  1575.  But  being  dissatisfied  with  the 
religion  of  his  country,  he  went  abroad  to  Rhemes,  to  the  English 
College,  then  residing  there;  and  from  thence,  as  I find  by  the 
College  Journal,  was  sent  to  Rome  in  1580,  where  he  finished  his 
studies,  and  was  ordained  priest.  Returning  into  England,  he  was 
apprehended,  and  w’as  one  of  those  that  was  marked  out  for  execution 
at  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Hay  dock,  Mr.  Fenn,  &c.,  with  whom  he 
was  tried  and  condemned,  February  7,  and  after  lying  in  irons  in  a 
dungeon  in  the  Tower  for  five  or  six  days,  was  drawn  with  them 
from  the  Tower  to  Tyburn,  where  he  suffered  death  with  great 
constancy  for  his  faith  and  character;  being  cut  down  alive,  as  the 
rest  also  were,  and  so  bowelled  and  quartered,  February  12,  1583-84. 


JOHN  NUTTER,  Priest.f 

JOHN  NUTTER  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Burnley,  in  Lan- 
cashire, and  educated  in  the  University  of  Oxford,  where  he  was 
admitted  Bachelor  of  Divinity,  June  13,1575.  Afterwards  leaving 
the  Protestant  communion,  he  went  abroad  to  Rhemes,  where 
I find,  by  the  College  Diary,  he  and  his  brother  arrived  August  23, 
1579.  Here  he  was  made  priest  in  1582,  and  sent  upon  the  mission. 
He  took  shipping  at  Newhaven,  “ Havre  de  Grace,''  in  France,  with 
a design  to  land  at  Scarborough,  but  the  ship  foundering  upon  the 
coast  of  Suffolk,  and  Mr.  Nutter  being  taken  ill  of  a violent  fever, 
he  was  put  on  shore  at  Dunwich.  The  ship  was  soon  after  lost,  but 
the  mariners  and  passengers  were  all  saved.  In  the  wreck  a neigh- 
bouring minister,  laying  hold  of  a bag  in  hopes  of  meeting  with 
some  booty,  was  disappointed  to  find  nothing  but  Catholic  books, 
from  which  both  he  and  the  magistrates,  to  whom  he  gave  an  account 
of  what  he  had  found,  suspected  the  sick  man  and  his  companions 

* Ven.  Thomas  Hemerford. — From  Athence  Oxon.,  Douay  Records, 
and  Bridgewater’s  Concertatio  ; C.R.S.,  v. ; Lives  of  E.  M. 

t Ven.  John  Nutter. — From  Athems  Oxon.,  Douay  Diary,  and  Bridge- 
water’s Concertatio,  fol.  156;  Diarium  Turris  ; Gillow,  Lives  of  E.  M. 

94 


1584] 


JOHN  NUTTER 


were  priests;  and,  upon  further  inquiry,  Mr.  Nutter  not  denying  his 
character,  they  took  him  into  custody,  together  with  Mr.  Conyers, 
another  priest,  and  Mr.  Lazoson,  a layman.  And  notwithstanding 
his  illness,  they  fastened  a great  chain  of  iron  to  his  leg,  with  a clog 
of  wood  at  the  end  of  it ; and  having  served  his  two  companions  in 
like  manner,  sent  up  to  town  to  give  an  account  to  the  Council  of 
the  capture  they  had  made.  ^ 

In  the  mean  time,  while  they  are  waiting  for  an  answer,  the 
neighbouring  ministers  and  others  crowd  in  upon  Mr.  Nutter,  and, 
notwithstanding  his  sickness,  will  needs  dispute  with  him  about 
religion,  all  attacking  him  with  joint  forces,  some  upon  one  article, 
some  upon  another;  to  whom  he  gave,  sick  as  he  was,  so  satisfactory 
answers,  that  though  they  would  not  open  their  eyes  to  behold  the 
truth  which  he  set  before  them,  yet  they  could  not  help  admiring 
his  learning,  and  concluded  that  he  was  a more  than  ordinary  man, 
perhaps  a bishop,  or  at  least  a cunning  Jesuit,  sent  upon  some  plot 
into  the  nation.  But  none  of  them  all,  though  they  saw  him  in  such 
a plight  with  his  fever  and  chain  that  he  could  neither  rise  out  of 
bed  nor  turn  himself  in  bed,  had  the  Christianity  to  propose  the 
easing  him,  at  least  for  a time,  of  his  chain  and  clog;  such  was  the 
barbarity  of  the  people  in  those  days  with  regard  to  Catholics. 
Within  ten  days  orders  came  from  the  Council  that  the  prisoners 
should  be  removed  to  London;  so  Mr.  Nutter  and  his  companions 
were  put  into  a waggon,  and  conveyed  to  town  with  a strong  guard 
to  attend  them,  from  whose  inhumanity  Mr.  Nutter  suffered  much 
in  this  journey,  he  being  still  violently  ill  and  loaded  with  irons,  and 
his  guards  contriving  on  purpose  to  carry  him  through  the  most 
rugged  ways  they  could,  for  which  they  gave  no  other  reason  but 
that  they  did  it  to  exercise  his  patience.  After  their  arrival  at 
London,  Mr.  Nutter  and  his  companions  were  sent  down  to  Rich- 
mond to  be  examined  by  Secretary  Walsingham.  Mr.  Nutter  was 
so  ill  that  he  could  scarce  either  stand  or  speak;  so  that,  after  he  had 
acknowledged  that  he  was  a Catholic  priest,  no  more  questions  were 
asked  him,  but  he  was  sent  back  to  London  and  committed  to  the 
Marshalsea. 

Here,  by  the  blessing  of  God  and  the  charitable  help  of  some 
good  Catholics,  he  quickly  recovered,  and  he  remained  in  this 
prison  a whole  year,  where  he  did  much  good,  reconciling  many  to 
the  Catholic  Church,  and  taking  great  pains  in  instructing  them 
therein.  And  so  zealous  and  indefatigable  was  he  in  this  charitable 
work  of  his  neighbours’  conversion  and  salvation,  that  though  some- 
times he  seemed  to  spend  a great  deal  of  time  in  vain,  and  to  lose  his 

95 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


labour  with  regard  to  certain  persons  whom  he  had  to  deal  with,  he 
would  never  despond  or  leave  ofT,  but  still  persevered  in  praying 
earnestly  to  God,  and  using  the  best  exhortations  he  could,  till  these 
stubborn  hearts  yielded  at  last  to  the  Divine  grace.  Amongst  those 
whom  the  man  of  God  took  the  most  pains  with,  there  was  one  whom 
he  could  not,  during  life,  bring  to  anything,  but  the  same  being  one 
of  the  spectators  of  his  death,  was  so  moved  thereby  as  to  be  quite 
changed  into  another  man,  and  from  that  day  resolved  to  live  in 
that  Church  for  which  he  saw  this  holy  priest  die  with  so  much 
constancy. 

Mr.  JSlutter  was  also  remarkably  charitable  to  his  enemies,  and  so 
far  from  seeking  or  desiring  any  revenge,  as  to  be  glad  to  do  them 
kindness,  which  he  showed  in  the  case  of  those  very  men  who  had 
so  lately  grossly  injured  him  at  the  time  of  his  apprehension  and 
bringing  up  to  town ; for  they  being  prosecuted  by  the  officers  of  the 
Marshalsea  for  unjustly  detaining  some  clothes  belonging  to  Mr. 
Conyers^  his  fellow-prisoner,  and  justly  fearing  the  consequence, 
applied  to  the  Catholic  prisoners,  whom  they  had  before  treated 
with  so  much  inhumanity,  to  beg  of  them  to  stop  the  prosecution; 
which,  when  Mr.  Conyers  seemed  unwilling  to  consent  to,  unless 
they  would  be  at  the  charges  of  the  suit  which  was  commenced, 
Mr.  Nutter  undertook  to  be  an  intercessor  for  his  enemies,  and,  by 
his  charitable  remonstrances,  prevailed  with  his  fellow-prisoner  to 
desist  from  his  claim. 

He  was  also  a great  rebuker  of  vice  wheresoever  he  discovered 
it;  which  charity  he  exercised  with  that  unaffected  candour,  sim- 
plicity, and  sincerity,  joined  with  a profound  self-knowledge  and 
humility,  as  to  procure  from  his  fellow-prisoners  the  name  of  John 
of  Plain  Dealing.  In  the  m_ean  time  he  was  very  severe  to  himself, 
treating  his  body  roughly,  not  only  by  fastings  and  watchings,  but 
also  by  frequent  disciplines,  which,  though  he  industriously  sought 
to  conceal  it,  was  discovered  by  one  of  his  most  intimate  friends  a 
little  before  his  death.  His  lodging  was  very  incommodious,  in  a 
poor  hole  in  the  garret  or  highest  part  of  the  prison;  but  he  was 
well  pleased  with  it,  as  being  more  remote  from  the  noise,  and 
therefore  more  proper  for  prayer  and  contemplation. 

One  day,  when  a certain  priest  was  to  be  put  in  irons,  and  the 
jailors  were  fitting  them  to  his  legs  and  hands,  Mr.  Nutter.,  hearing 
of  it,  thrust  himself  into  the  company,  and  laying  hold  of  the  fetters, 
kissed  them  with  great  veneration ; and  when,  in  the  way  of  ridiculing 
him,  they  asked  him  if  he  would  not  kiss  the  manacles  too.  Yes,  said 
he,  very  willingly;  and  so  he  did  with  great  respect,  affirming  that 

96 


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JOHN  NUTTER 


these  irons  were  sanctified  by  the  touch  of  the  bodies  of  God’s 
servants  who  had  been  bound  by  them. 

After  Mr.  Nutter  had  been  about  a year  in  the  Marshalsea^  he 
was  called  to  another  examination,  and  had  the  usual  questions  put 
to  him;  to  which  he  answered  with  great  courage  and  resolution. 
At  length  they  proceeded  to  that  question  which  they  usually  pro- 
posed in  the  last  place  to  those  whom  they  designed  to  make  away, 
viz.,  what  he  would  do  in  case  the  Pope  should  invade  the  kingdom. 
To  which  he  answered,  that  he  would  do  as  a good  Catholic  priest 
ought  to  do;  and  as  he  would  not  further  satisfy  them  what  that 
was,  they  would  needs  infer  from  hence  that  he  was  a traitor,  at 
least  in  his  heart. 

The  next  day  Mr.  Nutter  promised  Mr.  Popham^  the  Attorney- 
general,  to  give  him,  in  writing,  a full  and  satisfactory  answer  to  all 
things,  if  he,  on  his  part,  would  engage  his  word  to  deliver  this 
writing  into  the  Queen’s  own  hands.  Mr.  Popham  promising  so 
to  do,  Mr.  Nutter  wrote  a full  account,  as  it  is  thought,  of  the  true 
reasons  that  brought  him  and  his  fellow-priests  over  into  England; 
which  were  not  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  kingdom  or  to  plot  against 
the  Queen,  but  to  invite  their  fellow-subjects  to  peace  with  God, 
and  to  promote  the  true  and  only  solid  interest  of  their  Queen  and 
country.  This  writing  had  no  other  effect  than  to  hasten,  perhaps, 
his  trial  and  execution;  for,  immediately  upon  it,  he  was  summoned 
to  appear  in  Westminster  Hall^  and  was  there  tried  and  condemned, 
with  four- other  priests,  on  the  7th  of  February;  and  after  lying  in 
irons  five  days  in  the  Tower,  was  drawn,  together  with  the  same  four 
confessors,  to  Tyburn,  and  there  hanged,  cut  down  alive,  bowelled, 
and  quartered,  February  12,  1583-84. 

He  was  the  fourth  in  that  happy  number  to  fight  that  last  battle 
of  his  Lord;  and  his  ghostly  children  who  were  present  upon  this 
occasion  were  not  a little  edified  with  that  cheerfulness  and  serenity 
which  appeared  in  his  countenance,  as  well  upon  the  hurdle  as  at 
the  gallows,  and  that  courage  and  constancy  which  he  showed  in  his 
sufferings. 

He  suffered,  says  Mr.  Wood  in  his  Athence  Oxonienses,  for  being 
a Roman  Catholic  priest,  and  denying  the  Queen’s  supremacy. 


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MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


JOHN  MUNDExN,  or  MUNDYN,  Priest  * 

Mr.  MUNDEN  was  born  at  Maperton,  in  Dorsetshire,  and 
educated  in  the  University  of  Oxford,  where  he  was  admitted 
Fellow  of  New  College  in  1562,  and  had  the  character  of 
being  a very  good  civilian.  Being  discovered  to  be  a Catholic,  he 
was  deprived  of  his  Fellowship  in  1566;  and  after  many  years,  going 
abroad,  he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  divinity  at  Rhemes,  where 
he  arrived  in  1580;  where,  also,  according  to  some  authors,  he  was 
made  priest;  but  in  the  account  in  Dr.  Bridgewater  of  his  examina- 
tion before  Secretary  Walsingham,  he  answers  that  he  was  made 
priest  at  Rome,  though  he  was  not  of  the  College  or  Seminary  there; 
and  I find  him  in  the  Doway  Diary  returning  priest  from  Rome 
in  1582. 

About  the  end  of  February  1582-83,  as  he  was  going  up  from 
Winchester  to  London,  he  met  upon  Hounslow  Heath  with  one 
Mr.  Hammond,  a lawyer,  who  knowing  him  to  be  a priest,  stopped 
him  on  the  way,  and  obliged  him  to  go  back  with  him  to  Staines, 
where  he  delivered  him  up  to  the  justices  or  magistrates  of  the  place. 
These  sent  him  to  London,  to  Wolsey,  the  Latin  secretary,  who,  the 
following  day,  sent  him  to  Sir  Francis  Walsingham,  principal 
Secretary  of  State* 

The  Secretary  asked  him  where  he  was  made  priest;  whether 
he  were  of  any  Seminary;  who  had  sent  him  back  into  England; 
who  had  furnished  him  with  money  for  his  journeys,  &c.  To  all 
which  Mr.  Munden  returned  a sincere  answer.  Then  the  Secretary 
inveighed  most  bitterly  against  the  Seminarists,  and  against  the 
translation  of  the  New  Testament  lately  published  at  Rhemes;  and, 
as  if  he  were  resolved  that  Mr.  Munden  should  pay  for  all  these 
misdemeanours  of  the  Seminaries,  he  began  to  propose  to  him  the 
questions  which  were  the  common  forerunners  of  death. 

I St,  What  he  thought  of  Dr.  Saunders's  going  into  Ireland  ? 
Mr.  Munden  answered,  he  knew  not  what  Dr.  Saunders  went 
about,  and  therefore  could  not  say  whether  he  did  right  or  wrong  in 
going  thither ; let  him  answer  for  himself. 

2dly,  The  Secretary  asked  him  what  he  would  do,  or  what  any 
good  subject  ought  to  do,  in  case  of  an  invasion  of  the  kingdom  upon 
account  of  religion ; and  what  he  thought  of  the  deposing  power  ? 

* Ven.  John  Munden,  or  Mundyn. — From  Athence  Oxon.,  Douay 
Memoirs,  and  Bridgewater’s  fob  139;  C.R.S,,y  ; Lives  of  E.M, 

98 


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JOHN  MUNDEN 


Mr.  Munden  begged  to  be  excused  from  answering  questions  that 
were  above  his  capacity;  for  that,  as  his  chief  study  had  been  the 
civil  law,  he  was  not  divine  enough  to  resolve  such  queries. 

3dly,  He  asked  whether  he  esteemed  Queen  Elizabeth  to  be  the 
true  Queen  of  England  ? He  answered.  Yes.  But,  said  Walsing- 
ham^  do  you  allow  her  to  be  Queen  as  well  de  jure  as  de  facto?  I 
do  not  rightly  understand,  said  Mr.  Munden,  the  meaning  of  those 
terms.  How  now,  traitor  ! said  Walsingham,  do  you  boggle  at 
answering  this  } And  therewithal  gave  him  such  a blow  on  one  side 
of  the  head  as  perfectly  stunned  him  and  made  him  reel,  so  that  for 
some  days  after  he  complained  of  a difficulty  of  hearing  on  that  side. 
After  this  injury,  and  many  other  reproaches  and  affronts,  the 
Secretary  sent  for  a pursuivant,  and  ordered  him  to  conduct  Mr. 
Munden  to  the  Tower,  and  to  take  his  horse  and  furniture  for  his 
pains. 

In  the  Tower  he  was  at  first  very  ill  lodged,  being  put  into  irons 
for  twenty  days,  and  obliged  for  some  time  to  lie  upon  the  bare 
floor.  However,  he  was  not  without  comfort,  as  well  interior  from 
God,  who  forsakes  not  His  servants  on  these  occasions,  as  exterior 
from  a good  priest,  a fellow-prisoner,  his  ghostly  father,  who  also 
helped  very  much  to  support  him  and  encourage  him  under  another 
kind  of  trial  which  he  here  met  withal,  when,  being  called  forth  to 
be  again  examined  by  Popham,  the  Attorney-general,  this  gentle- 
man, not  contented  with  other  injuries,  charged  him  whh  having 
led  a lewd  life  in  his  own  country ; for  although  this  was  no  more  than 
a groundless  calumny,  Mr.  Munden  was,  nevertheless,  very  much 
concerned  at  the  accusation,  not  for  his  own  sake,  but  for  fear  of  the 
scandal  that  would  by  this  means  be  cast  upon  religion;  but  the 
good  man,  his  director,  comforted  him,  putting  him  in  mind  of  that 
beatitude  in  St.  Matthew,  ‘ Blessed  are  you  when  men  shall  revile 
you,  and  shall  persecute  you,  and  shall  speak  all  kind  of  evil  against 
you  falsely  for  My  sake;  be  glad  and  rejoice,  for  your  reward  is 
exceeding  great  in  heaven.’  Adding  withal,  that  the  Prophets  and 
Apostles,  and  even  Christ  our  Lord  Himself,  had  been  calumniated 
and  slandered;  and  that  it  was  always  the  way,  both  of  ancient  and 
modern  heretics,  as  he  showed  by  examples,  to  seek  to  asperse  in 
this  manner  the  reputation  of  the  ministers  of  God  and  of  His  true 
church;  but  that  truth  and  innocence  would,  in  these  cases,  sooner 
or  later  prevail,  to  the  confusion  of  their  enemies. 

Mr.  Munden  was  about  a twelvemonth  prisoner  in  the  Tower 
before  he  was  called  to  the  bar  to  take  his  trial.  But  on  the  6th  and 
yth  of  February  1583-84,  he  was  tried  and  condemned  in  West- 

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MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


minster  Hall,  at  the  same  time,  and  for  the  same  cause,  with  the 
other  four  whom  we  have  last  treated  of.  When  sentence  was 
pronounced  upon  him,  he,  with  the  rest  of  those  holy  men,  joined 
in  reciting  the  hymn  Te  Deurn  laudamus  with  a serene  and  cheerful 
countenance;  and  so  great  was  the  inward  joy  he  conceived  in  his 
soul  upon  this  occasion  that  he  could  not  help  discovering  it  in  his 
voice,  in  his  face,  and  in  the  whole  outward  man.  Some  who  had 
not  been  in  the  court  that  day,  perceiving  in  him,  when  he  returned 
to  the  Tower,  that  extraordinary  alacrity,  supposing  he  had  been 
acquitted,  congratulated  with  him;  but  he  soon  gave  them  to  under- 
stand that  his  joy  proceeded  from  other  sort  of  principles  than  those 
of  flesh  and  blood.  This  joy  continued  with  him  till  his  happy 
death ; and  when  his  confessor  came  to  him  the  night  before  he  was 
to  suffer,  he  found  him  in  the  same  disposition,  enjoying  so  great  a 
sweetness  of  internal  consolation  as  to  stand  in  no  need  of  his 
comfort,  but  rather  he  who  came  to  comfort  him  went  away  himself 
exceedingly  comforted  by  him. 

He  was  drawn  with  the  rest  to  Tyburn,  on  the  12th  of  February 
according  to  Mr.  Stow,  or  the  13th  according  to  Dr.  Bridgewater ; 
and  after  having  been  the  spectator  of  the  combat  of  the  other  four, 
assisting  them  by  his  prayers,  he  in  his  turn  had  them,  in  heaven, 
spectators  of  his  combat,  and  assisting  him  by  their  prayers;  whilst 
with  equal  constancy  he  overcame  gibbets,  ropes,  knives,  and  fire, 
and  all  the  other  instruments  of  cruelty,  and  so  passed  from  short 
pains  to  everlasting  rest. 

This  same  year,  1584,  several  other  Catholics  suffered  for 
religious  matters,  of  whom  Dr.  Bridgewater  treats  at  large  in  his 
Concertatio  Ecclesice  Catholicce.  These  were — 

I.  William  Carter,  a printer,  for  printing  a Treatise  of  Schism, 
against  Catholics  going  to  the  Protestant  churches;  in  which  a 
paragraph  touching  Judith  and  Holofernes,  by  a forced  construction, 
was  interpreted  to  be  an  exhortation  to  murder  the  Queen.  He 
was  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  at  Tyburn,  January  the  nth, 
1583-84. 

H.  James  Bell,  born  at  Warrington,  in  Lancashire,  brought  up 
in  Oxford,  and  made  priest  in  Queen  Mary’s  days,  who,  when  the 
religion  of  the  nation  was  changed  upon  Queen  Elizabeth’s  accession 
to  the  crown,  suffered  himself  to  be  carried  away  with  the  stream 
against  his  conscience,  and  for  many  years  officiated  as  a minister 
in  divers  parts  of  the  kingdom.  He  was  at  length  reclaimed,  in  158.1 , 
by  the  remonstrances  of  a Catholic  matron,  joined  to  a severe  fit  of 
sickness  with  which  God  was  pleased  to  visit  him,  in  which  he  was 

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JOHN  MUNDEN 


reconciled  to  God  and  His  Church.  He  had  no  sooner  recovered 
the  health  of  his  soul  by  confession,  but  he  recovered  also  the  health 
of  his  body;  and  after  having  applied  himself  for  some  months  to 
penitential  exercises,  and  brought  forth  fruits  worthy  of  penance, 
he  resumed  his  priestly  functions,  labouring  with  all  diligence  for 
the  souls  of  his  neighbours,  for  the  space  of  about  two  years.  In 
January  1583-84  he  was  apprehended  by  a pursuivant,  and  carried 
before  a justice  of  peace,  to  whom  he  acknowledged  himself  to  be 
a priest,  and  confessed  that  he  had  been  reconciled  to  the  Catholic 
Church,  after  having  a long  time  gone  astray;  and  therefore  was  by 
him  committed  to  Manchester  gaol.  From  hence  he  was  sent  to 
Lancaster  to  be  tried  at  the  Lent  Assizes;  in  which  journey  his  arms 
were  tied  behind  him  and  his  legs  under  the  horse’s  belly.  He  was 
arraigned,  together  with  Mr.  Thomas  Williamson  and  Mr.  Richard 
Hutton,  priests,  and  Mr.  John  Finch,  layman,  all  for  the  supremacy. 
Mr.  Bell,  in  his  trial,  showed  a great  deal  of  courage  and  resolution, 
boldly  professing  that  he  had  been  reconciled  to  the  Church,  and, 
had  faculties  to  absolve  penitent  sinners,  and  that  he  did  not  acknow- 
ledge the  Queen’s  ecclesiastical  supremacy,  but  that  of  the  Pope. 
In  consequence  of  which  supposed  treasons,  he  had  sentence  to  die 
as  in  cases  of  high  treason.  The  other  two  priests  were  also  found 
guilty  by  the  jury,  but  as  the  judge  had  instructions  to  put  to  death 
no  more  than  two,  they  were  not  sentenced  to  die,  but  only  con- 
demned to  a perpetual  imprisonment  and  loss  of  all  their  goods,  as 
in  cases  of  premunire.  Mr.  Bell  showed  great  content  upon  this 
occasion,  and  looking  at  the  judge  said,  I beg  your  Lordship  would 
add  to  the  sentence  that  my  lips  and  the  tops  of  my  fingers  may  be 
cut  off,  for  having  sworn  and  subscribed  to  the  articles  of  heretics, 
contrary  both  to  my  conscience  and  to  God’s  truth.  He  spent  the 
following  night,  which  was  his  last,  in  prayer  and  meditation,  and 
suffered  on  the  ensuing  day,  which  was  the  20th  of  April  1584,  not 
only  with  great  constancy,  but  with  great  joy,  being  then  sixty  years 
of  age. 

HI.  John  Finch,  born  in  Eccleston  parish,  in  Lancashire,  who, 
after  he  was  come  to  man’s  estate,  and  was  married  and  settled  in  the 
world,  being  heartily  disgusted  with  the  new  religion,  upon  a long 
and  serious  examination  of  the  merits  of  the  cause,  was  reconciled 
to  the  Catholic  Church,  and  was  so  fervent  a convert  as  not  only 
to  neglect  no  means  of  sanctifying  his  own  soul,  but  also  to  endeavour 
as  much  as  he  could  to  be  instrumental  in  procuring  the  conversion 
and  salvation  of  others,  as  well  by  his  own  words  and  good  examples 
as  by  the  assistance  he  gave  to  the  labourers  in  God’s  vineyard,  in 

lOI 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


whose  service  for  many  years  he  was  wholly  employed,  accompany- 
ing them  and  conducting  them  to  the  houses  of  the  faithful,  where 
the  duties  of  their  functions  called  them,  and  serving  them  in  quality 
both  of  a clerk  and  of  a catechist.  At  length,  by  the  treachery  of  a 
false  brother,  he  was  apprehended,  together  with  Mr.  George 
Ost cliff e^  a priest  of  Doway  College,  by  the  Earl  of  Derby.  Mr. 
Finch  being  now  a prisoner,  they  spared  neither  threats  nor  promises 
to  induce  him  to  go  to  church ; which,  when  they  could  not  persuade 
him  to,  they  dragged  him  thither  by  downright  violence  through 
the  streets,  his  head  beating  all  the  way  upon  the  stones,  and  being 
thereby  grievously  broken  and  wounded;  then  they  thrust  him  into 
a dark,  stinking  dungeon,  where  he  had  no  other  bed  but  the  bare 
and  wet  floor;  no  other  food  but  oxen’s  liver,  and  that  very  sparingly. 
Here  they  kept  him  sometimes  for  whole  weeks  together — sometimes 
for  whole  months,  not  to  speak  of  innumerable  other  sufferings 
which  he  endured  for  some  years  whilst  he  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemies  of  his  faith.  At  length  he  was  ordered  from  Manchester 
to  Lancaster  to  be  tried  for  his  life  at  the  Lenten  Assizes,  where  he 
was  indicted  for  deliberately  and  maliciously  affirming  that  the  Pope 
hath  power  or  jurisdiction  in  the  kingdom  of  England,  and  that  he  is 
the  head  of  the  Catholic  Church,  of  which  Church  some  part  is  in 
this  kingdom.  Of  this  treason  he  was  found  guilty  by  the  jury,  and 
thereupon  had  sentence  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason;  which 
sentence  he  received  with  joy,  having  long  desired  to  suffer  death 
for  the  cause.  He  was  executed  the  following  day,  April  20,  with 
Mr.  Bell,  at  Lancaster,  and  his  quarters  were  disposed  of  to  be  set 
up  on  poles  in  four  of  the  chief  towns  of  that  county. 

IV.  Richard  White,  born  at  Landtrilos,  in  Montgomeryshire  of 
Wales,  and  brought  up  in  Cambridge.  HeTwas,  after  his  return 
from  the  University,  for  some  time  a schoolmaster,  first  at  Wrexham, 
and  then  at  Orton  in  Flintshire,  being  all  the  while  in  his  heart  a 
Catholic,  yet,  by  an  error  too  common  in  those  days,  outwardly 
conforming  so  far  as  to  frequent  the  Protestant  churches,  till  the 
Doway  missioners  (of  whom  about  sixty-four  came  over  before  there 
were  any  from  other  places)  coming  to  those  parts,  made  him  sensible 
of  his  fault,  and  reconciled  him  to  the  Church.  His  absenting 
himself  from  the  Protestant  service  began  to  be  taken  notice  of,  and 
after  some  time  he  was  apprehended  and  committed  by  Justice 
Pilson  to  Ruthin  gaol,  where  he  lay  for  three  months,  loaded  with 
double  chains,  till  the  next  assizes,  in  which  he  was  brought  to  the 
bar  and  had  a proffer  of  pardon  for  all  that  was  past  if  he  would  only 
once  go  to  church,  which  he  refusing,  was  again  returned  to  prison. 

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The  following  year,  the  assizes  being  held  at  Wrexham  in  the  month 
of  May,  Judge  Bromley,  being  informed  of  all  that  was  past,  was 
resolved  that  Mr.  White,  who  still  refused  to  go  to  church,  should 
be  carried  thither  by  force,  which  was  done  accordingly,  Mr.  White 
making  all  possible  resistance,  and  loudly  protesting  all  the  way 
against  the  violence  that  was  offered  him,  and  in  the  church  itself 
making  what  noise  he  could,  that  neither  he  nor  any  others  might 
hear  the  minister;  so  that  the  judge,  not  being  able  to  silence  him, 
ordered  him  to  be  carried  out  and  set  in  the  stocks  in  the  market- 
place. In  the  meantime  an  indictment  was  drawn  up  against  him 
for  having  insolently  and  impiously,  as  they  termed  it,  interrupted 
the  minister  and  the  people  in  the  Divine  service ; and  a jury  being 
impanelled,  Mr.  White  was  brought  into  the  court  to  answer  for 
himself;  when  the  clerk  of  the  assizes  beginning  to  read  the  indict- 
ment, such  a sudden  dimness  fell  upon  his  eyes  that  he  could  not 
distinguish  one  letter.  The  judge  asked  him  what  was  the  matter. 
He  said,  I do  not  know  what  is  the  matter  with  my  eyes,  but  I cannot 
see.  The  judge  put  it  off  with  a sneer,  saying,  Take  care  lest  the 
Papists  make  a miracle  of  this.  Mr.  White  was  returned  to  prison, 
where,  a short  time  after,  he  had  two  others  sent  to  bear  him  com- 
pany for  the  same  cause — viz.,  Mr.  John  Pugh  and  Mr.  Robert 
Morris.  After  some  time  they  were  all  three  arraigned  for  high 
treason,  and  sent  away  from  Wrexham  gaol  to  the  Council  of  the 
Marches  at  Bewdley,  where  they  were  all  cruelly  tortured  to  make 
them  discover  by  whom  they  had  been  reconciled,  &c.  Mr.  White 
and  Mr.  Pugh  showed  great  courage  and  constancy  upon  this 
occasion.  Mr.  Morris  was  not  so  stout,  for  which  weakness  he 
afterwards  heartily  repented.  At  length,  on  the  nth  of  October 
1584,  they  were  all  brought  to  their  trial  and  indicted  for  high 
treason,  the  witnesses,  who  were  infamous  wretches  suborned  for 
the  purpose,  swearing  that  the  prisoners  had  affirmed  in  their  hearing 
that  the  Queen  was  not  the  head  of  the  Church,  but  the  Pope;  and 
that  they  would  have  persuaded  them,  or  one  of  them,  to  the  Catholic 
religion.  The  prisoners  excepted  against  their  testimony,  as  of  men 
that  had  been  notoriously  perjured  before  and  publicly  infamous; 
but  these  exceptions  were  not  taken  notice  of,  and  the  jury,  instructed 
(as  it  seems)  by  Judge  Bromley,  brought  in  Mr.  White  and  Mr. 
Pugh  guilty,  but  acquitted  Mr.  Morris,  who,  to  the  surprise  of  the 
court,  wept  most  bitterly  at  his  hard  lot,  that  he  should  not  be  so 
happy  as  to  be  condemned  also,  and  to  suffer  with  his  companions 
for  so  good  a cause.  He  was  returned  to  prison,  where  he  remained 
at  the  time  that  my  author  wrote  his  account  of  Mr.  White's  death. 

103 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1584 


Mr.  Pugh  was  reprieved,  but  Mr.  White  suffered  according  to 
sentence,  being  cut  down  alive  and  butchered  in  a most  cruel 
manner,  pronouncing  the  sacred  name  of  Jesus  twice  whilst  the 
hangman  had  his  hands  in  his  bowels. 

He  suffered  at  Wrexham^  in  Denbighshire^  October  17,  1584. 
His  head  and  one  of  his  quarters  were  set  upon  Denbigh  Castle;  the 
other  three  quarters  were  disposed  of  to  Wrexham  ^Ruthin  ^ and  H owlet. 

Mr.  John  Rennet^  priest  of  Doway  College,  ordained  in  1578,  was 
also  prisoner  at  the  same  time  with  Mr.  White  and  Mr.  Pugh,  who, 
after  he  had  been  examined  by  Hughes,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  and 
by  Judge  Bromley,  and  had  stoutly  maintained  his  faith  at  Hawarden, 
in  Flintshire,  in  1583,  was  sent  first  to  Flint  (w^here  he  was  cast  into 
a filthy  prison  and  loaded  with  double  irons),  and  then  to  the  Council 
of  the  Marches  of  Wales,  where  he  was  twice  cruelly  tortured  in 
order  to  make  him  confess  whom  he  had  reconciled,  &c.  But  they 
could  extort  nothing  out  of  him.  He  was,  not  long  after,  sent  up  to 
London,  and  from  thence,  in  the  year  1585,  was,  with  thirty  other 
priests,  sent  into  perpetual  banishment.  Upon  this  occasion  he 
went  straight  to  Rhemes,  where  for  some  time  he  lived  with  his 
brethren  in  the  English  College,  then  residing  in  that  city,  giving 
wonderful  examples  of  virtue  to  all ; and  at  length,  going  from  thence, 
he  entered  into  the  Society  of  Jesus.  With  him  also  Mr.  Henry 
Pugh,  a Flintshire  gentleman,  was  cast  into  prison,  and  cruelly 
tortured,  as  may  be  seen  in  Dr.  Bridgewater . 

I find  likewise  in  an  ancient  catalogue  of  Doway  College  the 
names  of  several  priests  of  the  Seminaries  who  lost  their  lives  this 
year  in  prison  for  their  character  and  religion.  These  were  Mr. 
Thomas  Cotesmore,  a native  of  the  diocese  of  Lichfield,  sent  priest 
from  Rhemes  in  1580;  Mr.  Robert  Holmes,  of  the  diocese  of  Carlisle, 
sent  priest  from  Rhemes  the  same  year;  Mr.  Roger  Wakeman,  made 
priest  at  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Nelson,  and  sent  from  Doway  in 
1576 ; Mr.  James  Lumax,  a priest  of  Rome,  sent  thither  from  Rhemes 
in  1580.  Of  the  three  latter,  the  catalogue  says  that  they  were  killed 
by  the  stench  and  other  incommodities  of  their  respective  prisons. 
Pcedore  carceris  et  aliis  incommodis  extincti  sunt. 

Of  Mr.  Wakeman,  Dr.  Bridgewater  also  relates,  that  being  trans- 
lated from  one  of  the  Counters  to  Newgate,  and  there  lodged  near  a 
most  stinking  hole,  where  the  prisoners  emptied  themselves  and  their 
chamber-pots,  he  suffered  much  during  two  whole  years,  till  at  last 
he  was  killed  with  the  stench  of  the  place. 

The  same  author,  in  the  same  place,  relates  likewise  of  Mr. 
Holmes,  that  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  he  was  kept 

104 


1585] 


JOHN  MUNDEN 


prisoner  for  two  months  in  a certain  dark  hole  designed  for  keeping 
coals,  which  had  on  both  sides  of  it  houses  of  office;  that  lying  here 
on  the  bare  floor,  without  any  bed,  he  was  brought  to  death’s  door; 
and  though,  at  the  earnest  suit  of  his  friends,  he  was  changed  to  a 
more  commodious  prison,  yet,  being  too  far  gone  to  be  recovered, 
he  died  within  two  days. 

In  the  same  place  he  also  informs  us  of  Mr.  Ailworth^  a secular 
gentleman,  who,  for  his  constancy  in  his  faith,  was  not  only  cast  into 
prison,  and  there  put  into  irons,  but  also  thrust  down  by  the  jailor 
into  a nasty  dungeon,  or  rather  a common  sewer,  where  he  perished 
by  the  stench  within  eight  days. 

The  same  author,  in  his  Short  View  of  the  Sufferings  of  the 
Catholics^  at  the  end  of  his  Concertatio,  acquaints  us  that  in  this 
same  year,  1584,  no  less  than  fifty  Catholic  gentlemen’s  houses  in 
Lancashire  were  searched  in  one  night  under  pretence  of  looking 
for  priests,  but  so  as  to  plunder  the  houses  and  send  away  the 
masters  to  divers  prisons,  where  they  suffered  great  hardships  for 
their  faith.  My  author  names  particularly  Mr.  Travas^  Mr. 
Holland y and  Mr.  Barlow — the  last  of  whom  was,  at  that  very  time, 
so  ill  as  not  to  be  able  to  sit  upon  his  horse,  yet  this  could  not  dis- 
pense him  from  being  sent  to  prison.  And,  indeed,  such  was  the 
case  of  the  Catholics  at  this  time,  not  only  in  Lancashire ^ but  all 
over  the  kingdom,  that  the  gaols  were  everywhere  filled  with  them, 
and  that  barely  for  their  recusancy,  insomuch  that  the  old  prisons 
not  being  sufficient  to  hold  them,  new  ones  were  built  in  many 
places ; and  all  this  for  people  whose  conscience  was  their  only  crime. 


[ 1585.  ] 

THOMAS  ALFIELD,  Priest,  and  THOMAS 
WEBLEY,  Layman  * 

Mr.  ALFIELD,  or  AUFIELD,  as  some  call  him,  was  born  in 
Gloucestershire,  studied  his  divinity  in  the  English  College, 
then  residing  in  Rhemes,  where  he  wa  smade  priest  in  1581, 
and  so  sent  upon  the  E?iglish  mission,  where  I find  him  a prisoner 
in  April  1582.  In  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1583  or  the  beginning 

* Ven.  Thomas  Alfield  and  Thomas  Webley. — From  the  Douay  Journal 
and  Catalogue,  and  from  Bridgewater’s  Concertatio,  fob  203;  Lives  of 
E.  M.  ; C.R.S.,  V.;  Catholic  Eiicyclopcedia,  Gillow. 

105 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1585 


of  1584,  there  came  out  a book  penned,  as  it  was  supposed,  by  Cecily 
Lord  Treasurer,  entitled  The  Execution  of  Justice,  &c.;  or,  Justitia 
Britannica.  The  drift  of  this  book  was  to  persuade  the  world  that 
the  Catholics  who  had  suffered  in  England  since  the  Queen’s  acces- 
sion to  the  crown  had  not  suffered  for  religion,  but  for  treason. 
The  book  was  immediately  answered  by  Dr.  Allen,  and  the  author 
fairly  convicted  of  notorious  untruths;  but  people  in  power  will  not 
bear  to  be  told  they  lie.  Mr.  Alfield,  therefore,  who  had  found 
means  to  import  into  the  kingdom  some  copies  of  Dr.  Alienas  Modest 
Answer  to  the  English  Persecutors,  and  had  dispersed  them  by  the 
help  of  one  Thomas  Webley,  a dyer,  was  called  to  an  account,  as  was 
also  the  said  Webley,  and  both  the  one  and  the  other  were  most 
cruelly  toitured  in  prison,  I suppose  in  order  to  make  them  discover 
the  persons  to  whom  they  had  distributed  the  said  books.  They  were 
afterwards  brought  to  their  trial,  and  condemned  on  the  5th  oijuly, 
and  suffered  at  Tyburn  on  the  day  following,  where  both  the  one 
and  the  other  had  their  life  offered  them  if  they  would  renounce 
the  Pope  and  acknowledge  the  Queen’s  Church  headship,  which 
they  refusing  to  do,  were  both  executed. 


HUGH  TAYLOR,  Priest  * 

Hugh  TAYLOR  was  bom  at  Durham,  performed  his  studies 
in  the  English  College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  where  he  was 
made  priest  in  1584,  and  sent  upon  the  English  mission.  He 
was  apprehended  some  time  in  the  following  year,  tried  and  con- 
demned at  York  for  being  a priest,  and  for  having  received  faculties 
from  the  See  of  Rome  to  absolve  and  reconcile  the  subjects  of  England, 
and  denying  the  Queen’s  supremacy. 

He  was  drawn,  hanged,  and  quartered  at  York,  November  26, 

1585- 

Marmaduke  Bowes,  a married  gentleman  of  Angram  Grange, 
near  Appleton,  in  Cleveland,  was  executed  at  the  same  time  with 
Mr.  Taylor,  for  having  entertained  the  same  gentleman  in  his  house; 
or,  as  Mr.  Leonard  Brakenbury , a Yorkshire  attorney,  affirms  in  a 
manuscript  which  I have  in  my  hands,  for  having  only  given  him  a 
cup  of  beer  at  his  door.  Mr.  John  Ingolby,  counsellor  at  law,  in 

* Ven.  Hugh  Taylor. — From  the  Douay  Journal;  Bridgewater,  fol.  203, 
and  Raissius’s  Catalogue,  p.  47;  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Morris,  Troubles,  hi. 

106 


HUGH  TAYLOR 


1585] 

another  manuscript  of  which  I have  an  extract,  affirms  that  Mr. 
Bowes^  hearing  of  the  priest’s  being  taken,  came  to  York^  at  the 
assizes,  to  try  to  free  him  by  his  appearance;  whereupon,  as  soon 
as  he  was  lighted  from  his  horse,  without  pulling  off  his  boots,  he 
went  straight  to  the  Castle  Yard  to  speak  in  the  priest’s  behalf.  But 
himself  being  hereupon  questioned,  was  immediately  apprehended, 
tried,  and  condemned  upon  the  statute  lately  made  against  harbouring 
or  relieving  priests,  upon  the  accusation  of  one  Martin  Harrison; 
the  Earl  of  Himtingdoji^  a bitter  enemy  of  the  Catholics,  being  then 
President  of  the  North,  and  Laurence  Mears,  one  of  the  Council, 
being  judge.  Some  say  he  was  hanged  in  his  boots  and  spurs. 

He  suffered  at  the  same  time  and  place  with  Mr.  Taylor,  The 
providence  of  God  in  his  regard  was  the  more  to  be  admired  in 
bringing  him  to  this  happy  end,  because  (as  it  seems  by  another 
relation  that  I have  now  before  me)  he  had,  though  a Catholic  in  his 
heart,  conformed  in  outward  show  to  the  religion  of  the  times.  ‘ He 
died  very  willingly,  [says  this  relation  by  the  Lady  Baptliorp,] 
and  professed  his  faith,  with  great  repentance  for  having  lived  in 
schism.’ 

Mr.  Taylor  and  Mr.  Bowes  were  the  first  that  suffered  by  the 
sanguinary  statutes  of  this  year  (the  27th  of  Elizabeth),  by  which  it  was 
made  high  treason  for  any  native  of  her  Majesty’s  dominions,  made 
priest  since  the  first  year  of  her  reign,  by  authority  derived  from 
Rome,  to  return  into  this  kingdom  or  remain  here,  and  felony  for 
any  person  to  harbour  or  relieve  any  such  priest,  knowing  him  to  be 
a priest.  By  which  statutes,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter,  most  of  those 
that  have  since  suffered  for  religious  matters  were  arraigned  and 
condemned.  The  Catholics,  perceiving  the  storm  that  was  hanging 
over  their  heads,  sought  to  divert  it  by  a humble  and  dutiful  address 
to  the  Queen,  [which  may  be  seen  in  a small  tract,  called  English 
Protestants'  Plea  for  Priests  and  Papists,  1621,]  presented  to  her 
Majesty  by  Mr.  Shelley  of  Sussex,  one  day  as  she  was  walking  in 
her  park  at  Greenwich.  But  this  address  had  no  other  effect  than 
causing  the  gentleman  who  presented  it  to  be  cast  into  the  Marshal- 
sea,  where  he  died  a close  prisoner,  for  no  other  fault  but  presuming 
to  present  an  address  to  the  Queen  without  the  knowledge  and 
consent  of  the  Lords  of  the  Council. 

What  with  these  new  laws  and  the  others  formerly  made,  the 
Catholics  were  so  terrified,  that  many  of  them  resolved  to  leave  the 
nation,  by  this  means  to  be  out  of  the  reach  of  these  cruel  statutes, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  enjoy  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion. 
This  resolution  was  taken,  amongst  the  rest,  by  that  noble  Lord, 

107 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1585 


Philip  Howard,  Earl  of  Arundel  (eldest  son  to  the  late  Duke  of 
Norfolk^  who,  by  Leicester's  contrivances,  was  brought  to  the  block 
in  1572).  But  before  he  departed  the  realm  he  wrote  a dutiful  letter 
to  the  Queen,  to  be  delivered  when  he  was  gone,  signifying  that, 
for  his  soul’s  health  and  the  service  of  God,  he  purposed  to  leave 
his  native  country,  but  not  his  loyal  affection  for  her  Majesty.  His 
design  miscarried;  for  just  as  he  was  going  on  board  the  ship,  he  was 
betrayed  by  one  of  his  domestics,  seized,  brought  back  to  London, 
and  committed  to  the  Tower.  His  brothers,  uncle,  and  several  of  his 
kindred,  friends,  and  servants,  being  at  the  same  time  committed 
to  several  prisons.  For  this  offence  he  was  first  fined  ten  thousand 
pounds  in  the  Star  Chamber,  and  sentenced  to  be  imprisoned  during 
the  Queen’s  pleasure.  Then,  after  some  years’  confinement,  upon 
new  informations,  he  was  brought  upon  his  trial  before  his  peers, 
found  guilty,  and  had  sentence  of  death,  April  4,  1589.  The 
crimes  objected  against  him  were  chiefly  his  harbouring  and  relieving 
of  priests,  and  corresponding  with  Dr.  Allen  and  with  Mary  Queen 
of  Scots.  ’Tis  true  he  was  not  executed,  but  permitted  to  die  a 
lingering  death  under  a tedious  confinement,  being  kept  a close 
prisoner  for  ten  years,  from  the  time  of  his  condemnation  till  his 
death;  during  which  time  he  gave  himself  up  to  a strict  and  peni- 
tential course  of  life,  and  to  continual  prayer  and  contemplation,  to 
the  great  edification  of  all  that  knew  him.  The  Bishop  of  Tarrasona, 
1.  2,  c.  4,  relates,  that  he  lay  upon  the  ground,  and  fasted  three  days 
a week  upon  bread  and  water,  &c. 

This  same  year,  1^^^,  Henry  Percy , 'E^.rXoi Northumberland,  who 
had  been  sent  to  the  Tower  the  year  before  upon  occasion  of  his 
friend  the  Lord  Paget's  privately  retiring  beyond  the  seas  for  his 
conscience’  sake,  after  many  efforts  of  his  enemies  (of  whom  the 
Earl  of  Leicester  was  supposed  to  be  the  chiefest)  to  bring  him  in 
guilty  of  some  treason,  was  found  shot  through  the  reins  and  groin. 
Great  industry  was  used  to  persuade  the  nation  that  he  was  Felo 
de  se;  but  it  was  violently  suspected  that  he  was  made  away  by 
Leicester.  This  Henry  was  brother  to  Thomas  Percy,  Earl  of 
Northumberland,  who,  with  Charles  Nevile,  Earl  of  Westmorland, 
took  up  arms  in  the  North  for  the  Catholic  religion  in  1569,  and  was 
beheaded  at  York  in  1572. 

I find  in  an  ancient  catalogue  the  names  of  the  following  priests 
of  the  Seminaries,  who  died  this  year  in  prison  for  their  religion: — 

1st.  Thomas  Crowther,  born  in  Herefordshire,  priest  of  Poway 
College,  ordained  in  1575,  and  Bachelor  of  Divinity  in  that  Uni- 
versity. He  was  a man  of  extraordinary  parts  and  learning,  and  a 

108 


1585] 


HUGH  TAYLOR 


notable  missioner.  He  died  in  the  Marshalsea^  after  about  two 
years’  imprisonment. 

zdly.  Edward  Poole,  sent  priest  from  Rhemes  in  1580,  and  appre- 
hended and  cast  into  prison  the  same  year. 

^dly.  Laurence  Vaux,  formerly  warden  of  Manchester  (sometime 
convictor  of  the  College  of  Doway  or  Rhemes),  afterwards  canon 
regular.  He  was  cast  into  the  prison  of  the  Gatehouse,  together  with 
N.  Titchhurn,  Esq.,  by  Elmer,  Bishop  of  London,  in  1580,  and  died 
there  this  year. 

\thly.  John  Jetter , whom  I find  in  the  College  of  Rhemes  in  1581, 
made  subdeacon.  I believe  he  was  made  priest  at  Rome. 

Of  the  ancient  confessors,  this  year  died  prisoner  in  Wisbech 
Castle  the  venerable  JoAw  Eeckenham,  last  Abbot  of  Westminster. 

But  one  of  the  most  remarkable  occurrences  in  the  history  of 
this  year  is  the  banishment  of  about  seventy  priests  within  the 
compass  of  one  twelvemonth.  ‘ On  the  21st  of  January  1584-85,’ 
says  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Annals,  ‘ Jesuits,  Seminarists,  and  other 
massing  priests,  to  the  number  of  twenty-one,  [one  was  only  a lay 
gentleman,]  late  prisoners  in  the  Tower  of  London,  Marshalsea,  and 
King's  Bench,  were  shipped  off  at  the  Tower  Wharf,  to  be  carried 
towards  Erance,  and  banished  this  realm  for  ever,  by  virtue  of  a 
commission  from  her  Majesty  bearing  date  the  15th  of  the  same 
month,  anno  1585. 

‘ On  the  15th  of  September  the  same  year,  by  virtue  of  an  order 
from  the  Lords  of  the  Council,  thirty- two  priests  more,  and  two 
laymen,  at  that  time  prisoners  in  the  Tower,  Marshalsea,  &c.,  were 
embarked  in  the  Mary  Martin  of  Colchester,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Thames  over  against  St.  Catharine' s , to  be  transported  over  unto  the 
coasts  of  Normandy,  and  banished  this  realm  for  ever.’ 

There  were  about  eighteen  more,  according  to  Camden  and 
others  (Dr.  Bridgewater  says  twenty- two),  all  priests  but  one  (he  a 
deacon),  sent  into  banishment  from  the  Northern  prisons  about  the 
same  time;  of  whom  Dr.  Bridgewater  writes  that  they  were  for  the 
most  part  advanced  in  years,  some  being  sixty,  others  seventy,  or 
upwards,  and  one  eighty  years  old;  and  that  many  of  them  had  been 
a great  many  years  in  prison,  some  ever  since  the  beginning  of  this 
reign,  i.e.,  for  twenty-six  years  {Bridgewater's  Brevis  Descriptio, 
&c.,  fol.  411). 

The  same  author,  in  the  foregoing  page,  relates  also,  as  an  occur- 
rence of  this  year,  the  case  of  James  Steile,  priest,  who,  after  having 
been  twice  taken  and  cast  into  prison,  first  at  York  and  then  at 
Manchester,  was  put  on  board  a ship  to  be  carried  into  perpetual 

109 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1585 


banishment.  He  suffered  much  on  shipboard,  but  little  in  com- 
parison with  the  treatment  he  afterwards  met  with;  for  being  cast 
upon  the  Irish  shore,  and  stripped  of  all  his  clothes,  even  to  his  very 
shirt,  he  was  carried  to  the  next  town,  where  a poor  woman  gave 
him  a piece  of  a shift  to  cover  his  nakedness ; and  in  that  manner  he 
was  presented  to  the  Sheriff  of  the  county,  who  sent  him,  naked 
as  he  was,  upon  a horse,  without  saddle  or  bridle,  to  the  city  of 
Cork,  conducted  by  certain  wicked  wretches,  who  sported  themselves 
with  whipping  him  frequently,  during  the  whole  journey,  which  was 
no  less  than  twenty  miles.  When  he  arrived  at  his  journey’s  end, 
he  was  put  into  irons,  and  kept  in  the  common  gaol  amongst  the 
thieves,  till,  by  the  orders  of  the  Earl  of  Derby  and  the  Bishop  of 
Cork,  he  was  again  shipped  off,  and  sent  into  banishment. 

The  names  of  the  twenty-one  who  were  sent  into  banishment  in 
January  were — 

1.  Jasper  Haywood,  S.J. 

2.  James  Bosgrave,  S.J. — 3.  John  Hart,  B.D. — 4.  Edward  Rush- 
ton.  These  three  were  condemned  at  the  same  time  with  Father 
Campion  and  his  companions. 

5.  John  Colleton,  or  Collington,  acquitted  at  that  time,  yet  kept 
in  prison  till  this  present  year. 

6.  Arthur  Pitts,  afterwards  Dean  of  Liver  dun. — 7.  Samuel 
Conyers. — 8.  William  Tedder. — 9.  William  Warmington. — 10.  Richard 
Slack. 

II.  William  Hartley. — 12.  Robert  Nutter. — 13.  William  Dean. 
These  three  were  afterwards  executed  for  their  character. 

14.  William  Bishop,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Chalcedon. 

15.  Thomas  Worthington,  who,  after  Cardinal  Allen  and  Dr. 
Barret,  was  the  third  President  of  Doway  College. 

16.  Richard  Norris. — 17.  Thomas  Stevenson. — 18.  Christopher 
Thompson. — 19.  John  Barns. — 20.  William  Smith. 

21 . Mr.  Orton,  a lay  gentleman,  condemned  with  Father  Campion. 

I have  not  been  able  to  recover  the  names  of  all  the  rest  that 
were  banished  this  year.  I find  in  the  Doway  catalogues  that  many 
of  them  came  and  made  some  stay  in  the  College;  as,  besides  several 
of  those  named  above,  did  John  Bennet,  Steven  Rousham,  Lewis 
Hews,  John  Adams,  John  Vivian,  Thomas  Sympson,  Andrew  Fowler, 
Thomas  Pilchard,  Jonas  Meredith,  Nicholas  Gar  lick,  Edmund  Sykes. 
John  Marsh,  Thomas  Freeman,  and  John  Hewet. 


1 10 


586] 


EDWARD  STRANSHAM 


EDWARD  STRANSHAM,  or  TRANSHAM, 

Priest,* 

Mr.  EDWARD  STRANSHAM,  whom  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Annals 
calls  Edmund  Barber,  from  the  name  under  which  he  disguised 
himself  upon  the  mission,  was  born  at  or  near  Oxford,  and 
educated  in  St.  John's  College  in  that  University,  where  he  took  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1575-76.  Not  long  after  this  he  left 
the  University  and  the  Protestant  religion,  and  went  over  to  Doway, 
where  I find  him  in  June  1576;  and  going  afterwards  to  Rhemes  (the 
College  being  translated  thither),  he  was  ordained  priest  in  December 
1580,  and  sent  upon  the  mission  on  the  last  day  of  June  1581,  with 
three  others,  one  of  which  was  Mr.  Woodfen,  who  afterwards  suffered 
with  him. 

The  account  that  both  Mr.  Rishton  and  Dr.  Bridgewater  give  of 
these  two  missioners  is  short,  but  very  full  and  expressive.  The 
former  writes  as  follows: — ‘ At  London,  Edward  Transham,  a priest 
of  remarkable  zeal  and  piety,  and  endowed  with  the  grace  of  the 
world,  and  his  companion,  Mr.  Woodfen,  a man  of  equal  merit  and 
constancy,  glorified  God  by  a most  precious  death  and  confession; 
whose  bowels  they  plucked  out  whilst  they  were  yet  alive,  and  whose 
quarters  they  set  up  for  a prey  to  the  fowls  of  the  air.^ 

The  latter  writes  thus: — ‘ Mr.  Edward  Transham  and  Mr. 
Woodfen,  Catholic  priests,  after  they  had  given  many  and  various 
arguments  of  their  piety,  charity,  and  Christian  fortitude,  in  gather- 
ing together  the  scattered  sheep  of  Great  Britain,  the  time  being 
now  come  in  which  they  were  both  to  glorify  God  by  an  illustrious 
confession  of  their  faith,  and  confirm  their  brethren  by  the  voluntary 
shedding  of  their  blood,  being  approved  by  the  testimony  of  faith, 
they  offered  their  souls  and  bodies  a living  and  holy  sacrifice  to  God, 
their  Creator  and  Redeemer.’ 

They  suffered  at  Tyburn,  January  21,  1585-86,  barely  for  being 
priests.  They  are  mentioned  by  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Annals,  who  calls 
Mr.  Woodfen  by  the  name  of  Devereux.  ‘ Nicholas  Devereux,'  says 
he,  ‘ was  condemned  for  treason  in  being  made  a Seminary  priest 
at  Rhemes.  Also  Edmond  Barber,  made  priest  as  aforesaid,  was 
likewise  condemned  of  treason;  and  both  were  drawn  to  Tyburn,  and 
there  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered.’ 

* Ven.  Edward  Stransham,  or  Transham. — From  Athence  Oxon.,  Diary 
of  Douay  College;  Rishton,  lib.  3,  De  Schismate  Angl.  in  fine;  and  Bridge- 
water’s  Concertatio,  fol.  204;  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; C.R.S.,  v. 

Ill 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1586 


NICHOLAS  WOODFEN,  alias  WHEELER, 

Priest.* 

This  gentleman,  whom  Mr.  Stow  czWsDevereux^  from  the  name 
by  which  he  was  arraigned  and  condemned,  was  known  at  the 
College  by  the  name  of  Woodfen,  but  his  true  name  was  Nicholas 
Wheeler.  He  was  a native  of  Lemster  or  Leominster^  in  Hereford- 
shire, and  performed  his  studies  at  Doway  and  Rhemes,  was  made 
priest  at  Rhemes  the  25th  of  March  1581,  said  his  first  Mass  on  the 
5th  of  April  following,  and  was  sent  upon  the  mission  on  the  30th 
of  June.  We  have  just  now  heard  his  character  from  Mr.  Rishton 
and  Dr.  Bridgewater,  and  how  he  was  put  to  death  with  Mr.  Traii- 
sham  for  being  made  priest  by  Roman  authority,  and  remaining  in 
this  kingdom  contrary  to  the  statute  of  Elizabeth  27.  What  follows 
is  a copy  of  a relation  penned  by  an  ancient  missioner,  his  school- 
fellow. 

‘ Mr.  Nicholas  Devereux,  priest,  executed  at  Tyburn,  was  born  at 
Lemster,  a town  in  Herefordshire,  in  the  Marches  of  Wales,  with  whom 
I was  schoolfellow  in  Lemster,  and  then  he  was  called  Nicholas 
Wheeler,  and  held  for  one  of  the  best  scholars  in  the  school;  whom 
from  that  time  I did  never  see,  until  he  had  taken  holy  orders  beyond 
the  seas,  and  returned  into  England.  Coming  to  London  after  his 
return,  he  was  driven  to  great  necessity;  and  learning  that  I was 
entertained  by  Sir  Thomas  Tresham's  lady,  who  lived  in  Tuttle  Street, 
in  Westminster  (Sir  Thomas  Tresham,  her  husband,  being  prisoner 
[for  his  religion]  at  Hogsdon  [or  Hoxton,]  beyond  London),  he 
came  to  an  inn  thereby  and  sent  me  a letter.  I came  unto  him,  who 
declared  unto  me,  the  tears  standing  in  his  eyes.  That  he  had  neither 
money  to  buy  him  any  meat,  nor  scarce  any  clothes  upon  his  back. 
I pitied  his  case,  comforted  him,  and  gave  him  such  money  as  I had 
then  present,  and  afterwards  acquainted  him  with  Catholics  in 
London;  and  by  the  help  of  Mr.  Francis  Brown,  the  old  Lord  Mon- 
tague's brother,  I got  him  apparel,  and  furnished  him  in  such  sort 
as  he  took  a chamber  in  Fleet  Street,  near  the  Conduit,  at  one  Barton, 
a haberdasher’s  house,  and  did  much  good  among  the  gentlemen 
of  the  Inns  of  Court,  and  went  in  a gown  as  one  of  them,  where  he 
went  by  the  name  of  Woodfen.  But  Norris,  the  pursuivant,  ferreted 

* Ven.  Nicholas  Woodfen,  alias  Wheeler. — From  the  Douay  Diary, 
and  from  a Manuscript  in  my  hands,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Davis,  an  intimate 
acquaintance  of  Mr.  Woodfen;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.,  I.  ii. 

II2 


1586] 


NICHOLAS  WOODFEN 


him  out,  and  forced  him  from  thence.  After  that  he  came  to 
Hogsdon  to  me,  where,  the  next  day  after  his  coming,  he  fell  into  the 
like  danger;  for  the  house  was  beset  and  searched  by  two  pursuivants, 
who,  to  be  the  more  sure  of  their  prey,  brought  with  them  the  owner 
or  landlord  of  the  house;  who,  finding  a certain  door  closed  up,  told 
Sir  Thomas  of  it,  who  said  it  was  true,  that  because  his  serving  men 
lay  in  that  chamber  and  his  son  in  the  next  chamber,  to  the  end  that 
his  men  should  not  have  access  to  his  son,  he  barred  up  that  door; 
wherein,  indeed,  the  secret  place  was  devised,  which  saved  us  both 
at  that  time;  but,  as  our  Saviour  said,  Nondum  venit  hora  mea^  so 
his  hour  was  not  yet  come,  until  falling  the  third  time  into  the  pur- 
suivant’s hands,  he  was  executed  at  Tyhurn^  January  21,  1586,  by 
the  name  of  Nicholas  Devereiix.  He  was  a man  of  a fine  complexion 
of  body,  affable  and  courteous,  and  therefore,  I think,  he  won  the 
more  love.’  So  far  Mr.  Davis. 

On  the  20th  of  April  following  we  find  two  more  priests  executed 
together  at  Tybnrn,  of  whom  thus  writes  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Annals: — 
William  Thompson,  alias  Blackburn,  made  priest  at  Rhemes,  and 
Richard  Lee,  alias  Long,  made  priest  at  Lyons,  in  France,  and  remain- 
ing here  contrary  to  the  stati||;e,  were  both  condemned,  and  on  the 
20th  of  April  drawn  to  Tyburn,  and  there  hanged,  bowelled,  and 
quartered.’ 


RICHARD  SERGEANT,  alias  LONG,  and 
WILLIAM  THOMSON,  alias  BLACKBURN, 

Priests, 

Richard  sergeant,  who  sometimes  screened  himself 
under  the  names  of  Lee  and  Long,  was  born  in  Gloucestershire . 
of  a gentleman’s  family,  and  was  an  alumnus  and  priest  of 
the  English  College  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  though  he  received  the 
order  of  priesthood,  according  to  Mr.  Stow,  at  Lyons.  He  was  a 
man  of  learning;  and  after  he  had  for  some  time  laboured  with  fruit 
in  gaining  souls  to  Christ,  was  apprehended,  cast  into  prison,  tried 
and  condemned,  barely  for  being  a priest,  and  remaining  in  the 
kingdom  contrary  to  the  statute  of  27  Elizabeth. 

* Ven.  Richard  Sergeant,  alias  Long,  and  William  Thomson,  alias 
Blackburn. — From  the  Diaries  and  Catalogues  of  Martyrs  of  Douay  College, 
and  from  a Manuscript  Flistory  kept  in  the  same  College,  of  affairs  relating 
to  the  Catholics  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by  Dr.  Champney ; 
Lives  of  E.  M.;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

II3 


H 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1586 


And  William  Thomson  ^ sometimes  known  by  the  name  of  Black- 
burn^ born  in  the  parish  of  Blackburn,  in  Lancashire,  alumnus  and 
priest  of  the  same  College,  after  many  labours  in  the  vineyard  of  his 
Lord,  in  administering,  in  the  midst  of  dangers,  the  holy  sacraments 
to  Catholics,  and  reclaiming  heretics  from  the  way  of  perdition,  was 
in  like  manner  apprehended,  tried,  and  condemned,  for  having  been 
made  priest  by  the  authority  of  the  See  Apostolic,  and  remaining  in 
England  contrary  to  the  statute.  They  were  both  drawn  together 
to  Tyburn,  and  there  happily  finished  their  course,  being  hanged, 
bowelled,  and  quartered,  April  20,  1586. 

This,  or  the  next  month,  we  find  two  more  priests  of  the  same 
College  executed  for  the  same  cause  in  the  Isle  of  Wight.  These 
were — 


ROBERT  ANDERTON  and  WILLIAM 
MARSDEN,  Priests,* 

Robert  ANDERTON,  bom  of  an  honourable  family  in  the 
county  palatine  of  Lancaster,  and  William  Marsden,  born  in  the 
parish  of  Goosenar , in  the  same  county,  both  performed  their 
studies  in  the  College  of  Rhemes,  and  Mr.  Anderton  in  particular 
has  the  character  in  the  manuscript  history  of  having  been  a man 
of  great  learning — Vir  doctissimus.  Being  advanced  to  the  dignity 
of  priesthood,  they  were  together  sent  over  to  labour  in  the  vine- 
yard ; but  going  on  shipboard,  whilst  they  were  sailing  for  some  other 
part  of  the  kingdom,  a storm  arising,  drove  them  upon  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  where,  being  suspected  to  be  priests,  they  were  apprehended 
and  carried  before  a justice  of  the  peace,  and  upon  examination,  they 
not  denying  their  character,  were  committed  to  prison.  When  they 
were  brought  upon  their  trial,  they  made  it  appear  that  they  were 
cast  upon  shore  against  their  will,  and  had  not  remained  in  the 
kingdom  before  their  commitment  the  number  of  days  mentioned 
in  the  statute,  and  therefore  could  not  be  guilty  of  the  treason,  or 
liable  to  the  punishment  of  that  statute.  But  this  plea,  how  just 
soever,  was  overruled,  and  they  were  found  guilty  by  their  jury, 
and  had  sentence  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  and  this  barely 
for  their  being  priests,  made  by  authority  derived  from  Rome,  and 

* Ven.  Robert  Anderton  and  William  Marsden. — Fom  the  Diaries, 
Catalogues,  and  Manuscript  History  above  quoted;  C.R.S.,  v. ; Lives  of 
E.  M.;  Acts  of  E.  M. 

I14 


1586] 


FRANCIS  INGOLBY 


coming  over  into  this  kingdom.  In  consequence  of  this  sentence, 
they  were  executed  in  the  Isle  of  Wight  on  the  25th  of  Aprif  accord- 
ing to  a manuscript  catalogue  kept  in  Doway  College^  which  I believe 
to  be  the  same  as  was  drawn  up  by  order  of  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon 
to  be  presented  to  the  Pope.  The  constancy  and  cheerfulness  with 
which  these  two  holy  confessors  offered  themselves  to  the  worst 
of  deaths,  and  their  behaviour  on  this  occasion,  gave  great  edification 
to  the  Catholics  and  astonishment  to  their  adversaries. 


FRANCIS  INGOLBY,  Priest,^ 

Francis  INGOLBY^  was  son  of  sir  WUUam  higolby,  Knight. 
He  was  born  at  Ripley,  in  Yorkshire;  was  an  alumnus  and  priest 
of  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes,  and  was 
ordained  and  sent  upon  the  English  mission,  an7io  1584.  Fie  laboured 
with  great  fruit  in  the  northern  parts  of  this  kingdom  in  the  worst 
of  times,  where  at  length  he  was  apprehended,  tried,  and  condemned, 
barely  for  being  a priest  ordained  by  authority  derived  from  the  See 
of  Rome,  and  remaining  in  this  kingdom.  He  suffered  at  York  on 
the  3d  June  1586. 


JOHN  FINGLOW,  or  FINGLEY,  Priest.f 

JOHN  FINGLOW,  or  FINGLEY,  was  born  at  Barneby,  near 
Houden,  in  Yorkshire;  had  his  education  in  the  Ei^glish  College, 
then  residing  at  Rhemes,  where  he  was  ordained  priest,  March  25, 
being  Easter  Eve,  1581,  and  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  the 
24th  of  April  following.  After  many  labours  in  gaining  souls  to 
Christ  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  kingdom,  he  was  apprehended  and 
committed  to  York  Jail;  and  being  brought  upon  his  trial,  was  con- 
demned of  high  treason,  for  being  a priest  made  by  Roman  authority, 
and  for  having  reconciled  some  of  the  Queen’s  subjects  to  the 
Church  of  Rome.  He  was  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered  at  York, 
August  8,  1586.  Some  say  1587.  He  suffered,  says  Molanus,  with 

* Ven.  Francis  Ingolby,  or  Ingleby. — From  the  Douay  Diary,  Catalogues, 
and  Champney’s  Manuscript  History;  Acts  of  E.  M.  ; Lives  of  E.  M.  ; 
Troubles,  iii;  Camm,  Forgotten  Shrines. 

t Ven.  John  Finglow,  or  Fingley. — From  the  Diary,  Catalogues,  and 
Manuscript  History  above  quoted ; Lives  of  E.  M. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1586 


that  generous  courage  which  seems  to  have  been  natural  to  the 
Seminarists  from  the  very  beginning,  and  with  an  ardent  zeal  for  the 
confirmation  of  religion.  Ingenita  seminaristis  jam  inde  ah  initio 
generositate  et  ardore  in  religione  confirmarida. 


JOHN  SANDYS,  Priest.^ 

JOHN  SANDY'S  was  born  in  the  diocese  of  Chester^  was  educated 
in  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes,  where  he  was 
made  priest,  and  sent  upon  the  English  mission,  anno  1584. 
After  having  for  some  time  diligently  applied  himself  to  his  mis- 
sionary functions,  he  was  apprehended,  tried,  and  condemned  for 
being  a priest,  and  was  drawn,  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered  at 
Gloucester,  August  the  nth  (some  say  the  2d),  1586. 

In  October  following  I find  three  priests  executed  together  at 
Tyburn,  of  whom  thus  writes  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Chronicle: — ‘The 
8th  of  October,  John  Lowe,  J.  Adams,  and  Richard  Dibdale,  being 
before  condemned  for  treason  in  being  made  priests  by  authority 
of  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  were  drawn  to  Tyburn,  and  there  hanged, 
bowelled,  and  quartered.’ 


JOHN  LOWE  and  JOHN  ADAMS,  Priests.f 

JOHN  LOWE  was  born  at  London,  and  was  for  some  time  a 
Protestant  minister,  but  being  converted,  he  went  abroad,  and 
was  first  an  alumnus  of  Doway  College,  and  afterwards  sent  from 
Dozvay  to  Rome  in  1576,  where  he  was  made  priest, and  from  thence 
returned  upon  the  English  mission.  Here  he  was  apprehended  and 
cast  into  prison,  and  at  length  tried,  condemned,  and  executed  as  in 
cases  of  high  treason,  barely  for  his  priestly  character  and  functions. 
He  suffered  at  Tyburn,  October  8,  1586. 

John  Adams  was  born  at  Martin's  Town,  in  Dorsetshire,  and  per- 
formed his  divinity  studies  in  the  English  College,  then  residing  at 
Rhemes,  from  whence  he  was  sent  priest  unto  the  mission,  anjio  1581 . 

* Ven.  John  Sandys. — From  Diary,  Catalogues,  and  Manuscript  His- 
tory ; Lives  of  E.  M. 

t Ven.  John  Lowe  and  John  Adams. — From  the  Douay  Memoirs  above 
quoted ; Lives  of  E.  M.  . 

I16 


1586] 


RICHARD  DIBDALE 


He  was  one  of  those  priests  that  were  banished  in  1585;  and  upon 
that  occasion  returned  to  the  College,  but  after  a short  stay  went 
again  into  the  vineyard,  where  he  was  again  apprehended.  Other 
particulars  relating  to  him  I have  not  found,  only  Molaniis  signifies 
that  his  constancy  was  proof  against  the  artifices  and  promises  by 
which  many  sought  to  divert  him  from  his  generous  resolution  of 
laying  down  his  life  for  his  faith.  Multorum  elusis  artibuSy  qui 
constantiam  de  more  Catholicorum  variis  promissis  mollire  conantur. 

He  was  condemned  barely  for  being  a priest,  and  was  executed 
at  Tyburn  y October  8,  1586. 


RICHARD  DIBDALE,  Priest  * 


Richard,  or,  as  he  is  called  in  most  catalogues,  Robert  Dibdaley 
was  born  in  Worcestershire y was  an  alumnus  and  priest  of  the 
English  College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes y and  from  thence, 
anno  1584,  was  sent  to  labour  in  the  English  vineyard,  which  he 
diligently  cultivated  for  some  years,  till,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
persecutors,  he  was  tried  and  condemned  to  die  for  his  priestly 
character  and  functions,  and  in  consequence  of  this  sentence  was, 
together  with  Mr.  Lowe  and  Mr.  Adams y drawn  to  Tyburn y and  there 
hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered,  October  8,  1586. 

Of  him  thus  writes  Mr.  DavieSy  an  ancient  missioner,  in  a manu- 
script relation  sent  over  to  Dowayy  anno  1626 : — ‘ Mr.  Richard  DibdalCy 
priest,  was  executed  with  Mr.  John  Lowe.  I met  him  once  at  Sir 
George  Peckham's  of  Denhamy  beside  Uxbridgey  where  he  practised 
the  office  of  an  exorcist ; for  there  were  three  persons  bewitched  and 
possessed — two  maids  and  one  man.  Out  of  one  of  the  maids  he 
brought  forth  a great  needle  at  her  cheek,  and  two  rusty  nails  and 
pieces  of  lead : her  name  was  Afin  Smith.  The  other  was  called  Eidy 
who,  after  the  apprehension  of  Mr.  Dibdaley  became  concubine  to 
Bancrofty  called  Archbishop  of  Canterbury y and  had  a child  by  him, 
as  I have  heard.  I left  him  there  upon  Ascension  Evey  and  coming 
to  London  y I was  apprehended  by  Newal  and  Worseleyy  two  pur- 
suivants, on  Ascension  Day  in  the  morning,  saying  my  prime,  bound 
and  sent  to  the  Compter  in  Wood  Street y and  two  gentlemen  that 
were  taken  with  me;  the  third  gentleman,  who  brought  me  a missal, 
escaping  by  giving  the  pursuivants  The  same  Mr.  Dibdale  1 


* Ven.  Richard  Dibdale. — From  the  same  Memoirs,  and  from  a Manu- 
script in  my  hands. 


I17 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1586 


also  met  twice  or  thrice  at  the  old  Lord  Vaux^s  house,  who  then 
lived  at  London.  More  of  him  I cannot  say  of  my  own  knowledge.’ 

Of  the  same  Mr.  Dihdale  and  his  exorcisms,  thus  writes  the 
learned  and  pious  Diego  de  Yepez  confessor  to  Philip  II.,  King  of 
Spain ^ and  Bishop  of  Tarrasona^  in  his  Spanish  History  of  the 
Persecution  of  England^  1.  2,  chap.  13  : — ‘ Wonderful,’  says  he,  ‘ were 
the  things  that  happened  in  the  exorcisms  of  certain  persons  possessed 
by  the  devil,  made  by  Mr.  Dibdale,  priest,  who  was  since  martyred, 
and  by  others,  in  the  house  of  a certain  Catholic,  where  many 
persons  of  distinction  met,  with  great  profit  to  their  souls,  to  see 
and  hear  things  far  exceeding  the  forces  of  human  nature,  which 
obliged  them  to  reverence  the  works  of  God,  and  the  virtue  and 
power  which  Christ  our  Lord  has  bequeathed  to  the  ministers  of 
His  Church.  The  martyr  Dihdale  obliged  the  devil  to  bring  up  by 
the  mouth  of  one  of  the  possessed  persons  balls  of  hair  and  pieces  of 
iron,  and  other  such  like  things,  which  it  was  impossible  could  ever 
naturally  have  gone  into,  or  afterwards  have  come  out  of,  a human 
body.  The  devils  also,  upon  this  occasion,  told  what  relics  of  the 
saints  each  one  had  privately  brought  with  him,  and  obeyed  the 
prayers  and  exorcisms  of  the  Church,  confessing  and  declaring  to 
their  own  confusion  the  virtue  which  the  sign  of  the  cross,  holy 
water,  and  relics  (as  well  of  the  ancient  saints  as  of  those  that  suffer 
in  these  days  in  EnglaJid  for  the  Catholic  faith)  have  against  them. 
All  which,  though  some  incredulous  and  hardened  heretics  slighted, 
yet  others  that  were  not  so  much  biassed  by  passion,  but  more 
reasonable,  were  convinced  by  the  evidence  of  what  they  saw,  and 
thereupon  renounced  their  errors.’  So  far  this  prelate. 

The  same  author,  in  this  and  the  following  chapters,  relates 
several  other  remarkable  histories  which  happened  in  these  times 
of  persons  possessed  by  the  devil.  As  of  a young  man  in  Derby- 
shire ^ who  being  a Catholic  in  heart,  to  save  his  worldly  substance 
(for  he  was  rich),  outwardly  conformed  to  the  established  religion, 
and  received  the  Protestant  communion;  which  he  had  no  sooner 
done  but  he  fell  into  a great  trouble  of  mind,  followed  by  strange 
fits,  which,  as  it  was  not  long  after  plainly  discovered,  proceeded 
from  an  evil  spirit  possessing  him.  Also  of  another  young  man  in 
Hampshire ^ to  whom  the  like  happened  upon  his  going,  though  but 
once,  to  the  Protestant  church.  He  was  delivered  by  a Catholic 
priest,  a prisoner  for  his  faith,  who,  having  reconciled  him  by  con- 
fession, and  given  him  the  holy  communion,  sent  him  home  perfectly 
cured,  giving  him  withal,  as  a defence  against  the  devil,  the  cassock 
of  another  priest  who  had  suffered  martyrdom  a little  before ; ‘ which,’ 

118 


1586] 


RICHARD  DIBDALE 


says  my  author,  ‘ the  young  man  kept  with  great  reverence  and 
devotion,  and  showed  it  to  the  person  who  related  this  history  to 
me;  and  he  is  living  at  this  day,  with  great  edification  to  all  that 
know  him.’  He  relates  also  of  a third  person,  a student  of  Oxford, 
who  was  strangely  obsessed  by  the  devil,  frequently  persuading  him 
to  make  away  with  himself.  His  friends  would  have  it  that  he  was 
mad,  and  sent  him  to  Bedlam.  After  some  time,  by  means  of  a 
Catholic  gentleman,  who  recounted  this  history  to  my  author,  he 
was  by  degrees  convinced  of  the  errors  in  which  he  was  brought  up, 
and  reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church;  and  having  made  a general 
confession,  and  received  the  holy  communion,  was  perfectly  cured 
both  in  soul  and  body.  But  returning  to  the  University,  that  he 
might  not  lose  his  place  which  he  enjoyed  before  in  his  college,  he 
concealed  his  being  a Catholic,  and  went  to  the  Protestant  service, 
which  he  had  no  sooner  done  but  the  devil  returned  again,  molesting 
him  as  before;  and  shortly  after  he  hanged  himself  in  despair.  A 
fourth  history,  which  the  same  author  gives  from  the  testimony  of 
his  English  friends,  is  of  one  Mr.  Bridges,  a student  of  the  Middle 
Temple,  who,  being  possessed  by  the  devil,  was  brought  to  Mr.  Fox, 
the  Protestant  martyrologist,  to  be  delivered  by  his  prayers.  His 
friends  at  first  imagined  that  he  was  actually  delivered,  and  published 
aloud  the  success  of  the  preacher  as  a confirmation  of  their  religion ; 
but  they  were  quickly  undeceived,  and  the  young  gentleman  was 
found  to  be  worse  than  ever.  They  carried  him,  therefore,  again 
to  Mr.  Fox;  but  instead  of  their  finding  him  in  a condition  to  deliver 
others,  he  appeared,  by  all  symptoms,  to  be  possessed  himself, 
though  his  friends,  desirous  to  disguise  the  matter,  gave  another 
turn  to  the  strange  agitations  they  saw  in  him,  attributing  them  to  a 
temptation  of  despair,  from  the  great  sense  he  had  of  his  own  sins 
and  of  God’s  justice. 

On  the  26th  of  March  (some  say  the  25th)  of  this  or  the  foregoing 
year,  for  authors  are  divided  about  the  time,  Mrs.  Margaret  Clithero, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Middleton,  a gentlewoman  of  a good  family  in 
Yorkshire,  was  pressed  to  death  at  York.  She  was  prosecuted  under 
that  violent  persecution  raised  in  those  times  by  the  Earl  of  Hu7it- 
ingdoji.  Lord  President  of  the  North.  The  crime  she  was  charged 
with  was  relieving  and  harbouring  priests.  She  refused  to  plead, 
that  she  might  not  bring  others  into  danger  by  her  conviction,  or 
be  accessory  to  the  jurymen’s  sins  in  condemning  the  innocent,  and 
therefore,  as  the  law  appoints  in  such  cases,  she  was  pressed  to  death. 
She  bore  this  cruel  torment  with  invincible  patience,  often  repeating 
in  the  way  to  execution.  That  this  way  to  heaven  was  as  short  as 

119 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1586 


any  other.  Her  husband  was  forced  into  banishment.  Her  little 
children,  who  wept  and  lamented  for  their  mother,  were  taken  up, 
and  being  questioned  concerning  the  articles  of  their  religion,  and 
answering  as  they  had  been  taught  by  her,  were  severely  whipped; 
and  the  eldest,  who  was  but  twelve  years  old,  was  cast  into  prison. 
Her  life  was  written  by  the  reverend  and  learned  Mr.  John  Mushy 
her  director,  who,  after  many  years’  labouring  with  great  fruit  in 
the  English  mission,  after  having  suffered  prisons  and  chains,  and 
received  even  the  sentence  of  death  for  his  faith,  died  at  length  in 
his  bed  in  a good  old  age  in  1617. 

In  this,  also,  or  the  foregoing  y Robert  Bicker  dike  y gentleman, 

was  executed  at  York  for  religious  matters,  October  8, — “ one  manu- 
script says  July  23.”  He  was  born  at  Low  Hally  in  Yorkshire y and 
suffered  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  for  being  reconciled,  says  this 
manuscript,  to  the  Church  of  Romey  and  refusing  to  go  to  the  Pro- 
testant church. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ralph  Fishery  in  a manuscript  relation  which  I 
have  in  my  hands,  recounts  the  following  particulars  of  him: — 
‘ Robert  Bicker  dike  y gentleman,  was  born  in  Yorkshirey  near  to  the 
town  of  Knaresboroughy  but  his  dwelling  was  in  the  city  of  Yorky 
who  being  brought  before  the  magistrate  there  for  matters  of  con- 
science and  religion,  was  examined,  among  other  things,  if  the  Pope 
or  his  agent,  the  King  of  Spain y should  invade  Eriglandy  whether  he 
would  take  the  Queen’s  part  or  the  Pope’s  ? To  this  Mr.  Bicker- 
dike  did  make  answer:  If  any  such  thmg  came  to  pasSy  he  would  then 
do  as  God  should  put  him  in  mind.  Upon  this  answer  he  was  first 
arraigned  at  the  Lotidon  Hall  of  the  city  of  treason,  but  the  jurors, 
being  men  of  conscience,  found  him  not  guilty.  • Whereupon  the 
judge,  being  grieved  that  he  was  freed  by  the  jury,  caused  him  to 
be  removed  from  the  gaol  or  prison  of  the  city  to  the  Castle,  and 
there  again  indicted  him  of  the  aforesaid  treason,  and  by  a new  jury 
he  was  found  guilty  of  treason.  And  the  judge,  whose  name  was 
Rhodes  y gave  sentence.  That  he  should  be  hanged  y dr  awn  y and 
quartered;  and  so  constantly  he  suffered  according  to  the  same 
sentence,  which  was  for  that  he  would  do  as  God  should  put  him 
in  mind.’ 

On  the  I St  of  December  of  this  same  year,  1586,  Richard  Langley  y 
Esq.,  born  at  Grinthorpy  in  Yorkshirey  was  executed  at  York  for 
harbouring  and  assisting  priests. 

This  year  also,  as  I find  in  an  ancient  catalogue,  John  Harrison y 
priest,  of  the  College  of  RhemeSy  died  in  chains,  obiit  in  ‘cinculis.  He 
was  ordained  and  sent  upon  the  mission  in  1585. 

120 


1587]  THOMAS  PILCHARD— EDMUND  SYKES 

[1587] 

In  the  beginning  of  this  year,  viz.^  February  8,  1587,  Mary 
Queen  of  Scotland  and  Dowager  of  France  was  beheaded  at  Fother- 
ingay  Castle  in  Northamptonshire^  after  an  imprisonment  of  eighteen 
years.  As  her  constancy  in  the  Catholic  religion  was  the  chief  cause 
of  her  death,  whatever  might  otherwise  be  pretended,  so  is  she 
usually  reckoned  amongst  those  who  suffered  for  religion. 


THOMAS  PILCHARD,  Priest.^ 

Thomas  pilchard  was  bom  at  Battle,  in  Sussex,  and 
educated  in  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes, 
where  he  was  made  priest,  and  sent  upon  the  mission,  anno  1 583 . 
Here  he  was  for  some  time  an  unwearied  labourer  in  the  vineyard  of 
his  Lord,  till,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  he  was  com- 
mitted to  prison,  and  banished  in  1585;  but  returning  upon  the 
mission,  he  was  again  apprehended,  tried,  and  condemned  for  being 
a priest  ordained  beyond  the  seas  by  authority  of  the  See  Apostolic, 
and  for  exercising  his  functions  in  England,  and  for  reconciling  the 
Queen’s  subjects. 

He  was  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  at  Dorchester,  March  21. 


EDMUND  SYKES,  Priest.f 

Edmund  SYKES  was  bom  at  Leeds,  in  Yorkshire,  and  educated 
in  the  English  College,  then  residing  in  Rhemes,  where  I find 
him,  by  the  Doway  Journals,  to  have  been  made  priest  the  21st 
of  February  1581,  and  sent  upon  the  mission  the  5th  of  June  the 
same,  year.  After  having  laboured  with  fruit  for  several  years  in 
the  vineyard,  he  was  apprehended  some  time  in  or  before  the  year 
1585,  and  was  one  of  those  priests  that  were  sent  into  banishment 
that  year.  He  quickly  returned  again  into  Engla7id,  and  after  some 
time  was  taken  again.  Of  this  second  imprisonment  thus  writes 

* Ven.  Thomas  Pilchard. — From  the  Douay  Journals  and  Catalogues, 
and  the  Manuscript  History  of  Dr.  Champney;  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Acts  of 
E.  M.;  Morris,  Troubles,  ii.;  The  Month  (May,  1911). 

t Ven.  Edmund  Sykes. — From  the  same  Journals,  Catalogues,  and 
Manuscript;  see  also  Troubles,  iii.;  Foley,  iii.  and  vi.;  Acts  of  E.  M. 

I2I 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1586 


Dr.  Champney,  in  the  manuscript  annals  of  Queen  Elizabeth  pre- 
served in  Doway  College: — ‘ Edmund  Sykes,  born  of  honest  parents 
in  the  town  of  Leeds,  priest  of  the  College  of  Doiiay,  after  some  years 
fruitfully  employed  in  the  vineyards  of  the  Lord,  being  appre- 
hended, was  thrust  into  a most  strait  and  very  troublesome  prison, 
in  which,  by  the  experience  of  sufferings,  he  acquired  the  virtue  of 
patience  and  learned  to  die.  For  he  endured  most  grievous  con- 
flicts, not  only  from  the  world  and  the  flesh,  but  also  from  the  prince 
of  darkness  himself.  For  the  other  Catholics,  who  were  kept 
prisoners  in  the  same  gaol,  though  not  in  the  same  room,  heard  in  his 
room  a noise  as  it  were  of  one  that  was  disputing  and  contending 
with  him,  whom  he  rebuked  and  rejected  with  contempt;  and  when 
afterwards  they  asked  him  what  was  the  matter,  he  told  them.  That 
the  devil  had  been  there  to  trouble  and  7nolest  him,  and  to  tempt  and 
urge  him  to  renounce  his  religion.  Afterwards  being  brought  to  the 
bar,  and  arraigned  for  high  treason,  for  being  made  priest,  and 
returning  into  England,  and  there  remaining,  contrary  to  the  statute, 
he  acknowledged  the  matter  of  fact  [of  his  being  made  priest,  &c.,] 
but  absolutely  denied  there  was  any  guilt  or  treason  in  the  case. 
Fle  had  sentence  to  die,  according  to  which  he  was  hanged,  bowelled, 
and  quartered  at  York,  March  23.’  I have  before  me  a manuscript 
catalogue  of  martyrs  which  refers  his  death  to  the  following  year. 


ROBERT  SUTTON,  Priest.^ 

Robert  SUTTON  was  bom  at  Burton  upon  Trent,  and  brought 
up  in  the  University  of  Oxford,  where  he  made  a great  progress 
in  learning;  but  withal  was  strongly  entangled,  to  use  the 
expression  of  the  Doway  Journal,  in  the  snares  of  the  heretics,  and 
of  the  world,  till,  by  an  extraordinary  mercy  of  God,  being  frequently 
called  upon  by  the  letters  of  his  friends  from  Doway,  he  took  a 
generous  resolution,  together  with  his  brother  Abraham,  who  was 
in  the  same  case,  to  disengage  himself  from  all  these  bands,  and 
leaving  his  station  in  the  Protestant  Church,  to  go  over  to  Doway, 
where  he  and  his  brother  were  admitted,  March  24,  1576-77.  Here 
they  applied  themselves  to  the  study  of  divinity,  and  were  both  made 
priests,  and  sent  together  upon  the  English  mission  the  19th  of 

* Ven.  Robert  Sutton. — From  the  same  Journals;  Manuscript  Annals, 
and  other  Memoirs  of  the  College ; see  also  Foley,  Records,  iii. ; Acts  of  E.  M.  ; 
Lives  of  E.  M. 


122 


586] 


ROBERT  SUTTON 


March  1577-78,  before  the  College  was  removed  to  Rhemes.  Mr. 
Robert  Sutton's  labours  seem  to  have  been  chiefly  employed  in  his 
own  county  of  Staffordshire.  And  he  has  the  character  in  the 
manuscript  annals  of  having  been  a man  full  of  zeal  and  piety,  who 
laboured  for  many  years  with  great  success  in  bringing  back  the  lost 
sheep  to  the  fold  of  Christ.  Both  he  and  his  brother  Abraham 
were  of  the  number  of  those  priests  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
persecutors  and  were  banished  in  1585.  They  both  returned  to 
their  apostolic  labours,  and,  after  some  time,  Mr.  Robert  Sutton 
being  again  apprehended,  was  committed  to  Stafford  Jail;  and 
being  brought  upon  his  trial,  was  condemned  by  the  statute  of  the 
27th  of  Elizabeth,  for  being  a priest  and  remaining  in  this  realm. 
He  had  sentence  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  and  suffered 
accordingly  at  Stafford,  Preserving,  says  Molanus,  a sound  sold  in  a 
mangled  body,  and  overcoming  the  cruelty  of  the  executioners  by  Christian 
patience.  He  suffered,  according  to  the  m.anuscript  annals  and 
other  authors,  some  time  in  March,  though  the  larger  Doway  cata- 
logue says  the  27th  of  July.  I have  at  present  before  me  a letter 
written  from  Englandhy  Mr.  Jo/m  Cleaton,  an  eye-witness,  concerning 
a person  possessed  by  a furious  devil,  who  was  wonderfully  delivered 
by  the  relics  of  Mr.  Robert  Sutton. 

Abraham  Sutton,  his  brother,  lived  till  the  reign  of  YAngJ antes  I., 
and  was  one  of  those  priests  who,  being  prisoners  in  the  beginning 
of  that  reign,  were  sent  into  perpetual  banishment  in  1605. 


STEPHEN  ROUSHAM,  Priest.^ 

STEPHEN  ROUSHAM  was  born  in  Oxfordshire,  and  brought 
up  in  the  University  of  Oxford,  where  he  was  for  some  time  a 
minister  in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary's.  Being  converted  to  the 
Catholic  faith,  he  went  abroad,  and  was  made  priest  in  the  English 
College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  and  from  thence  was  sent  upon  the 
mission,  anno  1582.  He  was  but  indifferently  learned,  says  the 
manuscript  history,  and  of  a weak  and  sickly  constitution  of  body, 
but  his  soul  was  robust,  vigorous,  and  constant.  He  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  persecutors  the  same  year,  and  was  sent  a prisoner  to 

* Ven.  Stephen  Rousham,  or  Rowsham. — From  the  Journals  of  Douay 
College;  the  Diary  of  things  transacted  in  the  Tower  from  1580  to  1585;  the 
Catalogue  of  Martyrs ; and  Dr.  Champney’s  INIanuscript  Annals  of  Queen 
Elizabeth ; see  also  Warford’s  Relation  ; Acts  of  E.  M.  ; Lives  of  E.  M. 

123 


MEAIOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1587 


the  Tower  by  Secretary  Wahingham  on  the  19th  of  May;  and,  not 
long  after,  thrust  down  into  that  dungeon  which  is  called  Little  Ease, 
and  it  very  well  deserves  the  name.  In  this  wretched  hole  this 
servant  of  God  was  kept  eighteen  whole  months  and  thirteen  days. 
His  sufferings  during  his  imprisonment  were  great,  but  God  was 
not  wanting  in  His  comforts  and  heavenly  visits  to  this  holy  soul 
that  was  suffering  for  His  cause.  ’Tis  particularly  recorded  of  him 
in  the  manuscript  annals,  that  on  the  very  day  and  hour  when  Mr. 
Ford,  Mr.  Shert,  and  Mr.  Johnson,  his  familiar  acquaintance  (whom 
he  had  hoped  to  have  accompanied),  were  glorifying  God  by  suffering 
at  Tyburn  for  their  faith,  Mr.  Rousham  being  then  in  his  lonesome 
dungeon,  perceived  a most  sweet  and  most  pleasant  light,  and  felt, 
at  the  same  time,  three  gentle  strokes  on  his  right  hand,  as  it  were 
to  bespeak  his  attention  to  the  glorious  triumphs  of  his  companions ; 
and  that  another  time,  when  he  was  daily  looking  to  be  called  out  to 
his  trial,  in  order  to  undergo  the  same  kind  of  death,  he  had  an 
indication  from  heaven  that  his  time  was  not  yet  come,  but  that  he 
was  to  say  many  Masses  more  before  his  death.  He  was  sent  into 
banishment  in  1585;  but  his  ardent  zeal  of  the  salvation  of  souls, 
which  in  his  banishment  became  greater  every  day  than  other,  and 
the  desire  he  had  to  glorify  God  by  martyrdom,  did  not  suffer  him 
to  stay  long  before  he  returned  again  upon  the  English  mission,  where, 
whilst  he  was  diligently  applying  himself  to  his  functions,  he  was 
apprehended  in  the  house  of  a widow  lady  called  Strange,  and  carried 
away  to  Gloucester  Jail;  and  at  the  next  assizes  was  brought  to 
the  bar,  and  arraigned  for  being  made  priest  beyond  the  seas,  and 
returning  into  England,  and  making  it  his  business  there  to  reconcile 
the  Queen’s  subjects  to  the  Catholic  Church.  All  this  he  freely  con- 
fessed; but  so  far  from  acknowledging  any  guilt,  much  less  any 
treason  in  the  case,  he  openly  protested.  That  if  he  had  many  lives, 
he  would  most  willingly  lay  them  all  dow7i  for  so  good  a cause.  When 
sentence  was  pronounced  upon  him  according  to  the  usual  form  as 
in  cases  of  high  treason,  the  joy  that  he  showed  on  that  occasion 
was  admired  by  all. 

He  suffered  with  wonderful  constancy  at  Gloucester'  some  time 
this  year.  Writers  are  not  agreed  about  the  day  nor  the  month. 
Some  say  it  was  in  March,  others  in  July. 


124 


1587]  JOHxN  HAMBLEY— ALEXANDER  CROW 


JOHN  HAMBI.EY,  Priest.^ 


JOHN  HAMBLEY  was  a native  of  the  diocese  of  P^xeter^  and  an 
alumnus  and  priest  of  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  , 
Rhemes,  from  whence  he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission,  anno 
1585.  I have  not  been  able  to  find  many  particulars  relating 
to  his  life  or  death;  only  that  he  was  apprehended,  tried,  and  con- 
demned upon  the  statute  of  the  27th  of  Elizabeth  as  a priest,  and  had 
sentence  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason.  He  had  both  his  life 
and  a good  living  proffered  him  if  he  would  conform  to  the  Pro- 
testant religion,  as  Molanus  testifies,  p.  14;  but  he  rather  chose  to 
die  than  to  renounce  his  faith.  He  suffered  with  a wonderful 
constancy,  says  Dr.  Champney's  manuscript  history  of  the  reign  of 
Queen  Pllizaheth;  who,  with  some  others,  affirms  that  he  was  executed 
at  York,  September  the  9th.  But  Father  Wilson  and  Molanus,  in 
their  printed  Catalogues,  tell  us  that  he  suffered  at  Chard,  which  is  a 
town  of  Somersetshire , on  the  confines  of  Dorsetshire  and  Devonshire . 
Molanus  says  it  was  on  the  20th  of  July. 

Those  who  affirm  that  Mr.  Ilambley  suffered  at  York,  September 
9th,  give  him  for  companion  in  death  Mr.  Ceorge  Douglas,  a secular 
priest  of  the  Scottish  nation,  who  was  certainly  executed  at  York 
that  day,  not  precisely  for  being  a priest,  but  for  persuading  the 
Queen’s  subjects  to  the  Catholic  religion;  for  which  supposed 
treason  he  was  condemned  to  die,  and  was  drawn,  hanged,  and 
quartered  at  York,  suffering  all  with  admirable  constancy.  Molanus 
calls  him  a priest  of  Doway  College;  but  this  circumstance  is  not 
found  in  any  other  catalogue,  nor  have  I met  with  his  name  in  the 
Journals  of  the  College. 


ALEXANDER  CROW,  Priest.f 


^EXANDER  CROW  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  and  for  some 


time  followed  a trade  in  York.  ‘ But  going  beyond  the  seas. 


^ ^ out  of  his  zeal  to  God  and  his  country,’  says  my  manuscript, 

‘ he  fell  to  his  studies  at  Rhemes,  and  became  a priest,  being,  both 
for  his  said  zeal  and  virtue,  well  esteemed  of  by  his  superiors,  and 

* Ven.  John  Hambley. — From  the  Douay  Journals  and  the  Cataloj?ue 
of  the  Martyrs;  see  also  Warford’s  Relation;  C.R.S.,  v. ; jAves  of  E.  M. 

t Ven.  Alexander  Crow. — From  the  Journals  of  Douay  College;  from 
Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript  Annals  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  another  Manu- 
script in  my  hands  by  one  that  knew  him;  and  from  the  History  of  the  Per- 
secution of  England,  by  Yepez;  see  also  Warford’s  Relation  ; Troubles,  iii. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1587 


by  them  sent  in  an  orderly  mission  into  England  for  the  salvation 
of  souls,  [anno  1584.]  After  he  had  laboured  here  some  time, 
with  much  edification  to  all  that  knew  him,  he  was  taken  at  South 
Diiffield,  coming  thither  to  christen  a child  of  one  Cecily  Gar7iet; 
and  at  the  assizes  held  at  York  in  November  was  arraigned  and  con- 
demned for  being  a priest,  and  remaining  in  England  contrary  to 
the  laws  of  the  realm.  He  was  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  at 
York^  the  30th  November  1586,’  [according  to  this  relation;  but 
Yepez,  Wilson,  Molanus,  Raissius,  and  the  manuscript  annals,  say 
1587,]  being  about  the  age  of  thirty- five. 

The  manuscript  annals  give  this  short  account  of  Mr.  Crow, 
anno  Eliz.  29 : — ‘ On  the  30th  day  of  the  month  of  November,  Alex- 
a7ider  Crow,  a priest  of  Doway  College,  after  he  had  strenuously 
laboured  in  those  difficult  times  in  gathering  together  the  sheep  of 
Christ  that  had  been  scattered,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  wolves, 
stoutly  laid  down  his  life  for  Christ  and  His  sheep,  being  put  to 
death  at  York  in  the  like  manner  as  the  other  martyrs  above  men- 
tioned.’ 

But  the  Bishop  of  Tarrasona,  in  his  history  above  quoted,  has 
something  very  remarkable  relating  to  Mr.  Crow  which  we  must 
not  omit.  His  words  are  as  follow: — ‘ Another  thing,  not  less 
worthy  of  notice,  happened  to  a priest  of  the  Seminary  of  Rhemes, 
named  Alexander  Crow,  in  the  year  1587.  This  priest  and  soldier 
of  Jesus  Christ  was  a prisoner  in  York  Castle,  where,  after  much  ill 
treatment,  he  received  sentence  of  death;  whereupon  he  began  to 
be  exceedingly  comforted,  and  to  show  so  great  joy  in  the  court  that 
all  that  were  present  took  notice  of  it;  and  returning  to  the  prison 
(where  he  was  lodged  with  another  Catholic),  he  could  not  contain 
himself  all  that  day,  so  great  was  the  satisfaction  he  conceived  by 
thinking  that  he  was  to  die  the  next  morning.  When  the  night  came, 
and  the  time  of  going  to  bed,  he  told  the  other  Catholic,  To  take  his 
rest;  but  for  my  part,  said  he, /or  this  one  night  which  remains  of  life, 
I am  willing  to  watch  in  prayer  with  Christ  our  Lord.  And  when  the 
other  Catholic  insisted  that  either  the  Father  should  come  to  bed 
also,  or  should  admit  him  to  bear  him  company  in  his  watching,  he 
would  not  consent,  but  bid  him.  Go  to  bed  arid  leave  him  alone. 
The  Catholic  submitted,  and  went  to  bed,  and  the  priest,  lighting 
a taper  that  was  there,  and  setting  it  upon  the  stool,  knelt  down,  and 
began  to  enter  into  very  quiet  prayer,  as  his  companion  took  notice, 
who  remained  awake  to  see  what  passed. 

‘ After  an  hour  of  silent  prayer,  the  Father  began  to  speak  as  if 
he  were  holding  a colloquy,  and  by  little  and  little  to  enter  into  a 

126 


1587] 


ALEXANDER  CROW 


heat,  so  that  his  voice  began  to  change  like  a man  that  was  disturbed. 
At  length,  getting  up,  he  went  to  the  bed  where  his  companion  lay, 
and  touching  him  with  his  hand,  asked  him  if  he  was  asleep;  his 
companion  answered.  No.  The  priest  begged  of  him  then  that  he 
would  recommend  him,  to  the  best  of  his  power,  to  our  Lord,  because 
he  stood  in  need  of  his  prayers.  So  he  returned  again  to  his  place, 
and  began  in  the  same  manner  to  be  troubled  as  before,  giving  signs 
in  his  exterior  of  being  in  great  anguish,  and,  as  it  were,  out  of 
himself,  till  at  length  he  put  out  with  his  own  hand,  like  a man  in 
anger,  the  taper  that  was  burning  by  him.  With  all  this  his  trouble 
did  not  cease,  but  he  still  continued,  as  it  were,  in  a conflict  and 
agony,  sometimes  speaking  low,  and  begging  the  assistance  of  our 
Lord  and  the  Saints,  at  other  times  raising  his  voice  as  one  angry 
and  in  a rage ; and  this  lasted  for  the  space  of  half  an  hour  after  he 
had  put  out  the  light,  whilst  the  poor  gentleman  in  bed  was  not  a 
little  terrified  at  seeing  and  hearing  what  passed,  and  begged  of 
our  Lord  as  well  as  he  was  able  to  deliver  him  from  this  affliction, 
for  he  plainly  perceived  that  he  was  in  a conflict. 

‘ At  length  he  saw  him  coming  towards  the  bed,  reciting  with 
much  joy  the  psalm,  Laudate  Dominum  de  Coelis,  Praise  ye  the 
Lord  in  the  heavens,  &c.,  continuing  it  to  the  end;  and  then,  as  one 
inebriated  with  an  abundance  of  consolations,  he  broke  out  into 
other  praises  of  our  Lord  God,  admiring  His  unspeakable  mercies 
and  Plis  divine  sweetness  towards  the  children  of  men.  He  set 
himself  down  on  the  bed  by  his  companion,  not  having  been  able 
for  many  days  to  lift  his  feet  up  from  the  ground  for  the  great  weight 
of  the  bolts  and  chains,  and  remained  as  one  asleep  for  a quarter 
of  an  hour;  but  at  length  he  broke  out  again  into  the  praises  of 
God,  and  asked  his  companion.  If  he  had  not  been  frightened.  The 
gentleman  answered,  He  had,  and  withal  begged  of  him.  That  he 
would  tell  him  what  was  the  meaning  of  that  great  noise  and  of  those 
cha72ges  and  alterations  he  had  discovered  that  night.  The  priest 
answered.  That  though  as  to  his  own  part  it  would  signify  little  to 
relate  it,  yet,  as  it  might  he  of  some  comfort  to  the  Catholics  to  know 
what  had  passed,  he  woidd  tell  him  the  whole  matter. 

‘ After  a while,  said  he,  that  I had  been  in  quiet  prayer,  my  flesh 
began  to  creep  upoji  me  and  my  hair  to  stand  on  end,  and  I perceived 
myself  quite  changed,  and  on  a sudden  I saw  before  my  eyes  a most 
ugly  monster  which  began  to  terrify  me,  and  when  I least  looked  for 
it  assaulted  me  with  these  words:  Thou  thinkest  to-morrow  to  be  a 
martyr,  and  to  go  straight  to  heaven;  but  I assure  thee  it  will  not  be 
so,  for  I know  thou  art  condemned  to  hell,  and  that  the  sentence  is 

127 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1587 

passed  against  thee  in  God’s  tribunal,  which  cannot  be  recalled.  And 
to-morrow,  though  thou  shalt  be  drawn  to  the  gallows,  thou  shalt 
not  be  executed,  but  they  will  keep  thee  two  years  longer  in  prison 
with  these  bolts  and  chains  which  thou  hast  on,  and  will  give  thee 
only  two  morsels  of  black  bread  and  a little  water  every  day,  and 
thou  shalt  be  abhorred  by  all,  and  shalt  lead  the  most  miserable  life 
that  ever  man  led  upon  earth.  Therefore  that  thou  mayest  be 
delivered  from  so  great  sufferings  it  will  be  better  for  thee  at  present 
to  put  an  end  to  thy  life  by  a knife  or  a halter,  and  not  to  wait  for 
to-morrow.  And  though  I shook  him  ojf,  said  the  Father,  many 
times  ^ answering  what  God  put  in  my  mind^  he  never  left  off  importuning 
me^  and  whatever  way  I turned  my  eyes,  he  placed  himself  always  before 
me,  giving  me  intolerable  trouble  with  his  horrid  figure.  And  when  I 
extinguished  the  light,  it  was  that  I might  no  longer  see  so  frightful  a 
sight;  but  he  still  continued  terrifying  and  molesting  me  very  much, 
and  the  conflict  went  on  still  ina^easing,  till  our  merciful  Lord,  taking 
pity  of  my  weakness,  sent  me  succour  from  heaven.  And  this  was, 
that  at  the  time  when  I found  myself  in  the  greatest  straits,  I sazv  a 
great  light  come  in  at  the  door  with  two  persons , who,  as  I believe,  were 
our  Lady  and  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  who  by  their  presence  gave  me 
unspeakable  comfort;  and  then  the  monster  that  had  troubled  me  began 
to  draw  back  and  tremble;  and  one  of  them  said  to  him.  Begone  from 
hence,  thou  cursed  creature  ! thou  hast  no  part  in  this  servant  of 
Christ,  who  will  shed  his  blood  to-morrow  for  his  Lord,  and  will 
enter  into  his  joy.  Immediately  the  monster  disappeared,  and  they 
likewise,  leaving  me  so  full  of  consolation  that  I cannot  express  it. 
Upon  this,  I came  with  great  joy  of  heart  and  canticles  of  praise  in  my 
mouth,  and  sat  me  down  here  in  the  manner  that  you  saw,  not  being 
sensible  whether  I was  on  the  ground  or  in  bed,  in  heaven  or  in  earth. 
This  one  thing  I beg  of  you  for  Christ’s  sake,  that  you  do  not  speak 
one  word  of  this  to  any  one  till  you  see  my  race  finished,  and  till  I am 
delivered  of  the  burden  of  the  flesh.  Having  said  this,  they  both 
glorified  our  Lord,  and  so  continued  till  the  morning,  discoursing 
together  with  great  satisfaction  of  heavenly  things,  &c. 

‘ But  the  impudent  enemy  was  not  contented  with  having  failed 
in  this  first  attempt,  but  returned  again  to  persecute  this  soldier  of 
Christ,  who  being  now  upon  the  ladder  at  the  gallows  in  profound 
prayer,  before  the  hangman  had  put  the  rope  about  his  neck,  the 
devil,  envying  the  happiness  with  which  God  rewarded  His  servant, 
and  the  consolation  that  He  gave  him  in  prayer,  flung  him  down  off 
the  ladder;  but  yet  he  received  no  manner  of  hurt,  though  the  fall 
was  very  high  and  with  great  violence,  as  it  appeared  to  the  standers 

128 


1588] 


ALEXANDER  CROW 


by.  This  gave  occasion  to  the  heretics  that  were  there  to  cry  out, 
That  the  Papist  was  in  despair,  and  that  he  wanted  to  kill  himself. 
But  the  Father  mounted  the  ladder  again,  and  told  them  with  a great 
serenity  of  countenance  and  of  heart,  smiling,  It  is  not  as  you  think, 
my  brethren,  that  I had  a mind  to  kill  ?nyself,  but  it  was  the  enemy  who 
wanted  to  rob  me  of  this  glorious  death,  and  out  of  envy  flung  me  off 
the  ladder,  and  this  is  not  the  first  time  that  he  has  sought  to  deprive 
7ne  of  the  crown  which  God  gives  me,  who  has  permitted  him  to  do 
what  he  has  done  in  your  presence  that  you  might  know  how  little  he 
is  able  to  do;  for  how  much  soever  he  has  sought  it,  he  has  not  been  able 
to  do  me  any  hurt  either  in  soul  or  body,  neither  can  he  do  any  hurt  to 
the  servants  of  God  more  than  their  Lord  is  pleased  to  permit  for  their 
greater  good.  And  upon  this  occasion,  speaking  more  at  large  and 
with  greater  liberty  to  the  people,  he  delivered  many  things  of 
edification,  exhorting  them  to  the  Catholic  faith ; and  passing  through 
the  usual  course  of  the  ordinary  butchery,  he  gloriously  finished  his 
career,  and  went  to  enjoy  his  God  for  ever.’ 

This  year,  1587,  I find  in  the  Doway  Memoirs  mention  of  two 
others,  the  one  a priest,  the  other  a secular  gentleman,  both  some 
time  members  of  Doway  Gollege,w)\o  perished  in  prison  for  religious 
matters.  The  priest  was  Martin  Sherton;  the  gentleman’s  name 
was  Gabriel  Thimbleby. 

This  year  also  about  thirty  priests  were  committed  prisoners  to 
Wisbeach  Castle  in  Cambridgeshire.  Several  had  been  sent  thither 
in  the  foregoing  years,  but  most  of  these  being  dead,  the  whole 
number  of  prisoners  there  at  this  time  were  thirty-three  priests  and 
one  lay  gentleman,  viz.,  Thomas  Pounds,  Esq.,  a zealous  Catholic,  and 
great  sufferer  for  his  faith. 


[ 1588.  ] 

NICHOLAS  GARLICK,  Priest.* 

Nicholas  GARLICK,  says  Mr.  Bagshaw,  ‘ was  descended 
of  honest  parentage,  in  a little  town  called  Dinting,  in  Glossop- 
dale,  within  the  county  of  Derby,  and  was,  for  the  space  of 
seven  years,  schoolmaster  at  Tidswell  (in  the  same  county),  so  well 
discharging  his  duty  therein,  that,  by  his  good  and  most  charitable 

* Ven.  Nicholas  Garlick. — From  the  Journals  or  Diary  of  Douay 
College ; from  the  Catalogue  of  Martyrs  drawn  up  by  orders  of  the  Bishop 
of  Chalcedon  in  1626;  from  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript  History  of  the 

129  I 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


care  he  had  of  his  scholars,  as  if  they  had  been  his  own  children,  he 
caused  three  of  them  to  take  the  same  venture  and  most  happy 
course  that  he  himself  did,  viz.^  to  go  over  to  the  English  College 
then  at  Rhemes,  who  were  all  made  priests,  and  returned  to  their 
country  with  happy  success,  by  increasing  servants  of  God  unto 
their  mother  the  Catholic  Church;  whereof  one,  called  Christopher 
Buxton,  was  martyred,  [October  i,  1588,]  at  that  memorable  place 
of  our  former  saints  of  England,  Canterbury.' 

Mr.  Garlick  was  made  priest,  as  appears  by  the  Dozvay  Journal, 
in  the  latter  end  of  March  1582,  and  was  sent  upon  the  English 
mission,  January  25,  1582-3.  How  long  he  laboured  here  before 
his  first  commitment,  I have  not  found ; but  certain  it  is  that  he  was  a 
prisoner  in  1585,  and  was  one  of  those  priests  who  were  sent  into 
banishment  that  year.  Upon  this  occasion  he  made  a short  visit  to 
his  mother  College,  where  he  arrived  October  17,  but  on  the  19th  of 
the  same  month  he  set  out  again  for  England  in  the  company  of  Mr. 
John  Harrison,  priest,  who  afterwards  suffered  in  the  same  cause. 
Mr.  Garlick's  missionary  labours  seem  to  have  been  in  his  own 
county  of  Derbyshire,  where  he  was  apprehended  some  time  between 
the  Lent  and  summer  assizes,  1588,  together  with  Mr.  Robert  Liidlam, 
who  was  afterwards  his  companion  in  death.  They  were  taken  in 
the  house  of  Mr.  John  Fitzherbert,  by  George  Earl  of  Shrewsbury , 
and  committed  to  Derby  Jail,  where  they  found  Mr.  Richard 
Sympson,  who  had  been  condemned  in  the  Lent  assizes  before  for 
being  a priest,  but  was  reprieved,  as  it  was  commonly  apprehended 
and  spoken,  because  he  either  actually  had  gone  to  the  Protestant 
church  and  service,  or  had  made  promise  or  given  hopes  he  would 
so  do.  Him  these  two  confessors  of  Christ  encouraged  in  such 
manner  that  he  did  not  only  repent  him  of  his  act  or  promise,  but, 
as  we  shall  see  by-and-by,  suffered  death  with  them  at  the  summer 
assizes,  being  within  one  fortnight,  or  a little  more,  after  the  im- 
prisonment of  the  said  Mr.  Garlick  and  Mr.  Ludlam. 

At  these  assizes  ‘ these  two  glorious  men,’  says  Mr.  Broughton' s 
manuscript,  ‘ with  much  constancy  and  Christian  magnanimity, 
without  the  least  sign  of  fear  or  dismay,  professing  themselves  to 
be  Catholic  priests,  greatly  rejoicing  in  that  sacred  calling  and 


reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  from  two  other  Manuscript  relations  in  my 
hands — the  one  sent  over  by  Mr.  Robert  Bagshaw,  priest,  some  time  scholar 
to  Mr.  Garlick,  the  other  by  the  Rev.  and  learned  Mr.  Richard  Broughton, 
Vicar-General  of  the  northern  parts,  penned  by  one  that  was  present  at 
the  execution  of  Mr.  Garlick  and  his  two  companions ; see  also  Foley,  Records, 
iii. ; Lives  of  E.  M. 


130 


1588] 


ROBERT  LUDLAM 


functions,  were  condemned  to  the  terrible  death  of  drawing,  hanging, 
and  quartering,  for  being  of  that  holy  religion  and  profession,  and 
were  thereupon,  after  many  hard  usages,  cruelly  put  to  death  at  the 
said  town  of  Derby ^ July  24,  1588.’ 

They  were  all  three  drawn  together  on  hurdles  to  the  place  of 
execution,  where,  when  they  were  arrived,  it  seem.s  Mr.  Sympson 
was  to  have  gone  first  up  the  ladder,  but  whether  he  shewed  on  this 
occasion  some  signs  of  fear,  as  Dr.  Champney's  manuscript  signifies, 
or  whether  it  was  that  Mr.  Garlick  only  apprehended  a danger  lest 
his  companion’s  courage  should  fail  him  if  he  were  to  be  the  first 
in  the  combat,  he  hastened  to  the  ladder,  and  kissing  it,  went  up 
first,  and  with  remarkable  joy  and  alacrity  finished  his  course. 


ROBERT  LUDLAM,  Priest.^ 

He  was  born  of  honest  parentage  near  Sheffield,  performed  his 
studies  abroad  in  the  English  College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes, 
where  he  was  made  priest,  and  from  thence  sent  into  England 
upon  the  mission,  anno  1582.  Mr.  Bagshaw  gives  him  this  character, 
that  ‘ for  his  modesty  and  good  life,  and  zeal  to  win  souls  to  God, 
he  was  beloved  of  all  that  love  the  Catholic  Church.’  He  was  appre- 
hended, tried,  and  condemned  at  the  same  time  and  for  the  same 
cause  as  Mr.  Garlick,  viz.,  for  being  a Catholic  priest,  and  remaining 
in  this  realm  contrary  to  the  statute,  and  he  showed  the  same  courage 
and  constancy  both  at  his  trial  and  at  his  death.  Whilst  Mr.  Garlick 
was  under  execution  Mr.  Liidlam  stood  by  with  a smiling  counten- 
ance, discovering  in  his  exterior  the  interior  joy  of  his  heart  that  he 
was  going  to  suffer  death  for  such  a cause.  When  he  was  upon  the 
ladder,  and  just  ready  to  be  cast  off,  ‘ looking  up  towards  heaven 
with  a smiling  countenance  (as  we  learn  from  an  eye-witness  of  his 
death),  as  if  he  had  seen  some  heavenly  vision  of  angels,  he  uttered 
these  his  last  words,  as  speaking  to  saints  or  angels  appearing  to  him, 
Venite,  henedicti  Dei — Come,  you  blessed  of  God.’  And  with  these 
words  he  was  flung  off  the  ladder,  and  so  went  to  enjoy  their  happy 
company. 

* Ven.  Robert  Ludlam. — From  the  same  Manuscripts,  &c. ; see  also 
Lives  of  E.  M. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


RICHARD  SYMPSON,  Priest,* 

Richard  SYMPSON,  according  to  Mr.  Bagshaw's  relation, 
was  born  in  Lancashire  of  good  and  honest  parents,  but  the 
Doway  Journal  calls  him  Eboracensis,  of  Yorkshire,  and  the 
Bishop  of  Chalcedon's  catalogue  names  the  place  of  his  birth,  viz., 
Well,  near  Ripon,  in  that  county.  ‘ He  had  been  a minister,’  says 
Air.  Bagshaw,  ‘ but,  after  knowledge  of  the  absurdity  and  falsehood  of 
his  religion,  he  became  priest,  and  used  much  preaching  in  defence 
of  the  Catholic  faith  to  win  souls.’  It  appears  from  the  Doway 
Journal  that  after  his  conversion  he  suffered  a long  and  severe 
imprisonment  in  York  for  the  Catholic  religion;  after  which,  going 
abroad,  he  was  admitted  into  Doway  College,  May  the  19th,  1577, 
and  not  long  after  made  priest  and  sent  into  England.  Here  he  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  and  was  sent  from  prison  into 
banishment  in  1585;  but  quickly  returned  again  into  the  vineyard, 
and  was  apprehended  again  a second  time,  going  from  Lancashire 
into  Derbyshire,  and  committed  to  the  county  gaol  at  Derby,  and 
there  tried  and  condemned  at  the  Lent  assizes,  1588,  for  being  a 
priest  made  by  the  authority  and  rites  of  the  Roman  Church. 

He  was  reprieved  till  the  summer  assizes,  and,  as  it  is  said,  made 
some  steps  towards  a conformity,  or  at  least  gave  some  hopes  to  the 
adversaries  of  a compliance;  but  he  was  reclaimed  by  Air.  Garlick 
and  Air.  Ludlam,  and  bitterly  repented  himself  of  this  slip,  punishing 
himself  for  it  with  fasting,  watching,  and  hair  cloth  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  which  was  but  short ; for  the  Protestants,  finding  themselves 
disappointed  of  their  hopes,  ordered  him  for  execution,  together 
with  the  other  two  whom  we  have  spoken  of.  ‘ He  suffered  with 
great  constancy,’  says  an  eye-witness,  ‘ though  not  with  such  (remark- 
able) signs  of  joy  and  alacrity  as  the  other  two.’ 

‘ Their  heads  and  quarters  were  set  upon  poles  in  divers  places 
in  and  about  the  town  of  Derby,  and  the  penner  of  this  their  martyr- 
dom (who  was  also  present  at  their  deaths),  with  two  other  resolute 
Catholic  gentlemen,  going  in  the  night  divers  miles  well  armed,  took 
down  one  of  their  heads  from  the  top  of  a house  standing  on  the 
bridge,  and  a quarter  from  the  end  of  the  bridge,  the  watchman  of 
the  town  seeing  them  (as  was  afterwards  confessed)  and  making  no 
resistance.  These  they  buried  with  as  great  decency  and  reverence 
as  they  could.  Soon  after,  the  rest  of  the  heads  and  quarters  were 
taken  away  secretly  by  others.’ 

* Ven.  Richard  Sympson. — From  the  same  Manuscripts,  &c.;  see  also 
Lives  of  E.  M. 


132 


588] 


WILLIAM  DEAN 


Of  these  three  priests,  thus  writes  the  author  of  an  ancient  ode 
or  poem,  who  seems  also  to  have  been  an  eye-witness  of  their  death : — 

When  Garlick  did  the  ladder  kiss. 

And  Sympson  after  hie, 

Methoiight  that  there  St.  Andrew  was 
Desirous  for  to  die. 

When  Ludlam  looked  smilingly, 

And  joyful  did  remain. 

It  seemed  St.  Stephen  was  standing  by. 

For  to  be  stoned  again,  8c c. 

And  what  if  Sympson  seemed  to  yield. 

For  doubt  and  dread  to  die  ; 

He  rose  again,  and  won  the  field. 

And  died  most  constantly. 

His  watching,  fasting,  shirt  of  hair  ; 

His  speech,  his  death,  and  all. 

Do  record  give,  do  witness  bear. 

He  wailed  his  former  fall. 


WILLIAM  DEAN,  Priest,  and  HENRY 
WEBLEY,  Layman  * 

WILLIAM  DEAN  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  and  was  an  alumnus 
and  priest  of  the  English  College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes, 
from  whence  he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission,  anno 
1582.  Dr.  Champney  and  Father  Ribadeneira  give  him  the  character 
of  vir  morum  gravitate  et  doctrina  conspicuus — a man  remarkably 
grave  and  learned;  but  the  iniquity  of  the  times  permitted  him  not 
to  employ  his  talents  to  the  best  advantage.  He  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  persecutors  some  time  before  1585,  and  was  one  of  those 
priests  that  were  banished  in  the  beginning  of  that  year.  He  quickly 
returned  again  to  his  missionary  labours,  and  falling  a second  time  into 
the  adversaries’  hands,  was  tried  and  condemned,  August  22,  1588, 
for  being  made  priest  by  Roman  authority,  and  remaining  in  this 
realm  contrary  to  the  statute  of  27  Elizabeth. 

It  is  here  to  be  observed  that  as  soon  as  the  Queen  and  her 

* Ven.  William  Dean. — From  the  Douay  Diary;  the  Bishop  of  Chalce- 
don’s  Catalogue;  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript;  Ribadeneira’s  Appendix 
to  Saunders’s  De  Schismate  Angl.,  c.  i.;  and  Bishop  Yepez’s  History  of  the 
Persecution  of  England ; see  also  Lives  of  E.  M. 

133 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


Council  were  delivered  from  their  apprehensions  of  the  Spa7iish 
Armada^  they  immediately  raised  a greater  persecution  than  ever 
against  the  English  Catholics,  though  no  ways  concerned  in  that 
designed  invasion.  Robert  Dudley^  Earl  of  Leicester,  the  Queen’s 
great  favourite,  and  the  capital  enemy  of  the  Catholics,  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  chief  promoter  of  those  cruelties.  By  his  instiga- 
tion a new  proclamation  was  published  against  the  Papists,  and  six 
new  gallowses  were  erected  in  and  about  London  for  the  executing 
of  them.  This  wicked  Hainan  (who  had  been  heard  to  say.  That 
he  desired  to  see  all  the  streets  of  London  washed  with  the  blood  of 
Papists)  had  drawn  up  a long  list  of  them  whom  he  particularly 
designed  for  the  butchery.  For  a prelude  of  this  tragedy,  and  for 
ths  hanselling  his  new  gallows,  ‘ on  the  26th  of  August,'  says  Mr. 
Stow  in  his  Annals,  ‘ in  the  Sessions  Hall  without  Newgate  of  London, 
were  condemned  six  persons  for  being  made  priests  beyond  the  seas, 
and  remaining  in  this  realm  contrary  to  the  statute;  four  temporal 
men  for  being  reconciled  to  the  Roman  Church,  and  four  others  for 
relieving  and  abetting  the  others.  And  on  the  28th,  William  Dean 
and  Henry  Webley  were  hanged  at  Mile's  End,  W.  Gunter  at  the 
Theatre,  R.  Morton  and  Hugh  Moor  at  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  Thomas 
Acton  at  Clerkenwell,  Thomas  Felton  and  James  Clarkson  between 
Brentford  and  Hounslow.  And  on  the  30th  of  August,  Richard 
Flower,  Edward  Shelley,  R.  Leigh,  R.  Martin,  J.  Roch,  and  Margaret 
Ward,  gentlewoman  (who  had  conveyed  a cord  to  a priest  in  Bridewell, 
by  means  of  which  he  had  made  his  escape),  were  hanged  at  Tyburn.' 

Thus  the  unhappy  Leicester  was  filling  up  the  measure  of  his 
sins  when  he  was  overtaken  by  Divine  justice,  and  carried  off  by 
death  on  the  5th  of  September,  within  a week  after  these  executions. 
However,  the  Queen,  who  was  almost  the  only  person  that  regretted 
his  death,  took  care  that  the  Catholics  should  have  no  great  reason 
to  rejoice  at  it,  when,  in  the  following  months,  she  caused  a great 
many  of  those,  whom  Leicester  had  marked  out  for  the  slaughter, 
to  be  put  to  death  in  divers  parts  of  the  kingdom.  Of  this  Leicester, 
Dr.  Heylin,  the  Protestant  historian,  in  his  History  of  the  Reformation, 
PP-  339>  34O)  gives  this  character,  ‘ That  he  was  a man  so  unappeas- 
able in  his  malice  and  insatiable  in  his  lusts,  so  sacrilegious  in  his 
rapines,  so  false  in  promises  and  treacherous  in  point  of  trust,  and 
finally,  so  destructive  of  the  rights  and  properties  of  particular 
persons,  that  his  little  finger  lay  far  heavier  on  the  subjects  than  the 
loins  of  all  the  favourites  of  the  two  last  kings.’  So  far  the  Doctor, 
who  informs  us,  in  the  same  place.  That  this  man  had  the  disposing 
of  all  offices  in  court  and  state,  and  of  all  preferments  in  the  Church,  so 

134 


1588] 


WILLIAM  GUNTER 


that  Catholics  had  little  good  to  expect  in  a reign  where  Leicester 
did  all. 

But  to  return  to  Mr.  Dean.  He  was,  on  the  28th  of  August^ 
drawn  to  Mile's  End  Green ^ and  there  executed  according  to  sen- 
tence. At  the  place  of  execution  he  was  beginning  to  speak  of  the 
cause  for  which  he  and  his  companions  were  condemned  to  die,  but 
his  mouth  was  stopped  by  some  that  were  in  the  cart,  in  such  a 
violent  manner,  that  they  were  like  to  have  prevented  the  hangman 
of  his  wages.  With  Mr.  Dean  was  executed  Henry  Webley,  a layman, 
for  having  been  aiding  and  assisting  to  him. 


WILLIAM  GUNTER,  Priest.* 

WILLIAM  GUNTER  was  born  at  Ragland^  in  Monmouth- 
shire, was  an  alumnus  and  priest  of  Doway  College  during 
its  residence  at  Rhemes,  from  whence  he  was  sent  upon  the 
English  mission,  anno  1587.  He  was  apprehended,  tried,  and  con- 
demned barely  for  his  priestly  character  and  the  exercise  of  his 
functions  in  this  realm;  and  he  was  drawn,  on  the  28th  of  August, 
from  Newgate  to  the  new  pair  of  gallows  set  up  at  the  Theatre,  and 
there  was  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered.  He  suffered,  as  did  all 
the  rest  that  were  executed  at  this  time,  with  great  constancy  and 
joy;  and  though  they  were  not  permitted  to  speak,  yet  their  very 
silence  spoke  for  them,  and  strongly  recommended  the  religion  for 
which  they  so  willingly  died. 


ROBERT  MORTON,  Priest,  and  HUGH  MOOR, 

Gentleman. f 

Robert  MORTON  was  bom  in  Yorkshire,  and  going  abroad, 
had  his  education  partly  in  the  English  College  of  Rome,  and 
partly  in  that  of  Doway,  at  that  time  residing  at  Rhemes.  In  the 
latter  he  was  promoted  to  priesthood,  and  from  thence  was  sent 
missioner  into  England,  anno  1587.  He  was  apprehended,  tried, 

* Ven.  William  Gunter. — From  the  Douay  Diary;  the  Bishop  of  Chalce- 
don’s  Catalogue ; and  a letter  of  a Missioner,  written  the  December  following, 
apud  Yepez;  see  also  Acts  of  E.  M.  ; Lives  of  E.  M.  ; C.R.S.,  v. 

t Ven.  Robert  Morton  and  Hugh  Moor. — From  the  same  Memoirs; 
see  also  Lives  of  E.  M. 

135 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


and  condemned  by  the  sanguinary  statute  of  the  27th  of  Elizabeth, 
barely  for  his  priestly  character  and  functions.  He  received  sen- 
tence of  death  on  the  26th  of  August,  1588;  and  on  the  28th  of  the 
same  month  w^as  drawn  from  Newgate  to  a new  pair  of  gallows  set 
up  in  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  and  there  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered. 
With  him  was  executed — 

Hugh  Moor,  gentleman,  born  at  Grantham,  in  Lincolnshire,  who, 
after  a Protestant  edu option,  being  reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church, 
went  abroad  to  the  College  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  and  was  for  some 
time  a student  there;  but  returning  into  England,  was  apprehended 
and  cast  into  prison,  and  after  some  time  tried  and  condemmed  for 
being  reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church,  and  going  abroad  to  a 
Romish  Seminary.  He  absolutely  refused  to  go  to  church,  for  this 
would  have  made  atonement  for  his  pretended  treason,  and  there- 
fore had  sentence  to  die,  and  was  executed  accordingly,  August  28, 
in  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields. 

Of  these  two,  and  of  all  the  others  that  suffered  at  this  time. 
Father  Rihadeneira,  in  his  Appendix  to  Dr.  Saunders's  History, 
writes  that  they  all  suffered  with  admirable  constancy  and  patience, 
yea,  with  joy  and  pleasure;  that  they  were  not  allowed,  indeed,  to 
speak  to  the  people,  because  the  persecutors  were  afraid  lest  their 
words  should  make  a strong  impression  on  the  minds  of  the  hearers 
in  favour  of  the  old  religion.  But  that  the  very  death  of  so  many 
saint-like  innocent  men  (whose  lives  were  unimpeachable),  and  of 
several  young  gentlemen,  which  they  endured  with  so  much  joy, 
strongly  pleaded  for  the  cause  for  which  they  died. 


THOMAS  HOLFORD,  alias  ACTON,  Priest  * 

Mr.  THOMAS  HOLFORD  (whom  Stow  calleth  Acton)  was 
born  in  Cheshire, hwt  in  what  place  I know  not — [the  Bishop  of 
Chalcedon' s catalogue  says  it  was  at  Aston] — his  father  being 
a minister.  I knew  him  in  Herefordshire,  where  he  was  schoolmaster 
to  Sir  James  Scudamore  of  Holm  Lacy,  that  now  is,  and  his  two 
brethren,  Mr.  Harry  and  John.  After  my  first  coming  over  into 
England,  going  unto  Hereford  city,  where  I was  born,  to  see  my 
parents,  I did  send  for  him,  and  so  dealt  with  him,  gratia  Dei  co- 
oper ante,  with  the  help  of  God’s  grace,  that  before  I knew  any- 

* Ven.  Thomas  Holford,  alias  Acton. — From  a Manuscript  Relation 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Davis;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; C.R.S.,  v. 

136 


588] 


THOMAS  HOLFORD 


thing  of  it,  he  was  gone  to  Rhemes^  [to  the  English  College,  then 
residing  there,]  where  he  received  holy  orders,  and  was  returned 
again  within  the  space  of  two  years. 

‘ Meeting  with  him  again  some  four  years  after,  I acquainted  him 
where  I lay  myself;  where,  to  his  welcome,  at  his  first  coming,  the 
house  was  searched  upon  All  Souls'  Day,  when  Mr.  Bavin  was  making 
a sermon.  The  pursuivants  were  Newall  and  Worseley,  but  we  all 
three  escaped.  After  that  he  fell  into  a second  danger,  in  the  time 
of  the  search  for  Babington  and  his  company  (of  which  tragedy  Sir 
Francis  Walsingham  was  the  chief  actor  and  contriver,  as  I gathered 
by  Mr.  Babington  himself,  who  was  with  me  the  night  before  he  was 
apprehended);  for  after  he  [Mr.  Holford]  had  escaped  two  or 
three  watches,  he  came  to  me,  and  the  next  day  the  house  where  I 
remained  was  searched,  but  we  both  escaped  by  a secret  place  which 
was  made  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs  where  we  lay,  going  into  a hay 
barn.  Which  troubles  being  passed,  Mr.  Holford  the  next  year  after 
went  into  his  own  county,  which  was  Cheshire,  hoping  to  gain  some 
of  his  friends  there  unto  the  Catholic  Church;  but  there  he  was 
apprehended  and  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of  West  Chester,  and  from 
thence  was  sent,  with  two  pursuivants  (as  I take  it)  to  London.  Who 
lodging  in  Holborn,  at  the  sign  of  the  Bell,  or  the  Exchequer  (I  do 
not  well  remember  whether),  the  good  man  rising  about  five  in  the 
morning,  pulled  on  a yellow  stocking  upon  one  of  his  legs,  and  had 
his  white  boot-hose  on  the  other,  and  walked  up  and  down  the 
chamber.  One  of  his  keepers  looked  up  (for  they  had  drank  hard 
the  night  before,  and  watched  late),  and  seeing  him  there,  fell  to 
sleep  again,  which  he  perceiving,  went  down  into  the  hall.  The 
tapster  met  him,  and  asked  him.  What  lack  you,  gentleman  ? But 
the  tapster  being  gone,  Mr.  Holford  went  out,  and  so  down  Holborn 
to  the  Conduit,  where  a Catholic  gentleman  meeting  him  (but  not 
knowing  him)  thought  he  was  a madman.  Then  he  turned  into  the 
little  lane  into  Gray's  Inn  Fields,  where  he  pulled  off  his  stocking 
and  boot  hose.  What  way  he  went  afterwards  I know  not;  but 
betwixt  ten  and  eleven  of  the  clock  at  night  he  came  to  me  where 
I lay  about  eight  miles  from  London.  He  had  eaten  nothing  all 
that  day.  His  feet  were  galled  with  gravel  stones,  and  his  legs  all 
scratched  with  briars  and  thorns  (for  he  dared  not  to  keep  the  high- 
way), so  that  the  blood  followed  in  some  places.  The  gentleman 
and  mistress  of  the  house  caused  a bath  with  sweet  herbs  to  be  made, 
and  their  two  daughters  washed  and  bathed  his  legs  and  feet,  after 
which  he  went  to  bed. 

‘ After  this  escape,  he  avoided  London  for  a time,  but  the  next 

137 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


year,  1 588,  he  came  to  London  to  buy  him  a suit  of  apparel.  At  which 
time,  going  to  Mr.  Swithin  Wells's  house,  near  St.  Andrew's  Church 
in  Holborn,  to  serve  God  (i.e.,  to  say  Mass),  Hodgkins,  the  pursuivant, 
espying  him  as  he  came  forth,  dogged  him  into  his  tailor’s  house,  and 
there  apprehended  him. 

‘ He  was  executed  on  the  28th  August  at  Clerkenwell.'  So  far 
Mr.  Davis. 


JAMES  CLAXTON,  Priest,  and  THOMAS 
FELTON,  Gentleman.* 

Mr.  JAMES  CLAXTON,  or  CLARKSON,  was  born  in 
Yorkshire,  studied  in  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at 
Rhemes,  and  was  there  made  priest ; and  from  thence  was  sent 
upon  the  English  mission,  anno  1582.  He  w^as  apprehended  and 
committed  to  prison  some  time  in  or  before  the  year  1585  ; for  he  was 
one  of  those  priests  that  were  sent  into  banishment  in  that  year. 
But  he  returned  again  to  his  missionary  labours;  and  falling  again 
into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  was  tried  and  condemned  upon 
the  statute  of  the  27th  of  Elizabeth,  for  being  a priest  and  remaining 
in  this  realm.  He  had  sentence  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason, 
and  was  executed  between  Brentford  and  Hounslow  on  the  28th  of 
August^  1588. 

‘ Thomas  Felton  was  born,’  says  my  manuscript,  ‘ about  the  year 
of  our  Lord  1567,  at  Bermondsey  Abbey,  in  the  parish  of  St.  Mary 
Magdalene,  within  a mile  of  Southwark,  London,  in  Surrey.  He  was 
son  to  John  Felton,  gentleman,  wLo  suffered  at  London  in  the  year 
1570  for  setting  up  the  bull  of  Pius  V.  concerning  the  excommunica- 
tion of  Queen  Elizabeth.  Being  yet  a young  youth,  he  w^as  taken 
by  the  old  Lady  L.ovett  to  be  her  page;  but  not  staying  there  long, he 
was  sent  over  to  the  English  College  at  Rhemes  to  be  brought  up  in 
piety  and  learning,  in  both  which  he  profited  so  much,  that  shortly 
after  he  became  a clergyman,  receiving  tonsure  at  the  hands  of  the 
Cardinal  de  Guise,  then  Archbishop  of  Rhemes,  which  was  in  the 
year  1583.  After  that  he  had  continued  a while  longer  in  the  College 
of  Rheims,  he  had  a desire  to  enter  into  the  Order  of  the  Minims, 
and  was  admitted  therein  by  the  commendations  of  Dr.  Allen,  then 
President  of  the  English  College.  But  his  body  not  serving  well  for 

* Ven.  James  Claxton  and  Thomas  Felton. — PTom  the  Douay  Records 
and  from  a Manuscript  in  my  hands  by  Mrs.  Salisbury,  sister  to  Mr.  Felton; 
see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; C.R.S.,  v. 

138 


1588]  JAMES  CLAXTON  AND  THOMAS  FELTON 


the  strictness  of  that  life,  he  was  enforced  within  a while  to  return 
to  his  native  country  for  the  recovery  of  his  health.  Being  there 
sufficiently  recovered,  and  resolving  to  return  again  beyond  the  seas, 
it  happened  that  he  was  stopped  at  the  sea  side  by  the  officers,  and 
after  examination  sent  up  to  London^  and  committed  to  the  Compter 
in  the  Poultry^  in  which  place  he  remained  prisoner  some  two  years. 
At  this  time  an  aunt  of  his,  one  Mrs.  Blount,  out  of  love  to  Thomas, 
laboured  much,  by  means  of  some  friends  she  had  at  court,  to 
procure  his  liberty,  which  was  at  length  effected.  After  his  release- 
ment,  thinking  to  pass  over  into  France,  as  formerly  he  intended,  he 
was  the  second  time  intercepted,  and  committed  to  Bridewell,  from 
whence,  after  some  time  of  durance,  he  was  released  by  the  procure- 
ment of  the  Lady  Lovett,  his  mistress  in  time  past,  then  prisoner  in 
the  Fleet  for  her  religion.  Being  a second  time  released,  he  again 
adventured  to  go  beyond  the  seas  to  the  College  of  Rhemes,  but  was 
again  the  third  time  stayed  and  apprehended  at  the  port,  and  there- 
withal committed  again  to  Bridewell,  from  whence  he  had  been 
delivered  but  a little  before. 

‘ In  this  imprisonment  he  was  very  cruelly  treated;  for,  first  he 
was  put  into  Little  Ease,  where  he  remained  three  days  and  three 
nights,  not  being  able  to  stand,  or  lie,  or  sit,  and  fed  only  with  bread 
and  water,  as  both  the  keeper’s  wife  and  Thomas  himself  afterwards 
told  Frances  Felton  (then  a maid,  but  afterwards  married  to  one 
Mr.  Salisbury),  his  own  sister.  After  this  he  was  put  into  the  mill 
to  grind,  and  was  fed  no  otherwise  all  the  while  he  laboured  in  it  than 
he  had  been  before  in  Little  Ease,  viz.,  with  bread  and  water  only. 
Then  he  was  hanged  up  by  the  hands,  to  the  end  to  draw  from  him, 
by  way  of  confession,  what  priests  he  knew  beyond  the  seas  or  in 
England,  which  punishment  was  so  grievous  that  therewith  the 
blood  sprung  forth  at  his  fingers’  ends.  At  another  time,  upon  a 
Sunday,  he  was  violently  taken  by  certain  officers  and  carried  betwixt 
two,  fast  bound  in  a chair,  into  the  chapel  at  Bridewell  to  their  service. 
He  having  his  hands  at  first  at  liberty  stopped  his  ears  with  his 
fingers,  that  he  might  not  hear  what  the  minister  said;  then  they 
bound  down  his  hands  also  to  the  chair;  but  being  set  down  to  the 
ground,  bound  in  the  manner  aforesaid,  he  stamped  with  his  feet, 
and  made  that  noise  with  his  mouth,  shouting  and  hollowing,  and 
crying  oftentimes  Jesus,  Jesus,  that  nothing  which  the  minister  said 
could  be  heard  by  any  then  present  at  the  service.  His  sister, 
Frances  Felton  afore  mentioned,  who  at  that  time  came  to  the  prison 
to  visit  him,  was  present  at  the  church  at  this  passage,  not  being  then 
a Catholic. 


139 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


‘After  this  he  was  called  to  the  bar  at  the  sessions  of  Newgate. 
The  Spanish  fleet,  making  towards  England^  having  then  newly  been 
defeated,  he  was  questioned  whether  he  would  have  taken  the 
Queen’s  part  or  the  Pope’s  and  Spaniards',  if  those  forces  had  landed. 
He  answered.  He  would  have  taken  part  with  God  and  his  country. 
Then  the  judge  asked  him  whether  he  did  acknowledge  the  Queen 
to  be  the  supreme  head  of  the  Church  of  England.  Whereunto  he 
made  answer.  That  he  had  read  divers  chronicles,  but  never  read  that 
God  ordained  a woman  should  be  supreme  head  of  the  Church.  For 
this  speech  of  his  the  judge  condemned  him.  The  next  day,  being 
Wednesday,  the  28th  of  August,  he  was  hanged  near  Brentford,  in 
Middlesex,  with  a priest  at  the  same  time  condemned  with  him, 
whose  name  was  Mr.  James  Claxton  or  Clarkson.  They  were  carried 
together  from  Bridewell  on  horseback,  about  four  of  the  clock  in 
the  afternoon,  and  presently  hanged  after  their  arrival  at  the  place 
of  execution.  He  suffered  about  the  age  of  twenty  or  twenty- one. 
His  friends  had  got  a pardon  for  him  after  his  condemnation,  which 
was  brought  to  him  immediately  before  he  was  to  go  to  the  place 
of  execution,  which,  notwithstanding,  he  refused  to  accept  of, 
choosing  rather  to  die  for  God  than  to  live  any  longer  in  this  world.’ 
So  far  the  manuscript  relation  of  Mrs.  Salisbury.  Others  say  that 
he  was  condemned  for  being  reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church. 
What  his  sister  mentions  of  his  not  accepting  the  pardon,  I suppose 
must  be  understood  by  reason  of  some  condition  with  which  this 
pardon  was  clogged,  which  he  could  not  in  conscience  accept  of. 


RICHARD  LEIGH,  Priest,=^ 

He  was  born  in  London,  and  going  abroad,  was  for  some  time 
student  in  the  College  of  Rhemes,  and  from  thence,  in  1582, 
was,  with  several  others,  sent  to  Rome,  where  he  finished  his 
studies  and  was  made  priest,  and  so  went  upon  the  English  mission. 
Here  he  was  soon  after  apprehended  and  cast  into  prison,  and  then 
sent  into  banishment;  but  he  returned  again  to  the  work  of  his  Lord, 
and  fell  a second  time  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  by  whom  he 
was  marked  out  for  the  slaughter  amongst  the  many  others  that  were 
butchered  in  this  year  of  blood.  The  Bishop  of  Tarrasona,  who  calls 
Mr.  Leigh  a learned  priest,  relates  that  being  present,  with  many 

* Ven.  Richard  Leigh. — From  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue, 
from  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript  History,  and  from  Bishop  Yepez;  see 
also  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Troubles,  ii.;  C.R.S.,  v. 

140 


1588] 


RICHARD  LEIGH 


others,  when  a Catholic  gentleman  was  examined  upon  his  religion  by 
Elmer,  the  Protestant  Bishop  of  London,  and  the  lay  gentleman  excused 
himself  from  entering  into  argument  with  his  Lordship,  upon  which 
the  prelate  began  to  triumph,  as  if  the  gentleman  could  say  nothing 
for  his  religion,  Mr.  Leigh  thought  himself  obliged  modestly  to 
offer  not  only  to  satisfy  the  queries  which  the  Bishop  had  proposed, 
but  in  all  other  points  of  religion  to  give  an  answer  to  whatever  his 
Lordship  should  think  fit  to  object.  The  Bishop,  instead  of  accept- 
ing the  offer,  called  him  a Popish  dog  and  a traitor,  and  delivered 
him  up  to  the  secular  court  for  his  mouth  to  be  stopped  with  a 
halter,  as  it  was  not  long  after;  though  this  way  of  arguing  and 
determining  controversies  appeared  not  a little  shocking  even  to  the 
Protestants  themselves  who  were  witnesses  of  it. 

Mr.  Leigh  was  condemned,  as  we  have  already  seen  from  Mr. 
Stow's  Chronicle,  on  the  26th  of  August,  1588,  for  no  other  crime 
but  for  having  been  made  priest  beyond  the  seas,  and  remaining  in  this 
realm  contrary  to  the  statute.  For  this  he  had  sentence  to  die  as  in 
cases  of  high  treason,  and  was  accordingly  executed  at  Tyburn, 
August  the  30th. 

With  Mr.  Leigh  were  executed  five  others,  viz.,  Edward  Shelley, 
gentleman,  of  the  family  of  the  Shelleys  of  Sussex;  Richard  Martin, 
Richard  Flower,  and  John  Roch,  laymen;  and  Margaret  Ward, 
gentlewoman;  some  for  being  reconciled  to  the  Church,  others  for 
abetting  and  relieving  priests.  And  as  for  Mrs.  Ward,  as  we  have 
seen  from  Mr.  Stow,  her  crime  was  conveying  a cord  to  a priest  in 
Bridewell,  by  means  of  which  he  made  his  escape.  But  of  her  we 
shall  say  more  by-and-by. 

Dr.  Champney,  in  his  manuscript  history,  relates  after  Riba- 
deneira,  1.  \,De  Schism.,  and  Bishop  Yepez,  1.  5,  chap,  i,  ‘ that  when 
these  confessors  of  Christ  were  drawn  through  the  streets  of  London 
to  Tyburn,  a gentlewoman  of  fashion,  animated  with  a zeal  and 
fortitude  above  her  sex,  crying  out  with  a loud  voice,  exhorted  them 
to  be  constant  in  their  faith ; and  then  forcing  her  way  through  the 
crowd,  and  kneeling  down,  asked  their  benediction.  Upon  which 
she  was  immediately  apprehended  and  committed  to  prison ; as  was 
also  another  Catholic,  who,  at  the  place  of  execution,  hearing  one  of 
the  confessors  earnestly  requesting  of  all  Catholics,  if  any  were  there 
present,  to  pray  for  him,  because  he  stood  in  much  need  of  their 
prayers,  and  not  thinking  it  enough  to  pray  secretly  in  his  heart,  as 
others  did,  knelt  down  before  all  the  multitude  and  prayed  aloud 
for  him,  to  the  great  encouragement  of  the  confessor,  and  great 
mortification  of  the  persecutors. 

141 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


THE  HISTORY  of  MRS.  MARGARET  WARD."= 

Mrs.  MARGARET  WARD  was  born  at  Congleton^  in  Cheshire, 
of  a gentleman’s  family,  and  was  in  the  service  of  a lady  of 
distinction  when  Mr.  Watson,  a secular  priest,  was  confined 
in  Bridewell  for  his  religion.  The  story  of  this  gentleman  is  thus 
related  by  the  Bishop  of  Tarrasona,  1.  2,  chap.  5. 

Richard  Watson  was  a priest  of  the  Seminary  of  Rhemes,  a virtuous 
and  zealous  missioner,  who  had  laboured  much  in  the  Lord’s  vine- 
yard; but  being  apprehended  and  confined  to  Bridewell,  was  at 
length,  by  force  of  torments,  and  the  insupportable  labours  and  other 
miseries  of  the  place,  prevailed  upon,  through  human  frailty,  to  go 
once  to  the  Protestant  church,  upon  which  he  was  set  at  liberty. 
But  such  was  the  remorse  he  felt  in  his  soul  after  this  sin,  that,  instead 
of  bettering  his  condition  by  being  thus  enlarged,  he  found  his  case 
far  worse,  and  the  present  torments  of  his  mind  much  more  insup- 
portable than  those  which  he  before  had  endured  in  his  body;  the 
more  because  he  had  now  lost  his  God,  whose  Divine  grace  had 
formerly  been  his  comfort  and  support;  whereas  he  now  could  find 
no  comfort  either  from  God  or  man,  but  the  heavens  were  become 
to  him  as  of  brass,  and  the  earth  as  iron. 

In  this  melancholy  condition  he  went  to  one  of  the  prisons  where 
some  others,  his  fellow-priests,  were  confined,  to  seek  for  counsel 
and  comfort  from  them;  and  here,  having  confessed  his  fault  with 
great  marks  of  a sincere  repentance,  and  received  absolution,  desiring 
to  repair  the  scandal  he  had  given  in  the  same  place  where  he  had 
sinned,  he  returned  to  the  Church  of  Bridewell,  and  there,  in  the 
middle  of  the  congregation,  declared  with  a loud  voice.  That  he  had 
done  very  ill  in  coming  lately  to  church  with  them  and  joining  in  their 
service,  which,  said  he,  you  untruly  call  the  service  of  God,  for  it  is 
indeed  the  service  of  the  devil.  He  would  have  said  much  more,  but 
was  prevented  by  the  people,  who  immediately  laid  hold  of  him, 
and  stopping  his  mouth,  dragged  him  to  prison,  where  they  thrust 
him  into  a dungeon  so  low  and  so  strait,  that  he  could  neither  stand 
up  in  it  nor  lay  himself  down  at  his  full  length  to  sleep.  Here  they 
loaded  him  with  irons,  and  kept  him  for  a whole  month  upon  bread 
and  water,  of  which  they  allowed  him  so  small  a pittance  that  it 
was  scarce  enough  to  keep  him  alive,  not  suffering  any  one  to  come 
near  him  to  comfort  him  or  speak  to  him. 

* The  History  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Ward, — From  Dr.  Champney’s  Manu- 
script and  the  Bishop  of  Tarrasona  in  his  History  of  the  Persecution’,  see  also 
Acts  ofE.  M. ; Lives  ofE.  M.  For  Richard  (really  William)  Watson  see  D.N.  B. 

142 


1588] 


MRS.  MARGARET  WARD 


At  the  month’s  end,  he  was  translated  from  this  dungeon  to  a 
lodging  at  the  top  of  the  house,  where  at  least  he  could  see  the  light, 
and  was  less  straitened  for  room;  but  the  adversaries  of  his  faith 
made  this  lodging  more  troublesome  to  him  than  the  former  by 
plying  him  continually  sometimes  wdth  threats,  sometimes  with 
prayers  and  promises,  to  engage  him  to  go  again  to  church,  and  to 
seem  at  least  outwardly,  whatever  he  might  inwardly  believe,  to  be 
of  their  religion,  so  that  their  continual  importunities  made  him 
perfectly  weary  of  his  life.  In  the  mean  time  the  Catholics,  w'ho 
heard  of  his  sufferings,  durst  not  attempt  to  come  near  him  to  succour 
or  comfort  him  for  fear  of  being  taken  for  the  persons  who  had 
persuaded  him  to  what  he  had  done,  till  Mrs.  Margaret  Ward,  a 
gentlewoman  of  a courage  above  her  sex,  undertook  to  do  it. 

She  was  in  the  service  of  a lady  of  the  first  rank,  who  then  resided 
in  London,  and  hearing  of  the  afflicted  condition  of  Mr.  Watson, 
asked  and  obtained  leave  of  her  lady  to  go  and  attempt  to  visit  and 
relieve  him.  In  order  to  this  she  changed  her  dress,  and  taking  a 
basket  upon  her  arm  full  of  provisions,  went  to  the  prison,  but  could 
not  have  leave  to  come  at  the  priest,  till,  by  the  intercession  of  the 
jailor’s  wife,  whom  Mrs.  Ward  had  found  means  to  make  her  friend, 
with  much  ado  she  obtained  permission  to  see  him  from  time  to  time, 
and  bring  him  necessaries,  upon  condition  that  she  should  be  searched 
in  coming  in  and  going  out,  that  she  might  carry  no  letter  to  him  or 
from  him;  which  was  so  strictly  observed  for  the  first  month,  that 
they  even  broke  the  loaves  or  pies  that  she  brought  him,  lest  any 
paper  should  thereby  be  conveyed  to  him;  and  all  the  while  she 
was  with  him,  care  was  taken  that  some  one  should  stand  by  to 
hear  all  that  was  said.  But  at  length,  beginning  to  be  persuaded 
that  she  came  out  of  pure  compassion  to  assist  him,  they  were  less 
strict  in  searching  her  basket,  and  in  hearkening  to  their  conversa- 
tion ; so  that  he  had  an  opportunity  of  telling  her.  That  he  had  found 
a way  by  which,  if  he  had  a cord  long  enough  for  that  purpose,  he 
could  let  himself  down  from  the  top  of  the  house  and  inake  his  escape. 

Mrs.  Ward  soon  procured  the  cord,  which  she  brought  in  her 
basket  under  the  bread  and  other  eatables,  and  appointed  two 
Catholic  watermen,  who  were  let  into  the  secret,  to  attend  with 
their  boat  near  Bridewell  between  two  and  three  o’clock  the  next 
morning,  at  which  time  Mr.  Watson,  applying  to  the  corner  of  the 
Cornish  his  cord,  which  he  had  doubled,  not  sufficiently  considering 
the  height  of  the  building,  began  to  let  himself  down,  holding  the 
two  ends  of  the  cord  in  his  hands,  with  a design  of  carrying  it  away 
with  him  after  he  had  got  down,  that  it  might  not  be  discovered  by 

143 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


what  means  he  had  made  his  escape.  But  by  the  time  he  had  come 
down  something  more  than  half  the  way,  he  found  that  his  cord, 
which  he  had  doubled,  was  not  now  long  enough,  and  he  for 
some  time  remained  suspended  in  the  air,  being  neither  able  to 
ascend  or  descend  without  danger  of  his  life. 

At  length,  recommending  himself  to  God,  he  let  go  one  end  of 
his  cord,  and  suffered  himself  to  fall  down  upon  an  old  shed  or  pent- 
house, which,  with  the  weight  of  his  body,  fell  in  with  a great  noise. 
He  was  very  much  hurt  and  stunned  by  the  fall,  and  broke  his  right 
leg  and  right  arm,  but  the  watermen  run  in  immediately  to  his 
assistance,  and  carried  him  away  to  their  boat.  Here  he  soon  came 
to  himself,  and,  feeling  the  cold,  remembered  his  coat  which  he  had 
left  in  the  fall,  which  he  desired  one  of  the  watermen  to  go  and 
bring  him.  And  when  they  were  now  advanced  in  their  way,  he 
bethought  himself  of  the  cord,  and  told  the  watermen.  That  if  they 
did  not  return  to  fetch  it,  the  poor  gentlewoman  that  had  given  it  him 
would  certainly  he  put  to  trouble.  But  it  was  now  too  late,  for  the 
noise  having  alarmed  the  jailor,  and  others  in  the  neighbourhood, 
they  came  to  the  place,  and  finding  the  cord,  immediately  suspected 
what  the  matter  was,  and  made  what  search  they  could  to  find  the 
priest,  but  in  vain;  for  the  watermen,  who  had  carried  him  off,  took 
proper  care  to  conceal  him  and  keep  him  safe  till  he  was  cured ; but 
God  was  pleased  that,  instead  of  one  who  thus  escaped  from  prison, 
two  others,  upon  this  occasion,  should  meet  with  the  crown  of 
martyrdom,  as  we  shall  now  see. 

For  the  jailor  seeing  the  cord,  and  being  convinced  that  no  one 
but  Mrs.  Ward  could  have  brought  it  to  the  prisoner,  and  having 
before  found  out  where  she  lived,  sent  early  in  the  morning  justices 
and  constables  to  the  house,  who,  rushing  in,  found  her  up,  and  just 
upon  the  point  of  going  out  in  order  to  change  her  lodgings.  They 
immediately  apprehended  her,  and  carried  her  away  to  prison,  where 
they  loaded  her  with  irons,  and  kept  her  in  this  manner  for  eight 
days.  Dr.  Champney  and  Father  Rihadeneira  add  that  they  hung 
her  up  by  the  hands  and  cruelly  scourged  her,  which  torments  she 
bore  with  wonderful  courage,  saying.  They  were  preludes  of  martyrdom, 
with  which,  by  the  grace  of  God,  she  hoped  she  should  he  honoured. 

After  eight  days  she  was  brought  to  the  bar,  where,  being  asked 
by  the  judges  if  she  was  guilty  of  that  treachery  to  the  Queen  and 
to  the  laws  of  the  realm  of  furnishing  the  means  by  which  a traitor 
of  a priest,  as  they  were  pleased  to  call  him,  had  escaped  from  justice, 
she  answered  with  a cheerful  countenance  in  the  affirmative.  And 
that  she  never  in  her  life  had  done  anything  of  which  sheTess  repented 

144 


1588] 


MRS.  MARGARET  WARD 


than  the  delivering  that  innocent  lamb  from  the  hands  of  those  bloody 
wolves.  They  sought  to  terrify  her  by  their  threats,  and  to  oblige 
her  to  confess  where  the  priest  was,  but  in  vain;  and  therefore  they 
proceeded  to  pronounce  sentence  of  death  upon  her  as  in  cases  of 
felony;  but  withal  they  told  her  that  the  Queen  was  merciful,  and 
that  if  she  would  ask  pardon  of  her  IMajesty,  and  would  promise  to 
go  to  church,  she  should  be  set  at  liberty,  otherwise  she  must  look 
for  nothing  but  certain  death. 

She  answered.  That  as  to  the  Queen ^ she  had  never  offended  her 
Majesty,  and  that  it  was  not  just  to  confess  a fault  by  asking  pardon 
for  it  where  there  was  none;  that  as  to  what  she  had  done  in  favouring 
the  priest's  escape,  she  believed  the  Queen  herself,  if  she  had  the  bowels 
of  a woman,  would  have  done  as  much,  if  she  had  known  the  ill-treatment 
he  underwent;  that  as  to  the  going  to  the  church,  she  had  for  many 
years  been  convinced  that  it  was  not  lawful  for  her  so  to  do,  and  that 
she  found  no  reason  now  to  change  her  mind,  and  would  not  act  against 
her  conscience;  and  therefore  they  might  proceed,  if  they  pleased,  to  the 
execution  of  the  sentence  pronounced  against  her,  for  that  death  for 
such  a cause  would  be  very  welcoine  to  her,  and  that  she  was  willing 
to  lay  down  not  one  life  only,  but  many,  if  she  had  them,  rather  than 
betray  her  conscience  or  act  against  her  duty  to  God  and  His  holy 
religion. 

She  was  executed  at  Tyburn,  August  30,  1588,  shewing  to 'the  end 
a wonderful  constancy  and  alacrity,  by  which  the  spectators  were 
much  moved  and  greatly  edified. 

Whilst  these  things  were  acting,  Mr.  Watson  was  under  cure 
in  the  waterman’s  house,  who,  as  soon  as  he  was  recovered,  thought 
proper  to  withdraw  further  from  danger,  and  that  he  might  be  the 
better  disguised,  changed  clothes  with  the  waterman,  who  joyfully 
accepted  the  change,  and  put  on,  with  great  devotion,  the  clothes  of 
one  whom  he  regarded  as  a confessor  of  Christ.  But  not  long  after, 
walking  in  the  streets,  he  met  the  jailor,  who  took  notice  of  the 
clothes,  and  caused  him  to  be  apprehended  and  carried  before  a 
justice  of  peace,  where,  being  examined  how  he  came  by  those  clothes, 
he  confessed  the  whole  truth,  upon  which  he  was  committed,  prose- 
cuted, and  condemned;  and  making  the  same  answers  as  Mrs. 
Ward  had  done  with  regard  to  the  begging  the  Queen’s  pardon  and 
going  to  church,  he  endured  the  same  death  with  much  spiritual 
joy  in  his  soul,  and  a constancy  which  many  admired,  and  were  very 
much  edified  by  it. 


145 


K 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


WILLIAM  WAY,  Priest.^ 

He  was  born  in  Cornwall,  had  his  education  in  Doway  College 
during  its  residence  at  Rheynes,  was  an  alumnus  and  priest  of 
that  College,  and  from  thence  was  sent  upon  the  English 
mission  in  1 586.  When  and  how  he  was  apprehended  I have  not  found, 
or  how  long  he  had  been  in  prison  before  his  execution,  or  any  other 
particulars  relating  to  him,  only  that  he  was  prosecuted  and  con- 
demned upon  the  penal  statutes  for  having  been  made  priest  beyond 
the  seas  by  Roman  authority,  and  coming  into  this  realm,  and 
remaining  here.  For  this  supposed  treason  he  was  hanged,  bowelled, 
and  quartered  at  Kingston,  in  Surrey;  some  say  on  the  ist  of  October, 
but  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon' s catalogue  says  on  the  23  d of  September; 
who  believes  him  to  be  the  same  whom  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Chronicle 
calls  Flower,  when,  writing  of  the  year  1588,  he  says:  ‘ On  the  23d 
of  September,  a seminary  priest,  named  Flower,  was  hanged,  headed, 
and  quartered  at  Kingston  ’ — though  Bishop  Yepez  and  others  speak 
of  Mr.  Flower  and  Mr.  Way  as  two  different  persons. 


ROBERT  WILCOX,  EDWARD  CAMPION,  and 
CHRISTOPHER  BUXTON,  Priests.f 

Robert  WILCOX  was  bom  at  Chester,  and  performed  his 
studies  at  Rhemes,  where  the  English  College  then  resided.  Of 
this  College  he  was  an  alumnus  and  priest,  and  from  hence 
was  sent  upon  the  mission  in  1586.  His  mission  seems  to  have  been 
in  Kent.  When  and  how  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors 
I have  not  found,  but  only  that  he  was  condemned  to  die  as  in  cases 
of  high  treason,  merely  upon  account  of  his  character  and  functions; 
and,  in  consequence  of  this  sentence,  was  hanged,  drawn,  and 
quartered  at  Canterbury . Raissius  says  it  w’as  some  time  in  September. 
Others  affirm  it  was  on  the  ist  of  October,  1588.  Mr.  Edward  Cam- 
pion and  Mr.  Buxton,  priests,  and  Mr.  Widmerpool,  a layman,  suffered 
with  him.  Mr.  Wilcox  was  the  first  who  was  called  upon  to  go  up 

* Ven.  William  Way. — From  the  Doua^'^  Diaries  and  Catalogues;  see 
also  Fives  of  E.  M. 

t Ven.  Robert  Wilcox,  Edward  Campion,  and  Christopher  Buxton. — 
From  the  same  Memoirs,  and  from  Dr.  Champney’s  IVIanuscript  History; 
see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  C.R.S.,  v. 

146 


1588] 


WILCOX,  CAMPION,  AND  BUXTON 


the  ladder,  which  he  did  with  great  cheerfulness ; and  when  he  was 
up,  turning  to  his  companions  with  a smiling  countenance,  he  bid 
them  be  of  good  heart,  telling  them.  That  he  was  going  to  heaven 
before  them,  where  he  should  carry  the  tidings  of  their  coming  after  him. 

He  suffered  with  great  constancy  and  alacrity,  to  the  great  edifica- 
tion of  the  faithful  and  confusion  of  the  persecutors. 

Edward  Campion  was  born  in  Kent,  of  a gentleman’s  family, 
was  an  alumnus  and  priest  of  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at 
Rhemes,  from  whence  he  was  sent  upon  the  mission  in  1587.  He  was 
apprehended,  prosecuted,  and  condemned  to  die,  merely  for  his 
character  and  exercising  his  priestly  functions  in  England;  and  for 
this  supposed  treason  was  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered  on  the 
same  day,  and  at  the  same  place,  with  Mr.  Wilcox,  and  with  the 
same  courage  and  cheerfulness. 

Christopher  Buxton  was  born  in  Derbyshire , and  brought  up  in 
Mr.  Gar  lick's  school  at  Tidswell,  in  that  county,  from  whence  he 
passed  over  to  the  College  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  and  there  for 
some  time  prosecuted  his  studies.  Dr.  Champney,  in  his  manuscript 
history,  with  Raissius  and  Molanus  in  their  printed  catalogues,  call 
him  a priest  of  Doway  College;  but  as  I find  not  his  name  in  the 
old  Doway  catalogue  of  those  that  were  sent  priests  from  Rhemes 
upon  the  mission,  I rather  believe  the  account  given  by  the  Bishop 
of  Chalcedon,  who  calls  him  alumnus  and  cleric  of  the  College  of 
Doway  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes,  but  priest  of  the  College  of 
Rome.  He  was  condemned  for  the  same  cause  as  Mr.  Wilcox  and 
Mr.  Campion,  viz.,  for  coming  into  England,  being  a priest,  and 
remaining  there  contrary  to  the  statute;  and  suffered  at  the  same 
time  and  place,,  and  with  the  like  courage.  He  was  the  youngest 
of  the  three,  and  was  obliged  to  stand  a spectator  of  the  barbarous 
butchery  of  his  companions;  but  when  the  persecutors,  thinking, 
perhaps,  that  his  constancy  had  been  shook  with  the  sight  of  this 
scene  of  blood,  offered  him  his  life  upon  condition  that  he  would 
conform  to  their  religion,  he  generously  answered.  That  he  woidd 
not  purchase  a corruptible  life  at  such  a rate,  and  that  if  he  had  a hundred 
lives  he  would  willingly  lay  them  all  down  in  defence  of  his  faith. 

Robert  Widmerpool,  who  suffered  at  the  same  time,  was  a gentle- 
man born  at  Widmerpool,  in  Nottinghamshire , who  was  for  some 
time  tutor  to  the  sons  of  Henry  Percy,  Earl  of  Northumberland. 
The  cause  for  which  he  was  condemned  to  die  was  his  hospitality  to 
priests,  and  in  particular,  his  having  introduced  a priest  into  the 
house  of  the  Countess  of  Northumberland.  At  the  place  of  execution 
he  with  great  affection  kissed  both  the  ladder  and  the  rope  as  the 

147 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


instruments  of  his  martyrdom;  and  having  now  the  rope  about  his 
neck,  began  to  speak  to  the  people,  giving  God  most  hearty  thanks. 
For  bringing  him  to  so  great  a glory  as  that  of  dying  for  His  faith  and 
truth  in  the  same  place  where  the  glorious  martyr  St.  Thomas  of 
Canterbury  had  shed  his  blood  for  the  honour  of  his  Divine  Majesty. 
Some  of  the  people  at  these  words  cried  out.  Away,  away  with  the 
traitor;  but  he,  not  moved  at  all  with  their  clamours,  looking  round 
him  and  recommending  himself  to  the  prayers  of  the  Catholics, 
was  flung  off  the  ladder,  and  so  happily  exchanged  this  mortal  life 
for  immortality. 


RALPH  CROKETT,  and  EDWARD  JAMES, 

Priests.* 

Ralph  CROKETT  was  bom  at  Barton  upon  the  Hill,  in 
Cheshire,  performed  his  studies  2X  Rhemes,  and  was  an  alumnus 
and  priest  of  the  College  then  residing  in  that  city,  from  whence 
he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1585.  The  particulars  of 
his  missionary  labours,  or  of  his  apprehension  and  trial,  I have  not 
found,  only  that  he  was  prosecuted  and  condemned  upon  the  penal 
statute  of  27  Elizabeth,  and  had  sentence  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high 
treason,  barely  upon  account  of  his  priestly  character  and  functions. 

He  was  drawn,  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered  at  Chichester, 
October  i,  1588. 

Edward  James  was  born  at  Braiston  [?  Beeston],  in  Derbyshire , and 
was  for  some  time  student  in  the  College  of  Rhemes,  from  whence  he 
was  sent  to  Rome  in  1588.  Here  he  was  made  priest,  and  from  hence  he 
was  sent  upon  the  English  mission.  He  was  apprehended,  prosecuted, 
and  condemned,  barely  upon  account  of  his  priestly  character,  and 
was  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered  on  the  same  day  and  at  the 
same  place  with  Mr.  Crokett. 

Their  quarters  were  set  upon  poles  over  the  gates  of  the  city, 
through  one  of  which  a Catholic  man  passing  early  in  the  morning, 
found  one  of  these  quarters  which  had  fallen  down,  which,  by  the 
size,  was  judged  to  be  Mr.  Croketfs  (he  having  been  a tall  man, 
whereas  Mr.  James  was  of  low  stature).  This  quarter  was  carried 
off  and  sent  over  to  Doway,  where  I have  seen  it. 

* Ven.  Ralph  Crokett  and  Edward  James. — From  the  Bishop  of  Chalce- 
don’s  Catalogue  and  the  Douay  Journals;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Rambler, 
N.S.,  vii.  279;  C.R.S.,  v. 


148 


1588] 


JOHN  ROBINSON 


JOHN  ROBINSON,  Priest,^ 

Mr.  ROBINSON  was  born  at  Fernsby,  in  the  North  Riding  of 
Yorkshire.  His  character  in  Dr.  Champney  is,  That  he  was 
a man  of  extraordinary  Christian  simplicity  and  sincerity;  in  a 
word^  a true  Israelite,  in  whom  there  was  no  guile.  After  having  lived 
some  time  in  the  world  in  a married  state,  becoming  a widower  by  the 
death  of  his  wife,  he  went  over  to  Rhemes,  where  the  College  then  was ; 
and  there  applying  himself  to  his  studies,  was  at  length  made  priest, 
and  sent  upon  the  mission.  He  no  sooner  came  to  England  than  he 
was  apprehended  in  the  very  port,  and  sent  up  to  London,  where, 
after  some  months’  imprisonment,  he  was  brought  to  the  bar,  and 
condemned  to  die  upon,  account  of  his  priestly  character.  Dr. 
Champney  relates  of  him  that  he  was  used  to  say.  If  he  could  not 
dispute  for  his  faith  as  well  as  some  others,  he  could  die  for  it  as  well 
as  the  best.  He  was  sent  down  to  suffer  at  Ipswich,  in  Suffolk,  where 
he  was  hanged,  bow’elled,  and  quartered,  October  i,  1588.  Concern- 
ing him  thus  writes  the  Rev.  Mr.  Haynes: — ‘ Mr.  John  Robinson,  a 
secular  priest,  being  in  the  year  1588  prisoner  in  the  Clink  at  London, 
when  the  rest  that  had  been  there  prisoners  with  him  (whom  he 
called  his  bairns,  and  they,  for  his  age  and  sincerity,  called  him 
Father)  were  for  the  Catholic  faith  sent  into  divers  parts  of  the 
kingdom  to  be  executed,  the  good  old  man,  being  left  alone,  lamented 
for  divers  days  together  exceedingly,  until  at  last  a warrant  was  sent 
from  the  Council  to  execute  him  also;  the  news  whereof  did  much 
revive  him,  and  to  him  that  brought  the  warrant  he  gave  his  purse 
and  all  his  money,  and  fell  down  on  his  knees  and  gave  God  thanks. 
Being  to  set  forward  in  his  journey,  they  willed  him  to  put  on  boots, 
for  it  was  in  winter,  and  as  far  as  Ipswich  in  Suffolk  where  he  was  sent 
to  suffer.  Nay,  said  the  good  man,  these  legs  had  never  boots  on  yet 
since  they  were  mine,  and  now  surely  they  shall  perform  this  journey 
without  boots,  for  they  shall  be  well  paid  for  their  pains. ^ 

He  left  behind  him  a son,  Francis  Robinson,  who  was  also  a priest, 
and  a true  heir  of  his  father’s  virtue. 

The  next  that  occur  in  the  catalogues  of  those  that  suffered  this 
year,  1588,  are  Mr.  Hartley  and  Mr.  Weldon,  of  whom  Mr.  Stow  in 
his  Chronicle  writes  thus: — ‘ The  5th  of  October,  J.  Weldon  and 
W.  Hartley,  made  priests  at  Paris,  and  remaining  here  contrary  to  the 

* Ven.  John  Robinson. — From  the  Douay  Catalogues;  Dr.  Champney’s 
Manuscript;  and  the  Relation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Haynes;  see  also 
Lives  of  E.  M. 


149 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1588 


statute,  were  hanged,  the  one  at  the  Mile's  End,  the  other  nigh  the 
Theatre;  and  Robert  Sutton,  for  being  reconciled  to  the  See  of  Rome, 
was  hanged  at  Clerkenwell.' 


WILLIAM  HARTLEY,  Priest,  and  ROBERT 
SUTTON,  Layman.'^ 

WILLIAM  HARTLEY  was  born  in  the  diocese  of  Lichfield, 
performed  his  higher  studies  in  the  College  of  Rhemes,  from 
whence  he  was  sent  priest  upon  the  English  mission,  anno 
1580.  Mr.  Stow  says  he  was  ordained  at  Paris,  which  may  very 
well  be,  for  the  superiors  of  the  College  had  an  indult  from  the  Pope 
to  present  their  alumni  for  holy  orders  to  any  of  the  bishops  of  the 
province  of  Rhemes  or  Sens,  one  of  which  the  Bishop  of  Paris  was 
at  that  time.  Mr.  Hartley  had  not  laboured  above  a twelvemonth 
in  the  vineyard  of  his  Lord  before  he  was  apprehended  in  the  house 
of  the  Lady  Stonor,  and  carried  prisoner  to  the  Tower,  August  the 
13th,  1581,  together  with  Mr.  John  Stonor  and  Mr.  Steven  Brinkley, 
lay  gentlemen.  Here  he  was  confined  till  September  16,  1582,  and 
then  was  translated  from  the  Tower  to  another  prison,  where  he 
remained  till  January,  1585,  when,  with  about  twenty  other  priests, 
he  was  shipped  off  into  banishment.  Upon  this  occasion  he  returned 
to  Rhemes  to  the  College;  but  after  some  short  stay  there,  set  out 
again  for  England,  being  more  afraid  of  being  wanting  to  the  cause 
of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls  than  of  a cruel  death,  which  he  was 
certain  to  look  for  if  he  fell  again,  as  most  probably  he  would,  into 
the  hands  of  the  persecutors.  In  effect,  he  was  again  apprehended 
some  time  in  or  before  the  year  1588,  and  then  brought  upon  his 
trial,  and  condemned  to  die  upon  account  of  his  priestly  character. 
He  was  executed  near  the  Theatre,  October  5,  1588,  his  mother 
looking  on,  as  Raissius  relates,  [Catalog.  Martyr.  Anglo-Duac., 
p.  52,]  and  rejoicing  exceedingly  that  she  had  brought  forth  a son 
to  glorify  God  by  such  a death. 

* Ven.  William  Hartley  and  John  Weldon. — From  the  Douay  Diary 
and  Catalogues;  from  the  Journal  of  things  transacted  in  the  Tower  from 
1580  till  1585;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M. ; Acts  of  E.  M.  ; Month,  }^.n.  1879. 
[From  these  latter  it  appears  that  Challoner‘s  list  must  be  emended  at  this 
point.  John  Weldon  is  the  assumed  name  of  John  Hewitt  mentioned  below. 
Richard  Williams  suffered  in  1592.  The  sufferer  whose  place  he  has  taken 
at  this  point  was  a layman,  one  Symonds  or  Harrison,  about  whose  life  we 
unfortunately  know  nothing. — Editor.] 

150 


588]  JOHN  HEWIT  AND  EDWARD  BURDEN 


On  the  same  day  Jo/m  Weldon^  priest  [of  the^  College  of  Doway, 
according  to  Champney  and  Molanus],  condemned  for  the  same 
cause,  was  drawn  to  Mile’s  End  GreeUy  and  there  executed.  About 
the  same  time  (some  say  the  same  day),  Richard  Williams , a venerable 
priest  who  had  been  ordained  in  Englandhtiort  the  change  of  religion, 
was  also  for  religious  matters  hanged  at  Holloway ^ near  London. 

Robert  Sutton,  layman,  suffered  on  the  same  day  at  Clerkenwell. 
The  cause  of  his  death  was  purely  his  religion,  viz.^  because  he  had 
been  reconciled  to  the  Church  of  Rome.  His  life  was  offered  him  at 
the  gallows  if  he  would  acknowledge  the  Queen’s  ecclesiastical 
supremacy,  as  I learn  from  the  copy  of  a letter  which  I have  in  my 
hands  written  by  Mr.  William  Naylor,  who  was  an  eye-witness  of  his 
death.  ‘ I saw,’  says  he,  ‘ one  Mr.  Sutton,  a layman  and  a school- 
master, put  to  death  at  Cle7'kenwell  in  London,  to  whom  the  Sheriff 
promised  to  procure  his  pardon  if  he  would  but  pronounce  abso- 
lutely the  word  all;  for  he  would  that  he  should  acknowledge  the 
Queen  to  be  supreme  head  in  all  causes  without  any  restriction ; but 
he,  [Mr.  Sutton^  would  acknowledge  her  to  be  supreme  head  in 
all  causes  temporal ; and  for  that  he  would  not  pronounce  the  word 
all  without  any  restriction,  he  was  executed.  This  I heard  and 
saw.’  So  far  Mr.  Naylor. 


JOHN  HEWITT  and  EDWARD  BURDEN, 

Priests,* 

These  two  were  both  priests  of  Doway  College  during  its 
residence  at  Rhemes.  The  former  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
adversaries  of  his  faith  whilst  he  was  as  yet  only  deacon,  and 
was  sent  into  banishment  in  1585,  but  returning  to  Rhemes,  he  was 
made  priest,  and  sent  upon  the  mission.  The  latter,  who  was  a 
native  of  the  bishopric  of  Durham,  and  educated  in  Trinity  College, 
Oxford,  was  made  priest  in  1584,  and  sent  into  England  in  1586. 
They  were  both  condemned  upon  account  of  their  priesthood,  and 
were  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered — the  former  at  Mile  End  Green 
on  the  5th  of  October,  the  latter  at  York  on  the  29th  of  November,  1588. 

This  same  year  also  William  Lampley,  layman,  suffered  at 
Gloucester  for  the  Catholic  religion. 

* Ven.  John  Hewitt,  alias  Weldon,  and  Edward  Burden. — From  the  Douay 
Diaries  and  Catalogues;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Troubles,  iii.;  C.R.S.,  v. 

151 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1589 


[ 1589-  ] 

JOHN  AMIAS  and  ROBERT  DALBY,  Priests.* 

JOHN  AMIAS  (some  call  him  Anii)  was  a native  of  Yorkshire^ 
an  alumnus  of  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes^ 
where  he  was  made  priest  the  25th  of  1581,  and  sent  upon 

the  English  mission  on  the  5th  oijune  of  the  same  year,  together 
with  Mr.  Edmund  Sykes. 

Robert  Dalby  was  a native  of  the  bishopric  of  Durham^  an  alumnus 
also  and  priest  of  the  same  College,  sent  upon  the  mission  in  1588. 
They  both  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  and  were  con- 
demned to  die  the  death  of  traitors  upon  account  of  their  priestly 
character.  They  suffered  together  at  York  on  the  i6th  of  Marche 
1588-9.  Dr.  Champney  in  his  manuscript  history  [ad  Annum 
Elizabeth  31,]  gives  the  following  account  of  them: — ‘ This  year,  on 
the  1 6th  of  March^  John  Amias  and  Robert  Dalby ^ priests  of  the 
College  of  Doway y suffered  at  York  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  for 
no  other  cause  but  that  they  were  priests  ordained  by  the  authority 
of  the  See  of  Rome^  and  had  returned  into  England^  and  exercised 
there  their  priestly  functions  for  the  benefit  of  the  souls  of  their 
neighbours.  I was  myself  an  eye-witness  of  the  glorious  combat 
of  these  holy  men,  being  at  that  time  a young  man  in  the  twentieth 
year  of  my  age ; and  I returned  home  confirmed  by  the  sight  of  their 
constancy  and  meekness  in  the  Catholic  faith,  which  by  God’s  grace 
I then  followed.  For  there  visibly  appeared  in  those  holy  servants 
of  God  so  much  meekness,  joined  with  a singular  constancy,  that 
you  would  easily  say  that  they  were  lambs  led  to  the  slaughter. 

‘ They  were  drawn  about  a mile  out  of  the  city  to  the  place  of 
execution,  where  being  arrived  and  taken  off  the  hurdle,  they  pros- 
trated themselves  upon  their  faces  to  the  ground,  and  there  employed 
some  time  in  prayer,  till  the  former,  [Mr.  Amias^'\  being  called  upon 
by  the  Sheriff,  rose  up,  and  with  a serene  countenance  walked  to  the 
gallows  and  kissed  it,  then  kissing  the  ladder,  went  up.  The  hang- 
man having  fitted  the  rope  to  his  neck,  bid  him  descend  a step  or 
two  lower,  affirming  that  by  this  means  he  would  suffer  the  less. 
He  then  turned  to  the  people,  declared.  That  the  cause  of  his  death 

* John  Amias  and  Robert  Dalby. — From  the  Douay  Diary;  the  Bishop 
of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  and  the  Manuscript  History  of  Dr.  Champney, 
who  was  an  eye-witness  of  their  death  ; see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Acts  of  E.  M.  ; 
Troubles y hi. 


152 


1589]  JOHN  AMIAS  AND  ROBERT  DALBY 


was  not  treason,  but  religion.  But  here  he  was  interrupted,  and  not 
suffered  to  go  on.  Therefore  composing  himself  for  death,  with  his 
eyes  and  hands  lifted  up  to  heaven,  forgiving  all  who  had  any  ways 
procured  his  death,  and  praying  for  his  persecutors,  he  recommended 
his  soul  to  God;  and  being  flung  off  the  ladder,  quietly  expired:  for 
he  was  suffered  to  hang  so  long  till  he  seemed  to  be  quite  dead. 
Then  he  was  cut  down,  dismembered,  and  bowelled,  his  bowels  cast 
into  a fire  that  was  prepared  hard  by  for  that  purpose,  his  head  cut 
off,  and  the  trunk  of  his  body  quartered.  All  this  while  his  com- 
panion, Mr.  Dolby,  was  most  intent  on  prayer;  who  being  called 
upon,  immediately  followed  the  footsteps  of  him  that  had  gone  before 
him,  and  obtained  the  like  victory.  The  Sheriff’s  men  were  very 
watchful  to  prevent  the  standers  by  from  gathering  any  of  their 
blood,  or  carrying  off  any  thing  that  had  belonged  to  them.  Y^et 
one,  who  appeared  to  me  to  be  a gentlewoman,  going  up  to  the  place 
where  their  bodies  were  in  quartering,  and  not  without  difficulty 
making  her  way  through  the  crowd,  fell  down  upon  her  knees 
before  the  multitude,  and,  with  her  hands  joined  and  eyes  lifted 
up  to  heaven,  declared  an  extraordinary  motion  and  affection  of 
soul.  She  spoke  also  some  words,  which  I could  not  hear  for  the 
tumult  and  noise.  Immediately  a clamour  was  raised  against  her  as 
an  idolatress,  and  she  was  drove  away;  and  whether  or  no  she  was 
carried  to  prison,  I could  not  certainly  understand.’  So  far  Dr. 
Champney . 


GEORGE  NICOLS  and  RICHARD  YAXLEY, 

Priests.* 

George  NICOLS  was  a native  of  Oxford,  and  an  alumnus 
and  priest  of  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes, 
whence  he  was  sent  upon  the  mission  in  1583.  My  author 
gives  him  the  character  of  a man  of  extraordinary  virtue  and  learning, 
and  of  a zealous  and  laborious  missioner,  who  during  the  six  years 
of  his  mission  was  the  happy  instrument,  in  the  hands  of  God,  of  the 
conversion  of  many  souls.  His  mission  was  chiefly  in  and  about 
Oxford,  where,  amongst  other  pious  adventures,  the  writers  of  his 
life  particularly  take  notice  of  the  reconciliation  of  a noted  highway- 

* Ven.  George  Nicols  and  Richard  Yaxley. — From  the  Douay  Cata- 
logues; from  Father  Ribadeneira,  in  his  Appendix  to  Dr.  Saunders;  from  the 
Bishop  of  Tarrasona’s  History  of  the  Persecution;  and  from  Dr.  Champney’s 
Manuscript ; see  also  Lives  of  E.  M. 

153 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1589 

man,  who  being  apprehended  and  committed  to  Oxford  Castle^  was, 
by  the  conversation  of  some  Catholics  who  were  prisoners  there  for 
their  religion,  brought  to  a sense  of  his  crimes,  and  a desire  of  con- 
fessing them  and  dying  in  the  Catholic  faith ; insomuch  that  he  did 
nothing  else  night  and  day  but  bewail  his  sins,  longing  for  the  hour 
when  he  might  cast  himself  at  the  feet  of  a Catholic  priest  to  confess 
them.  His  Catholic  fellow-prisoners  found  means  to  acquaint 
Mr.  Nicols  with  these  particulars,  and  failed  not  to  instruct  their 
convert  how  to  prepare  himself  for  a visit  from  this  gentleman,  who, 
on  the  very  morning  of  the  day  of  execution,  (no  opportunity  offering 
before),  came  to  the  jail,  together  with  a crowd  of  others,  whom 
curiosity  brought  to  see  this  famous  malefactor  before  his  death ; and 
passing  for  a kinsman  and  acquaintance  of  the  prisoner,  after  mutual 
salutations  he  took  him  aside  as  it  were  to  comfort  and  encourage 
him,  and  heard  his  confession,  for  which  he  had  prepared  himself 
by  spending  the  whole  night  before  in  prayers  and  tears,  and  which 
he  made  with  great  signs  of  a truly  contrite  heart ; and  having  given 
him  absolution,  he  left  him  wonderfully  comforted  and  armed  against 
the  terrors  of  death,  which  he  now  with  joy  was  ready  to  welcome. 
The  prisoner  then  declared  himself  a Catholic;  and  though  many 
persuasions  were  used  to  make  him  return  to  the  Protestant  religion, 
he  persisted  to  the  end  in  his  resolution  of  dying  in  the  old  faith,  and 
professed  under  the  gallows.  That  if  he  had  a thousand  lives ^ he  would 
ioyf idly  part  with  them  rather  than  renounce  the  Catholic  Roman  faith. 

Richard  Yaxley,  who  was  Mr.  Nicols' s companion  in  death,  was 
born  at  Boston,  in  Lincolnshire,  of  a gentleman’s  family,  and  was  also 
an  alumnus  and  priest  of  the  same  College,  and  was  sent  from 
Rhemes  upon  the  English  mission  in  1586.  He  was  by  many  years 
younger  than  Mr.  Nicols,  and  having  his  mission  in  the  same  country, 
regarded  him  as  a father.  They  were  apprehended  together  at  the 
house  of  a pious  Catholic  widow,  who  kept  the  St.  Catherine's 
Wheel  in  Oxford,  by  the  officers  of  the  University,  who  broke  in 
at  midnight  and  hurried  them  away,  together  with  Mr.  Belson,  a 
Catholic  gentleman,  who  was  come  hither  to  visit  his  ghostly  father, 
Mr.  Nicols,  and  Humphrey  ap  Richard,  the  servant  of  the  inn.  The 
next  morning  they  were  all  carried  before  the  Vice-Chancellor, 
where  several  doctors  were  assembled,  with  many  others  who  had 
the  curiosity  to  see  and  hear  the  prisoners.  Here  they  were  examined 
concerning  their  religion,  and  they  all  readily  answered.  They  were 
Catholics.  Then  they  were  farther  interrogated  if  there  were  not 
any  priest  among  them.  After  some  demur  for  fear  of  prejudicing 
any  other  persons,  Mr.  Nicols,  judging  that  it  would  be  for  the 

154 


1589]  GEORGE  NICOLS  AND  RICHARD  YAXLEY 

greater  glory  of  God  to  confess  his  character,  stoutly  said,  I confess 
that  by  the  grace  of  God  and  of  the  Holy  See  Apostolic,  I am  a priest 
of  the  true  Holy  Catholic  Roman  Church.  The  Vice-Chancellor  and 
his  assessors  from  thence  inferred  that  he  must  needs  be  a traitor 
and  withal  some  of  them  charged  him  with  blasphemy  in  taking  to 
himself  the  name  of  Priest,  which,  as  they  pretended,  belonged 
to  Christ  alone.  This  brought  on  a dispute  concerning  religion,  in 
which  Mr.  Nicols  pressed  his  adversaries  so  close,  that  the  standers 
by  appearing  not  a little  moved  with  his  arguments,  the  Vice- 
Chancellor  thought  proper  to  put  an  end  to  the  controversy  by 
sending  away  the  two  priests  to  one  prison  and  Mr.  Belson  and  the 
servant  to  another,  and  ordered  them  all  to  be  put  in  irons.  Having 
thus,  as  they  flattered  themselves,  tamed  their  spirits,  they  sent  one 
of  their  most  celebrated  divines  to  the  two  priests  to  confer  with  them 
concerning  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  But  Mr.  Nicols  managed  this 
controversy  also  so  well,  and  urged  so  home  the  plain  words  of 
Christ  in  the  institution  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  together  with  the 
current  doctrine  of  the  holy  fathers  and  of  all  antiquity,  and  the 
authority  of  the  Church  and  of  her  general  Councils,  compared  with 
the  novelty  of  the  opposite  doctrine,  the  inconstancy  and  infinite 
dissensions  of  its  teachers  and  uncertainty  what  they  would  be  at, 
that  he  stopped  the  mouth  of  his  adversary,  to  the  great  advantage 
of  the  Catholic  cause  in  the  minds  of  many  who  came  into  the 
prison  to  hear  the  dispute.  Henceforward  it  was  thought  proper 
to  let  disputing  alone,  and  to  attack  them  another  way.  Therefore, 
the  next  day  they  were  all  four  brought,  in  their  irons,  before  the 
Vice-Chancellor  and  his  Council  and  examined  again — not  now 
concerning  their  faith,  but  why  they,  being  priests,  had  presumed 
to  come  over  into  England;  how  they  had  employed  their  time  here ; 
with  whom  they  had  conversed,  and  upon  what  subjects;  what 
acquaintance  they  had  amongst  Catholics,  &c.  To  these  questions 
the  servants  of  God  answered.  That  they  came  over  upon  no  other 
errand  hut  to  win  souls  to  Jesus  Christ  and  to  teach  them  the  Catholic 
faith;  that  this  was  their  whole  business  hei'e;  and  that  they  7ieither 
knew,  nor  treated,  nor  thought  of  anything  else,  but  how  to  discharge 
this  great  duty,  though  they  were  sensible  of  the  danger  which  they 
thereby  incurred  by  the  laws;  but  they  thought  this  was  the  least  they 
could  do  for  the  honour  and  service  of  Hhn  who  had  died  for  them,  and 
for  whom  they  should  be  glad  to  sacrifice  their  lives.  But  as  for  any 
other  Catholics,  they  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to  name  any,  or 
bring  any  into  danger.  Upon  this  they  were  sent  back  to  their 
prisons,  and  the  Queen’s  Council  was  informed  of  all  that  had  passed. 

155 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1589 


Soon  after  this  an  order  came  down  from  the  Council  to  have 
the  prisoners  sent  up  to  London^  who,  pursuant  to  the  instructions 
given  from  above,  were  set  upon  Rosinantes^  with  their  hands  tied 
behind  them,  and  the  two  priests  also,  for  greater  disgrace,  with 
their  legs  tied  under  their  horses’  bellies,  and  in  this  manner  were 
conducted,  under  a strong  guard,  from  Oxford  to  London,  being 
treated  all  the  way  with  great  cruelty  by  their  guards  and  affronted 
and  abused  by  the  populace,  more  especially  when  they  came  to 
London,  where  they  were  attended  from  the  very  outskirts  of  the 
town  to  the  gate  of  the  prison  by  an  insolent  mob,  loading  them  with 
reproaches  and  injuries,  which  they  bore  with  an  invincible  patience, 
setting  before  their  eyes  the  sufferings  of  their  Redeemer.  And  to 
add  to  their  affliction,  a young  gentleman  of  the  University,  a 
graduate  in  Arts,  who  out  of  pure  compassion  had  attended  them  all 
the  way  from  Oxford,  and  afforded  them  what  service  he  could,  was, 
in  reward  of  his  charity,  taken  up  as  soon  as  he  came  to  London; 
and  whereas  the  persecutors  could  not  proceed  against  him  with  any 
colour  of  law,  they  charged  him  with  being  mad,  and  as  such  con- 
fined him  to  Bedlam,  to  be  there  treated  (as  one  that  had  lost  his 
senses)  with  low  diet,  and  to  be  beaten  into  his  senses  again;  in 
which  manner  they  kept  him  a long  time,  for  no  other  fault  but  that 
of  having  been  serviceable  to  these  servants  of  God  in  their  journey. 

After  they  had  remained  some  days  in  prison  at  London,  they 
were  carried  before  Secretary  Walsingham,  the  capital  enemy  of  the 
Catholics,  who  put  the  like  questions  to  them  as  the  Vice-Chancellor 
had  done  before;  to  which  Mr.  Nicols  would  give  no  other  answer. 
But  that  they  were  all  Catholics,  and  that  he,  for  his  own  part,  was, 
though  unworthy,  a priest  of  the  Holy  Roman  Church.  If  you  are 
a priest,  said  the  Secretary,  then  of  course  you  are  a traitor.  A 
strange  consequence,  honoured  sir,  said  Mr.  Nicols,  since  it  is  certain 
that  they  who  first  converted  England /rom  Paganism  were  all  priests. 
But  they,  said  the  Secretary,  did  not  disturb  the  nation  as  you  do, 
nor  stirred  up  seditions  against  their  sovereigns.  To  which  the 
confessor  replied.  That  if  preaching  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  if 
instructing  the  ignorant  in  the  Catholic  faith,  be  disturbing  the  nation 
or  stirring  up  sedition,  then  were  they  equally  guilty;  if  not,  both  we 
and  they  are  equally  innocent,  nor  can  there  be  any  treason  in  the  case. 
With  this  the  two  priests  were  ordered  to  Bridewell,  where  they 
were  tortured  and  hanged  up  in  the  air  for  the  space  of  five  hours 
together,  to  make  them  confess  by  whom  they  had  been  harboured 
or  entertained,  &c.  But  these  torments  they  bore  with  great 
courage  and  constancy,  and  generously  refused  to  the  end  to  name 

■ 156 


1589]  GEORGE  NICOLS  AND  RICHARD  YAXLEY 


any  one  who  might  be  brought  into  trouble  upon  their  account. 
Artifices  were  also  employed,  and  a pretended  convert  was  sent  to 
Mr.  Nicols,  desiring  to  be  addressed  by  him  to  some  priest  that  was 
at  liberty  for  further  instructions.  But  the  man  of  God,  who  was 
very  discreet,  discovered  the  trick,  and  would  have  nothing  to  say 
to  the  false  catechumen.  After  this  they  separated  the  two  priests 
from  each  other,  and  thrust  Mr.  Nicols  down  into  a dark  and  stinking 
dungeon,  full  of  nauseous  insects,  but  translated  Mr.  Yaxley  from 
Bridewell  to  the  Tower ^ where  he  was  every  day  put  upon  the  rack, 
till  at  length  it  was  resolved  in  the  Council  that  they  should  be  sent 
back  to  Oxford  to  be  executed  there,  for  an  example  to  the  scholars 
and  other  inhabitants  of  that  city. 

This  resolution  was  no  sooner  taken  than  the  prisoners,  under 
the  same  guard  as  before  had  brought  them  up  to  town,  and  with 
the  like  cruel  treatment,  were  conducted  back  again  to  Oxford,  to  be 
tried  at  the  assizes  there;  and  that  none  of  them  might  escape.  Sir 
Francis  Knollys,  one  of  the  Privy  Council,  was  appointed  to  be 
present  at  their  trial  to  overawe  the  jury,  that  they  might  bring  in  a 
verdict  agreeable  to  the  inclinations  of  the  court.  And  first  the 
good  widow,  their  hostess,  was  tried,  and  cast  in  a prcemunire,  con- 
demned to  the  loss  of  all  her  goods  and  to  perpetual  imprisonment ; 
which  sentence  she  received  with  joy,  only  regretting  that  she  was 
not  to  die  with  her  ghostly  fathers.  Then  the  two  priests  were 
condemned  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason;  and  lastly,  Mr.  Belson 
and  the  servant,  being  convicted  of  having  been  aiding  and  assisting 
to  the  priests,  were  on  that  account  sentenced  to  die  as  in  cases  of 
felony.  They  all  received  their  respective  sentences  with  cheerful- 
ness, giving  thanks  to  God  for  the  honour  He  did  them  of  dying 
for  His  cause,  and  mutually  embraced  one  another  with  extra- 
ordinary marks  of  the  inward  joy  of  their  hearts.  They  were  drawn 
to  the  place  of  execution  on  July  the  5th,  1589,  still  retaining  the 
same  serenity  in  their  countenance  and  joy  in  their  hearts;  and  meet- 
ing there  with  an  infinite  multitude  of  people  assembled  to  see  their 
last  conflict,  they  saluted  them,  saying.  Behold,  we  are  here  brought 
to  die  for  the  confession  of  the  Catholic  faith,  the  old  religion  in  which 
our  forefathers  and  ancestors  all  lived  and  died. 

The  first  that  was  called  upon  to  go  up  the  ladder  was  Mr. 
Nicols,  who,  after  having  made  his  prayer  to  God,  and  to  the  people 
the  profession  of  his  faith,  would  have  spoken  more  at  large  upon  the 
subject,  but  was  interrupted  and  forbid  to  go  on;  so  recommending 
his  soul  into  the  hands  of  his  Creator,  he  was  thrown  ofF  the  ladder, 
and  happily  finished  his  course.  He  was  followed  by  Mr.  Yaxley, 

157 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1589 


who,  after  having  embraced  the  dead  body  of  his  companion  with 
great  affection,  and  recommended  himself  in  this  his  last  conflict 
to  the  prayers  of  his  happy  soul,  going  up  the  ladder,  and  beginning  to 
speak  to  the  people,  was  in  like  manner  interrupted ; and,  after  a short 
profession  of  his  faith,  was  also  flung  off.  The  standers  by  seemed 
to  have  a more  than  ordinary  compassion  for  him,  upon  account  of 
his  youth,  beauty,  and  sweet  behaviour,  and  the  consideration  of  his 
family;  but  all  these  things  he  despised  for  the  sake  of  his  Master, 
for  whom  he  willingly  offered  himself  a sacrifice.  Their  bodies  were 
cut  down,  bowelled,  and  quartered,  and  their  heads  were  set  on  the 
old  walls  of  the  castle,  and  their  quarters  over  the  gates  of  the  city. 
Some  false  zealots  disfigured  their  faces,  cutting  and  hacking  them 
with  their  knives,  because  of  the  extraordinary  beauty  which  was 
observed  in  them;  and  it  was  much  taken  notice  of  that,  in  the  dis- 
posing of  their  quarters,  the  right  hand  of  Mr.  Nicols^  instead  of 
hanging  down  from  the  shoulder,  as  is  natural  on  the  like  occasions, 
stood  up  erect  on  high,  and  turned  against  the  city  in  the  posture 
and  manner  of  one  that  was  threatening. 


THOMAS  BELSON,  Gentleman  * 

Thomas  BELSON  was  bom  at  Brill,  the  seat  of  the  family,  in 
the  county  of  Oxford.  I find  him  in  the  Doway  Diary  at  the 
College  of  Rhemes  in  1584,  from  whence  he  departed  for  Englajid 
on  the  5th  of  April  of  that  year,  in  company  of  Mr.  Francis  Ingolhy, 
priest,  who  suffered  at  York  in  1586.  We  have  already  seen  how 
he  was  apprehended  in  the  company  of  Mr.  Nicols  and  Mr.  Yaxley, 
examined  both  at  Oxford  and  at  London,  and  finally  tried  and  can- 
demned  with  them  for  his  hospitality  and  charity  to  them;  and  God 
was  pleased  he  should  be  their  companion  in  death;  for  no  sooner 
was  Mr.  Nicols  and  Mr.  Yaxley  dead,  but  Mr.  Belson  was  also 
ordered  up  the  ladder  to  finish  his  course.  He  first  embraced  the 
dead  bodies  of  his  pastors,  which  were  then  in  quartering,  and 
begged  the  intercession  of  their  happy  souls,  that  he  might  have 
the  grace  to  imitate  their  courage  and  constancy.  He  added.  That 
he  looked  upon  himself  very  happy  that  he  had  been  their  ghostly 
child,  and  was  now  to  suffer  with  them,  and  should  quickly  he  presented 
before  the  Almighty  in  so  good  company.  And  thus,  with  great 

* Ven.  Thomas  Belson. — From  the  same  writers  and  the  Douay  Diary; 
see  also  D.N.B. 


158 


1589] 


WILLIAM  SPENSER 


cheerfulness,  he  delivered  his  body  to  the  executioner  and  his  soul 
to  his  Maker. 

The  last  in  the  combat  was  LIumphrey  Pritchard,  a Welshman,  a 
plain,  honest,  and  well-meaning  soul,  and,  as  our  authors  all  agree, 
a great  servant  of  God,  who  for  twelve  years  had  done  signal  service 
to  the  poor  afflicted  persecuted  Catholics  in  those  evil  days.  He 
came  to  the  gallows  with  a cheerful  and  smiling  countenance,  and 
being  now  upon  the  ladder,  and  turning  to  the  people,  he  said,  I 
call  you  all  to  witness,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  of  His  holy  angels, 
that  I am  a Catholic,  and  that  I was  condemned  to  die  for  the  con- 
fession of  the  Catholic  faith,  and  that  I die  willingly  for  the.  Catholic 
faith.  A minister  that  stood  by  told  him  he  was  a poor  ignorant 
fellow,  and  did  not  know  what  it  was  to  be  a Catholic.  To  whom 
Humphrey  replied.  That  he  very  well  knew  what  it  was  to  be  a Catholic, 
though  he  could  not,  perhaps,  explain  it  in  the  proper  terms  of  divinity; 
that  he  knew  what  he  was  to  believe,  and  for  what  he  came  there  to 
die;  and  that  he  willingly  died  for  so  good  a cause.  With  that  he  was 
thrown  off  the  ladder,  and  so  reposed  in  the  Lord. 

They  all  suffered  5,  1589. 


WILLIAM  SPENSER,  Priest  * 

WILLIAM  SPENSER  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  and  educated 
in  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes,  from  whence 
he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1584,  The  par- 
ticulars of  his  labours  and  sufferings  I have  not  found,  only  that  he 
was  apprehended,  tried,  and  condemned  for  receiving  holy  orders 
beyond  the  seas  by  authority  derived  from  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  and 
coming  over  to  England,  and  there  exercising  his  priestly  functions. 
He  received  the  sentence  of  death  with  an  undaunted  courage,  and 
suffered  with  great  constancy,  being  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered 
at  York,  the  24th  September,  1589. 

With  Mr.  Spenser  was  hanged  one  Mr.  Robert  Hardesty,  a lay- 
man of  great  probity  and  piety,  for  having  harboured  and  relieved 
the  confessor  of  Christ,  knowing  him  to  be  a priest. 

* Ven.  William  Spenser. — From  the  Douay  Diary  and  Catalogues,  and 
Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript ; see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Acts  of  E.  M.  ; Troubles 
iii. ; C.R.S.,  v. 


1^9 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1589 


CHRISTOPHER  BALES,  Priest,  with 
NICHOLAS  HORNER,  and  ALEXANDER 
BLAKE,  Laymen.^ 

CHRISTOPHER  BALES  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Cunsley^ 
in  the  bishopric  of  Durham^  and  performed  his  studies  abroad, 
partly  in  the  English  College  of  Rome,  and  partly  in  that  of 
Rhemes.  Erom  the  latter  he  was  sent  priest  upon  the  English  mission 
in  1588.  Here,  after  some  time,  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  adver- 
saries of  his  faith,  and,  besides  the  miseries  usually  attending  im- 
prisonment, suffered  much  from  their  cruelty,  being  grievously 
racked  in  order  to  oblige  him  to  confess  where  he  had  said  Mass 
and  by  whom  he  had  been  entertained  or  relieved;  insomuch  that 
at  one  time  he  was  hung  up  in  the  air  for  twenty-four  hours  together, 
all  which  he  bore  with  wonderful  patience  and  courage,  though 
otherwise  of  an  infirm  body  and  inclined  to  a consumption.  At 
length,  being  brought  to  the  bar,  he  was  arraigned,  tried,  and  con- 
demned upon  the  statute  of  the  27th  of  Elizabeth,  for  being  made 
priest  beyond  the  seas,  and  coming  into  England  to  exercise  his 
priestly  functions.  When  sentence  was  to  be  pronounced  upon 
him,  and  the  judge,  according  to  custom,  asked  if  he  had  anything 
to  allege  for  himself,  he  desired  to  ask  one  thing,  which  was— 
Whether  St.  Augustine,  the  monk  sent  by  the  Pope  of  Rome  to  preach 
the  Christian  Catholic  faith  to  the  English,  was  guilty  of  treason  in 
complying  with  that  commission  or  no?  To  which,  when  the  court 
had  answered  that  he  was  not,  Why,  then,  said  the  confessor,  do  you 
arraign  and  condemn  me  for  a traitor,  who  do  the  same  thing  as  he  did, 
and  to  whom  nothing  can  be  objected  but  what  might  equally  be  objected 
to  him?  They  told  him  the  difference  was,  that  by  their  laws  his 
case  was  now  made  treason;  and  without  any  further  arguing  pro- 
ceeded to  pronounce  the  sentence  of  death  in  the  usual  form.  He 
was  drawn  to  Eleet  Street  to  a pair  of  gallows  erected  over  against 
Fetter  Lane,  and  was  there  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered,  March 
the  4th,  1589-90. 

On  the  same  day  were  hanged  Nicholas  Horner,  a layman,  born 
at  Grantly,  in  Yorkshire,  for  relieving  and  assisting  the  said  Mr. 
Bayles,  and  Alexander  Blake,  also  a layman,  for  the  same  cause. 

* Ven.  Christopher  Bales,  or  Bayles. — From  Ribadeneira’s  Appendix; 
Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript;  and  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue; 
see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Gillow;  Foley,  Records  ; Life  of  Fr.  J.  Gerard. 

160 


590] 


CHRISTOPHER  BALES,  ETC. 


Of  all  these,  thus  writes  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Chronicle: — ‘ Christopher 
Bayles,  made  priest  beyond  sea,  was  convicted  of  treason  for  remain- 
ing in  this  realm,  contrary  to  the  statute.  Also  Nicholas  Horner 
and  Alexander  Blake^  convicted  of  felony,  for  relieving  of  Bayles, 
contrary  to  the  like  statute.  These  were  all  executed  on  the  4th  of 
March.  Bayles  was  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered  in  Fleet 
Street;  Horner  was  hanged  in  Smithfield,  Blake  in  Gray's  Inn  Lane.' 

The  Bishop  of  Tarrasona,  in  his  History  of  the  English  Persecu- 
tion, Book  II.,  chap.  18,  numbs.  3 and  4,  relates  of  Mr.  Horner  that 
he  was  apprehended  once  before  for  harbouring  priests,  and  at  that 
time  was  kept  so  long  in  a filthy  dungeon,  that  with  the  dampness  of 
the  lodging  one  of  his  legs  was  mortified,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to 
have  it  cut  off.  But  that,  whilst  the  surgeon  was  at  work,  God  was 
pleased  to  favour  him  with  a vision,  which  so  strongly  drew  his 
attention  and  so  sweetly  entertained  him,  that  he  was  not  at  all 
sensible  of  so  painful  an  operation.  After  this,  the  persecutors, 
having  some  compassion  for  him,  set  him  at  liberty,  till  being  accused 
a second  time  of  relieving  priests,  and  convicted  of  this  felony,  and 
not  consenting  to  save  his  life  by  going  to  the  Protestant  church,  he 
was  condemned  to  die.  The  night  before  his  execution,  finding 
himself  overwhelmed  with  anguish  and  fear,  he  betook  himself  to 
his  prayers,  and  then  seemed  to  perceive  a crown  hanging  over  his 
head ; and  lifting  up  his  hands  to  take  hold  of  it,  to  see  what  it  should 
be,  he  could  feel  nothing.  Afterwards  rising  from  his  prayers,  he 
perceived  the  same  crown  still  over  his  head,  and  that,  as  he  moved 
or  changed  his  place,  it  still  moved  with  him,  and  this  for  the  space 
of  above  an  hour, — which  vision  afforded  him  unspeakable  comfort, 
and  caused  him  to  die  the  next  day  with  extraordinary  marks  of  joy. 
This  vision  was  related  by  the  confessor  himself  to  a friend,  who 
was  with  him  in  prison,  a little  before  he  was  carried  out  to  execution, 
who  wrote  the  whole  account  to  Father  Robert  Southwell  on  the 
1 8th  of  March  of  the  same  year,  which  letter,  says  my  author,  I 
have  seen.  The  same  is  confirmed  by  Father  Ribadeneira  and  Dr. 
Champney  in  their  histories. 


161 


L 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1590 


MYLES  GERARD  and  FRANCIS  DICONSON, 

Priests.* 

These  two  were  both  priests  of  Doway  College  during  its  resi- 
dence at  Rhemes.  The  former  was  born  in  Lancashire^  of  a 
gentleman’s  family;  the  latter  in  Yorkshire.  They  were  sent 
together  upon  the  English  mission  from  Rhemes  on  the  31st  of 
August,  1589,  though  Mr.  Gerardhdid  been  ordained  priest  in  1583. 
The  ship  in  which  they  went  for  England  was  overtaken  by  a violent 
storm,  by  which  they  were  cast  away  upon  the  coast  of  Kent.  But 
it  was  not  God’s  will  that  they  should  perish  by  this  less  glorious 
death,  His  divine  providence  having  reserved  for  them  the  crown 
of  martyrdom.  They  escaped  therefore  to  the  shore,  where  they 
met  with  a more  violent  storm ; for  being  immediately  apprehended 
upon  suspicion,  or  the  information  of  some  of  the  ship’s  crew,  and 
cast  into  prison,  they  were  arraigned,  tried,  and  condemned  for 
coming  into  England,  being  priests;  and  upon  this  account  had 
sentence  of  death  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  and  they  both  suffered 
with  constancy  at  Rochester,  April  30,  1590. 


EDWARD  JONES  and  ANTONY  MIDDLETON, 

Priests. f 

The  former  was  born  in  North  Wales,  in  the  diocese  of  St. 
Asaph;  the  latter  in  Yorkshire.  They  were  both  priests  of 
Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes,  from  whence 
Mr.  Middleton  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1586;  Mr. 
Jones  in  1588.  Their  missionary  labours  were  employed  in  and 
about  London,  and  with  great  fruit,  the  more  because  Mr.  Middleton, 
being  low  of  stature  and  of  a young  look,  for  a long  time  was  not 
suspected  to  be  a priest;  and  Mr.  Jones,  though  his  time  upon  the 
mission  had  not  been  long,  being  a zealous  preacher,  had  justly 
acquired  to  himself  a great  esteem  amongst  the  Catholics.  They 

* Ven.  Miles  Gerard  and  Francis  Dickenson,  or  Diconson. — From  the 
Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue  and  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript ; see  also 
Gillow;  C.R.S.,  v.;  Acts  of  E.  M.  ; Spanish  Calendar,  1590,  p.  572. 

t Ven.  Edward  Jones  and  Antony  Middleton. — From  the  Douay  Diary; 
the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript;  and 
Father  Ribadeneira;  see  also  Acts  of  E.  M.  ; C.R.S.,  v. 

162 


1590]  EDWARD  JONES  AND  ANTONY  MIDDLETON 


were  both  apprehended  by  the  means  of  certain  priest-catchers, 
who,  to  bring  about  their  villainy  more  effectually,  had  feigned 
themselves  Catholics.  Ribadeneira^  who  is  followed  by  Dr.  Champ- 
ney  and  Raissius,  affirms  that  they  were  hanged  up,  without 
any  formal  trial,  before  the  doors  of  the  houses  where  they  were 
taken — Mr.  Jones  in  Fleet  Street  near  the  Conduit,  Mr.  Middleton 
at  Clerkenwell;  and  that  upon  the  gallows  on  which  they  were  hanged 
the  executioners  had  caused  to  be  written  in  great  letters.  For 
Treason  and  Foreign  Invasion,  to  make  their  cause  more  odious 
to  the  people;  but  that  this  artifice  did  not  take,  and  the  spectators, 
instead  of  applauding  their  proceedings,  departed  highly  displeased 
with  these  tyrannical  measures.  Mr.  Middleton  desired  to  have 
leave  to  speak  to  the  people,  which  not  being  allowed  him,  he  con- 
tented himself  with  this  short  speech : I call  Almighty  God  to  witness 
that  I here  die  barely  for  the  Catholic  faiths  and  for  being  a priest  and 
a preacher  of  the  true  religion;  and  I beseech  the  Divine  Majesty  to 
vouchsafe  to  accept  of  this  my  death  for  the  forgiveness  of  my  sins,  the 
advancement  of  the  Catholic  faith,  and  the  conversion  of  heretics.  A 
gentleman  there  present  cried  out,  Sir,  you  have  spoken  very  well, 
and  what  is  sufficient.  With  this  Mr.  Middleton  was  flung  off  the 
ladder,  and,  as  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon's  catalogue  affirms  from  the 
testimony  of  eye-witnesses,  was  cut  down  and  bowelled  whilst  he 
was  yet  alive.  They  suffered  on  the  6th  of  May,  1590. 

This  same  year,  four  other  gentlemen  of  the  same  character  were 
executed  at  Durham,  of  whom  we  are  now  to  speak.  Wilson  and 
Molanus  put  them  in  the  following  year,  but  they  are  certainly 
mistaken,  as  appears  from  the  Dozoay  Register,  followed  by  Dr. 
Champney,  by  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon,  and  Raissius, 


EDMUND  DUKE,  RICHARD  HILL,  JOHN 
HOGG,  and  RICHARD  HOLIDAY,  Priests  * 

Edmund  duke  was  bom  in  Kent,  and  was  first  a student  in 
the  English  College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  where  I find  him 
promoted  to  minor  orders,  September  23, 1583.  From  thence 
he  was  sent  to  Rome,  where  he  finished  his  studies  and  was  made 
priest. 

* Ven.  Edmund  Duke,  Richard  Hill,  John  Hogg,  and  Richard  Holiday. — 
From  the  Douay  Diary;  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  and  Dr. 
Champney’s  Manuscript;  see  also  Gillow;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia  (s.v.  Hill). 

163  • 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1590 


Richard  Hill,  John  Hogg,  and  Richard  Holiday  were  all  born 
in  Yorkshire,  all  students  of  the  College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  and 
were  made  subdeacons  at  Soisson  the  i8th  March,  1589,  deacons  at 
Laon  the  27th  of  May,  and  priests  at  Laon  the  23d  of  September  in 
the  same  year.  They  were  all  sent  together  upon  the  English 
mission  (with  Mr.  Duke,  who  was  lately  returned  from  Rome)  on  the 
22d  of  March,  1589-90.  They  landed  in  the  North  of  England,  and 
travelling  through  the  country,  which  they  were  not  well  acquainted 
with,  they  were  upon  a slight  suspicion  stopped  in  a village  where 
they  stayed  to  rest  themselves,  and  were  carried  before  a neighbour- 
ing justice  of  the  peace,  who,  upon  examination,  finding  them  to 
be  priests,  committed  them  to  Durham  Jail.  Here  they  had  some 
conflicts  about  religion,  as  well  with  the  prebendaries  of  Durham 
as  with  some  other  ministers,  in  which,  says  my  author,  Dr.  Champney, 
in  his  manuscript,  the  confessors  of  Christ  came  off  victorious.  But 
there  was  another  more  effectual  way  of  stopping  their  mouths,  which 
was  to  arraign  and  condemn  them  for  transgressing  the  statute  of 
Elizabeth  27,  which  forbids,  under  pain  of  death,  priests  made  by 
Roman  authority  to  come  over  into  England,  or  to  remain  here.  Of 
this  transgression  they  were  all  found  guilty,  and  upon  this  account 
alone  had  sentence  to  die,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason.  They  suffered 
at  Durham,  May  27,  some  say  May  6,  1590.  The  meekness  and 
constancy  which  appeared  in  them  in  this  last  scene  of  life  edified 
many  and  was  admired  by  all.  It  was  also  taken  notice  of  as  a thing 
very  extraordinary,  as  we  learn  from  a letter  of  Mr.  Cuthbert  Trollop, 
priest,  that  the  well  out  of  which  they  took  water  to  boil  the  quarters 
of  these  four  holy  priests  did  presently  dry  up,  and  so  continued  for 
many  years  after. 

This  year  put  an  end  to  all  the  plots  and  stratagems  of  that  un- 
wearied persecutor  of  the  English  Catholics,  and  capital  enemy  of  the 
missioners.  Sir  Erancis  Walsingham,  principal  Secretary  of  State  to 
Queen  Elizabeth.  He  died  miserably  on  the  6th  of  April,  1590,  of 
an  ulcer  and  impostume  in  his  bowels,  which  reduced  him  to  that 
wretched  condition,  that,  whilst  he  was  yet  alive,  he  yielded  so  in- 
supportable a stench,  that  scarce  any  one  could  bear  to  come  near 
him.  Ribadeneira  and  Champney  relate  that  amongst  other  attempts 
he  made  to  ruin  the  Seminaries  abroad,  he  once,  by  his  emissaries, 
procured  to  have  the  well  poisoned  which  supplied  the  College  of 
Rhemes  with  water,  in  order  to  destroy  by  poison  all  the  priests  and 
students;  and  that  another  time  he  caused  poison  to  be  given  to 
Dr.  Allen,  the  institutor  and  first  president  of  that  community. 
But  the  providence  of  God  defeated  these  and  many  other  of  his 

164 


1591]  ROBERT  THORPE  AND  THOMAS  WATKINSON 


plots.  He  maintained  so  many  spies  abroad,  and  was  at  such 
expense  to  bring  about  his  wicked  enterprises,  that  he  not  only  spent 
what  was  allowed  him  by  the  Queen  for  that  purpose,  which  was 
very  considerable,  and  the  salary  of  his  place,  but  also  his  whole 
estate,  leaving  nothing  to  his  only  daughter  but  his  debts,  who,  says 
Dr.  Champney  in  his  manuscript,  having  renounced  heresy,  now 
embraces  the  Catholic  faith. 


[ 1591-  ] 

This  year  the  persecution,  which  had  something  relented,  began 
again  to  rage  as  much  as  ever.  The  first  that  felt  the  fury  of  it  was 
Mr.  Robert  Thorp,  priest  {Ribadeneira,  being  a stranger  to  the 
English  names,  calls  him  Therfeus),  and  his  harbourer,  Mr.  Wat- 
kinson. 


ROBERT  THORP,  Priest,  and  THOMAS 
WATKINSON,  Layman.* 

Robert  thorp  was  bom  in  Yorkshire,  and  was  an  alumnus 
and  priest  of  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes, 
from  whence  he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission.  May  9, 
1585.  He  employed  his  labours  in  Yorkshire,  his  native  country.  Dr. 
Champney,  who  was  acquainted  with  him,  writes  as  follows: — ‘ This 
holy  priest,  whom  I knew  in  my  younger  days,  and  to  whom  I have 
often  confessed  my  sins,  had  laboured  for  a long  time  and  with  very 
great  fruit  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  He  was  a man  of  low  stature, 
of  infirm  health,  and  but  indifferent  in  point  of  learning,  but  of  great 
devotion  and  piety;  and  though  he  was  naturally  timorous  and  weak, 
yet  he  suffered  death  for  the  Catholic  faith  with  great  constancy  and 
fortitude.’ 

The  manner  of  his  apprehension  is  thus  related  by  the  Lady 
Babthorpe,  who  then  lived  in  that  country,  but  after  her  husband’s 
decease  became  a nun  at  Louvain.  ‘ To  my  remembrance,’  says 
she,  ‘ it  is  twenty-nine  years  since  we  were  committed  to  Sheriff- 
Hutton  Castle.  The  President  (of  the  North)  was  then  the  Earl 
of  Huntingdon,  and  the  Archbishop’s  name  was  Piers,  who  had  been 

* Ven.  Robert  Thorpe. — From  the  Douay  Diary  and  Catalogues;  from 
Ribadeneira;  Champney’s  Manuscript;  and  Relation  of  the  Lady  Bapthorpe; 
see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

165 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 


a priest.  And  for  the  manner  of  Mr.  Thorp's  taking  and  death,  I 
can  remember  no  more  but  that  on  a Palm  Sunday's  evening,’  rather 
on  the  eve  of  Palm  Sunday^  ‘ he  was  by  an  evil  neighbour  seen  to  go 
into  Thomas  Watkinson's  house;  or,  as  some  said,  that  neighbour  saw 
some  of  Thomas  Watkinson's  servants  get  palms,  which  was  sufficient 
to  assure  them  that  he  had  a priest  in  his  house ; for  they  knew  well 
that  priests  used  much  to  come  to  his  house,  but  they  could  not  be 
sure  of  the  time.  So  now  thinking  they  were  sure  of  one,  they  went 
with  speed  to  one  Mr.  John  Gates,  a justice  of  peace  living  in  Houl- 
done,  some  three  miles  off — one  who  was  always  ready  on  such  evil 
employments — who,  with  his  company,  came  so  early  on  Palm 
Sunday  in  the  morning,  that,  as  I heard,  they  took  them  in  their 
beds,  and  carried  them  away  to  York,  where  they  were  martyred. 
The  manner  of  their  deaths  I remember  not,  only  this,  that  the  good 
old  man,  {Watkinson,)  was  offered  his  life  if  he  would  go  to  church, 
which  he  refusing,  was  martyred  with  the  priest. 

This  Thomas  Watkinson,  who  suffered  with  Mr.  Thorp,  was  a 
yeoman  of  Menthorpe,  in  Yorkshire,  a good  religious  Catholic,  who 
lived  a kind  of  solitary  life,  and  afforded  what  aid  and  assistance  he 
could  to  the  missioners.  He  suffered  with  great  constancy,  though 
naturally  he  was  also  timorous,  and  now  advanced  in  years. 

Mr.  Thorp  was  condemned  merely  upon  account  of  his  priest- 
hood, and  Mr.  Watkinson  merely  for  harbouring  priests.  The 
former  was  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered;  the  latter  only  hanged. 

They  suffered  at  York,  May  31,  1591. 


MONFORD  SCOT  and  GEORGE  BEESLEY, 

Priests, 

MONFORD,  or  MONTFORD  SCOT  was  born  of  a gentle- 
man’s family,  in  the  diocese  of  Norwich,  and  was  far  advanced 
in  his  studies  before  he  left  England,  which  was  in  the  year 
1574,  at  which  time  he  was  admitted  by  Dr.  Allen  into  the  College 
lately  instituted  at  Doway,  and  there  applied  himself  to  the  study 
of  divinity.  He  was  one  of  the  eldest  sons  of  that  fruitful  mother, 
and  stands  the  nineteenth  in  the  list  of  her  priests,  according  to  the 
order  of  their  ordination,  and  the  thirty-first  in  the  list  of  missioners 

* Ven.  Montford  Scott  and  George  Beesley. — From  the  Douay  Diary 
and  Catalogues;  from  Father  Ribadeneira  ; and  from  Dr.  Champney’s 
Manuscript  History;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

166 


1591]  MONFORD  SCOT  AND  GEORGE  BEESLEY 


sent  from  thence  into  England.  He  was  made  priest  in  1575,  and 
sent  upon  the  mission  in  1577,  before  the  removal  of  the  College  to 
Rhemes.  Dr.  Chafnpney  gives  him  this  character: — ‘ He  was,’  says 
he,  ‘ a man  of  wonderful  meekness,  and  of  so  great  abstinence  and 
devotion,  that  his  diet  on  common  days  was  bread  and  water,  and 
he  would  take  but  little  more  on  Sundays  and  holidays;  and  so 
addicted  was  he  to  prayer,  that  he  spent  whole  days  and  nights 
almost  in  this  exercise,  insomuch  that  his  knees  were  grown  hard 
by  the  assiduity  of  his  prayers,  as  is  related  of  St.  James;  which, 
when  one  of  the  standers  by  perceived,  whilst  his  body  was  quartered, 
he  said  aloud,  / should  be  glad  to  see  any  one  of  our  ministers  with 
their  knees  as  much  hardened  by  constant  prayer  as  we  see  this  man's 
knees  are.  And  so  great  and  so  general  was  the  veneration  that  this 
holy  priest  had  acquired,  that  Topcliffey  that  noted  persecutor,  loudly 
boasted  that  the  Queen  and  kingdom  were  highly  obliged  to  him  for 
having  apprehended  and  brought  to  the  gallows  a priest  so  devout 
and  so  mortified.  He  was  prosecuted  and  condemned  barely  upon 
account  of  his  character,  and  was  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered 
on  the  2d  oijuly^  1591,  in  Fleet  Street.  He  suffered  with  wonderful 
constancy,  and  no  less  modesty  and  spiritual  joy,  to  the  great  edifica- 
tion of  the  spectators,  and  the  admiration  even  of  the  greatest 
enemies  of  his  faith  and  character.’ 

George  Beesley^  priest,  suffered  at  the  same  time  and  place,  and 
with  the  like  constancy,  alacrity,  and  edification  of  the  faithful.  He 
was  born  at  a place  called  the  Mounts  in  Goosenor  parish,  in  Lan- 
cashire, and  was  an  alumnus  and  priest  of  Doway  College  during  its 
residence  at  Rhemes.  He  was  ordained  priest  in  1587,  and  sent 
upon  the  English  mission  in  1588.  He  was  a man  of  singular 
courage,  young,  strong,  and  robust,  before  he  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  persecutors;  but  whilst  he  was  in  their  hands,  he  was  so  fre- 
quently and  cruelly  tortured  by  the  unhappy  Topcliffe,  in  order  to 
oblige  him  to  confess  what  Catholics  he  had  conversed  with,  and 
by  whom  he  had  been  harboured  or  relieved,  that  he  was  reduced 
to  a mere  skeleton,  insomuch  that  they  who  before  were  acquainted 
with  him  could  scarce  know  him  to  be  the  same  man  when  they  saw 
him  drawn  to  execution.  Yet  all  these  torments  he  endured  with 
invincible  courage  and  patience,  and  would  not  be  induced  to  name 
any  one  or  bring  any  one  into  danger  on  his  account.  He  was  con- 
demned merely  for  his  priestly  character  and  remaining  in  England 
contrary  to  the  statute  of  Elizabeth  27;  and  was  hanged,  bowelled, 
and  quartered  in  Fleet  Street,  July  2.  Some  say  that  the  servant 
of  the  inn  where  he  was  apprehended  was  executed  at  the  same  time 

167 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 


for  aiding  and  assisting  him.  Mr.  Beesley  left  behind  him  a brother 
of  the  same  character,  who  for  many  years  after  laboured  in  the 
Lord’s  vineyard. 


ROGER  DICONSON  or  DICKENSON,  Priest.^ 

Roger  D icons  on  (whom  Ribadeneira  calls  De  Kinsonio, 
from  which  some  have  given  him  the  name  of  Kinson)  was 
born  at  Lincoln ^ and  was  an  alumnus  and  priest  of  the  English 
College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes.  He  was  ordained  priest  at  Laon  in 
April,  1583,  and  sent  upon  the  mission  the  4th  of  May  the  same  year. 
The  particulars  of  his  missionary  labours,  apprehension,  and  trial  I 
have  not  found,  only  that  he  was  condemned  merely  on  account  of 
his  priesthood,  and  suffered  -as  in  cases  of  high  treason  by  hanging, 
drawing,  and  quartering  with  a constancy  worthy  of  the  cause  for 
which  he  died. 

He  was  executed  at  Winchester , July  7,  1591. 

Ralph  Milner,  layman,  suffered  at  the  same  time  and  place  for 
relieving  the  said  Mr.  Diconson.  He  was  born  at  Flacsted,  in  Hamp- 
shire, and  had  a wife  and  eight  children  living  at  the  time  of  his 
condemnation.  The  judge,  as  it  were  out  of  pity,  advised  him  to 
go  but  once  to  church,  that  by  this  condescension  he  might  escape 
the  ignominious  death  of  the  gallows  and  live  for  the  good  of  his 
family;  but  Mr.  Milner  answered  with  true  Christian  fortitude. 
Would  your  lordship  then  advise  me,  for  the  perishable  trifles  of  this 
world,  or  for  a wife  and  children,  to  lose  my  God  ? No,  my  lord,  I 
cannot  approve  or  embrace  a counsel  so  disagreeable  to  the  maxims  of 
the  gospel.  He  was  executed,  therefore,  according  to  sentence,  and 
suffered  with  extraordinary  courage  and  constancy. 

At  the  same  assizes  were  also  condemned  seven  maiden  gentle- 
women of  good  families,  for  having  received  Mr.  Diconson  into 
their  houses  to  say  Mass  to  them.  But  the  judge,  who  thought 
they  would  be  sufficiently  terrified  by  the  sentence  of  death,  gave 
them  a reprieve,  and  so  ordered  them  back  to  prison;  at  which 
they  all  burst  out  into  tears,  and  begged.  That  the  sentence  of  death 
pronounced  against  them  might  be  put  in  execution,  and  that  they 
might  die  with  their  ghostly  father  and  pastor,  it  being  just  that,  as 

* Ven.  Roger  Dickenson,  or  Diconson. — From  the  Douay  Diary  and 
Catalogues;  from  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript;  and  from  a relation  sent 
over  from  England  recorded  by  Father  Ribadeneira;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.; 
Gillow. 

168 


ROGER  DICONSON 


1591] 

they  had  a share  in  his  supposed  guilty  so  they  should  be  also  sharers 
in  his  punishment — adding  withal,  That  they  trusted  in  God  that  He^ 
who  had  given  them  the  grace  to  do  what  they  had  done^  would  also 
strengthen  them  to  suffer  death  with  courage  and  constancy  for  the 
holy  Catholic  faith. 

Some  time  this  year,  1591  (the  particular  day  or  month  I have 
not  found),  William  Pikes,  a layman,  suffered  at  Dorchester  as  in  cases 
of  high  treason  for  being  reconciled  to  the  Church  of  Rome  and 
denying  the  Queen’s  spiritual  supremacy.  He  was,  as  I learn  from 
a written  relation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Manger's,  born  in  Dorsetshire,  and 
dwelt  in  a village  called  Moors,  in  the  parish  of  Parley,  four  or  five 
miles  from  Christchurch,  in  Hampshire.  He  was  hanged,  cut  down 
alive,  bowelled,  and  quartered.  ‘ Being  cut  down  all  alive,’  says 
a manuscript  relation  in  my  hands,  ‘ and  being  a very  able,  strong 
man,  when  the  executioner  came  to  throw  him  on  the  block  to 
quarter  him,  he  stood  upon  his  feet;  whereupon  the  Sheriff’s  men, 
overmastering  him,  threw  him  down,  and  pinned  his  hands  fast  to 
the  ground  with  their  halberts,  and  so  the  butchery  was  perfected. 

This  year,  on  the  29th  of  November,  a new  proclamation  was 
published  against  the  Catholics,  as  if  the  laws  hitherto  made,  and 
all  the  fines,  imprisonments,  banishments,  and  deaths  suffered  in 
consequence  of  those  laws  had  not  been  sufficient.  Of  this  pro- 
clamation, Cecil  Lord  Burleigh  was  supposed  to  be  the  author. 


EDMUND  GENINGS,  alias  IRONMONGER, 

Priest.* 

Edmund  GENINGS  (whom  stow  in  his  Chronicle  calls 
Ironmonger,  from  the  name  under  which  he  concealed  himself 
upon  the  mission)  was  born  at  Lichfield,  in  Staffordshire,  in  the 
year  1567,  and  was  brought  up  in  the  Protestant  religion.  From  his 
very  infancy  he  was  wonderfully  grave,  and  took  no  delight  in  the 
childish  plays  of  those  of  his  age,  ‘ but  greatly  loved,’  says  his 
brother,  p.  17,  ‘ to  behold  the  heavens;  and  therefore  he  usually 
went  forth  in  the  evening  to  delight  himself  with  the  sight  of  the 
skies  bedecked  with  stars.  And  on  a time,  in  these  his  tender  years, 
going  forth  at  night  according  to  his  custom,  this  strange  spectacle 

* Ven.  Edmund  Genings,  alias  Ironmonger. — From  the  Douay  Diary, 
but  principally  from  his  Life,  written  by  his  brother,  John  Genings,  and 
published  at  St.  Omers  in  1614;  see  also  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

169 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 


appeared  to  him  in  the  air : He  saw,  as  it  were,  armed  men  with  weapons 
killing  and  murdering  others  that  were  disarmed,  and  great  store  of 
blood  running  everywhere  about  them. 

‘ This  strange  sight  put  him  into  a great  fear,  which  caused  him 
to  run  in  hastily  to  tell  his  mother,  who  w^as  then  a widow,  what  he 
had  seen,  and  she  presently  went  forth  with  three  or  four  of  her 
neighbours,  and  they  were  all  eye-witnesses  of  the  same  spectacle. 
Thus  much  I myself  have  heard  them  report,  who  also  affirmed 
that  myself  was  then  present,  but,  being  very  young,  I cannot 
remember  it.  This  happened  in  the  beginning  of  our  chiefest  per- 
secution, not  long  before  the  glorious  death  of  Father  Campion  and 
the  rest.’ 

When  he  was  about  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  was  recommended  by 
his  schoolmaster  (w^onderfully  taken  with  his  docility  and  modesty) 
to  Mr.  Richard  Sherwood,  a Catholic  gentleman,  to  serve  him  in 
quality  of  his  page.  In  this  service  he  learned  from  his  master,  who 
was  a gentleman  much  persecuted  for  his  conscience,  the  Catholic 
religion;  and  not  long  after,  when  he  was  little  more  than  seventeen 
years  of  age,  Mr.  Shei'wood  having  determined  to  cross  the  seas  and 
consecrate  himself  to  God  in  an  ecclesiastical  state  (as  he  afterwards 
did,  being  made  priest  at  Rhemes,  2iS>  appears  by  the  College  Diary, 
in  1584,  and  sent  upon  the  mission  the  2d  of  August  that  same  year 
with  Mr.  Robert  Dihdale),  Mr.  Genings,  finding  in  himself  a strong 
call  to  the  same  kind  of  life,  with  earnest  and  repeated  entreaties 
obtained  to  be  sent  over  to  Rhemes,  where  the  College  then  resided, 
with  recommendations  to  Dr.  Allen,  then  president  there,  after- 
wards Cardinal. 

No  sooner  was  he  received  into  the  College,  but,  with  all  dili- 
gence and  alacrity  he  applied  himself  to  his  studies;  but,  above  all, 
to  the  study  of  the  science  of  the  saints,  the  fear  and  love  of  God, 
in  which  he  made  great  progress,  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  superiors, 
one  of  whom  has  given  him  in  writing  a character  to  this  effect: 
‘ Edmund  Genings  was  provident  and  wise  in  counsel,  humble  in 
obedience,  devout  in  Christ,  strong  in  faith,  prompt  in  good  works, 
most  true  and  sincere  in  his  w^ords,  remarkable  in  his  goodness, 
excellent  in  charity.  He  was  often  afflicted  and  sick;  he  suffered 
all  patiently;  there  was  ever  in  him  a discretion  in  all  his  actions, 
and  a love  towards  all,  worthy  of  imitation.’ 

He  was  of  a very  weak  constitution  of  body,  and  by  the  extra- 
ordinary pains  he  took,  partly  in  his  studies  and  partly  in  his  spiritual 
exercises,  he  fell  into  a great  sickness,  which  was  followed  by  a 
continual  ague  and  other  infirmities,  which  at  length  brought  him 

170 


EDMUND  GENINGS 


1591] 

into  a most  dangerous  consumption,  insomuch  that  the  physicians 
despaired  of  his  recovery.  This  determined  the  president  to  send 
him  into  England^  to  try  if  the  change  of  air  might  do  him  any 
service.  He  left  Rhemes  not  without  great  regret,  and  went  on  his 
journey  as  far  as  Havre  de  Grace,  in  Normandy,  being  recommended 
to  two  01  three  banished  English  priests  who  were  there,  who,  after 
one  fortnight  of  his  s^ay  in  that  place,  procured  him  a passage  in  a 
ship  bound  for  London,  and  provided  him  all  things  necessary  for  his 
journey.  When,  behold  ! on  a sudden,  Mr.  Genings,  who  was  very 
unwilling  to  risk  himse.lf  amongst  his  Protestant  relations,  not  having 
yet  finished  his  studies  and  attained  to  the  order  of  priesthood, 
which  he  was  so  desirous  of,  and  therefore  had  heartily  prayed  to 
God  for  the  recovery  of  his  health,  desires  of  these  good  gentlemen, 
who  had  been  witnesses,  during  his  abode  with  them,  of  the  divers 
grievous  assaults  of  his  illness  which  he  had  suffered,  to  have  a little 
longer  patience  with  him,  and  not  to  insist,  as  they  did,  upon  his 
going  on  board,  for  that  he  felt  himself  very  much  better,  and 
almost  as  well  as  ever  he  was  in  his  life.  They  condescended  to  his 
desires,  and  found  him  in  effect  so  suddenly  and  so  wonderfully 
changed,  that,  on  the  very  next  day  he  was  not  only  able  to  eat  his 
meat  with  a good  appetite,  but  also  to  go  a good  long  walk,  and  give 
such  other  tokens  of  health,  as  appeared  not  a little  extraordinary. 
This  sudden  recovery  of  his  was  esteemed  miraculous,  upon  which 
he  returned  to  Rhemes,  and  there  took  up  again,  though  wdth  a 
greater  fervour  than  ever,  the  course  of  life  which  his  sickness  had 
obliged  him  to  interrupt,  ever  aspiring  to  the  sacred  order  of  priest- 
hood, by  which  he  might  be  qualified  to  assist  the  souls  of  his  neigh- 
bours, and  return  to  his  own  country  to  meet  there  with  the  crown 
of  martyrdom.  His  common  expression,  as  his  brother  relates 
from  the  testimony  of  his  fellow  collegians,  as  often  as  occasion  w^as 
offered  of  talking  of  England  and  martyrdom  there,  being  this, 
Vivamus  in  spe,  vivamus  in  spe  ! — Let  us  live  in  hope,  let  us  live  in 
hope  ! 

The  superiors  of  the  College,  considering  his  fervour,  procured 
a dispensation  from  Rome  that  he  might  be  made  priest  before  his 
time,  being  but  twenty-three  years  of  age.  The  preparation  he 
made  for  worthily  receiving  this  holy  order  was  very  great,  and 
the  impression  which  his  meditations  on  the  dignity  of  the  priest- 
hood and  the  greatness  of  the  charge,  &c.,  made  upon  his 
mind,  was  so  strong  that  it  produced  a wonderful  effect  in  his  very 
body,  of  a shaking  as  it  were  a palsy,  which  continued  with  him  to 
his  dying  day.  At  this  time,  for  his  greater  exercise  of  humility, 

171 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 

patience,  and  charity,  he  was  made  prefect  of  the  infirmary,  in  which 
office  he  so  laboured  about  the  sick  students,  even  in  the  meanest 
services,  that  he  was  called  the  very  pattern  of  piety  and  humility. 
He  was  ordained  priest,  extra  tempora  (by  an  indult  granted  to  the 
College  by  Gregory  XIII.),  at  Soissons,  March  18,  1590,  together 
with  Mr.  Alexander  Rawlins,  who  suffered  at  York  in  1595,  and  he 
was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  by  Dr.  Barret,  then  President  of 
the  College,  on  the  9th  of  April  following,  in  the  company  of  the 
same  Mr.  Rawlins  and  Mr.  Hugo  Sewel.  In  their  way  they  met 
with  a party  of  Huguenots  belonging  to  the  garrison  of  Crippy,  who 
robbed  them,  and  stripped  them,  and  carried  them  into  that  town, 
the  governor  of  which,  as  Mr.  Genings  writes  to  Dr.  Barret,  April  17, 
from  Abbeville,  treated  them  very  ill,  threatened  them  with  death, 
and  thrust  them  into  a dark  dungeon,  where  they  remained  from 
Tuesday  till  Thursday  night.  ‘ But  we,'  says  he,  ‘ despised  their 
threats,  rejoicing  that  we  sujfered  these  cruelties  from  them,  for  the 
self-same  causes  for  which  we  shall  suffer  death  in  England,  if  God 
gives  us  strength,  so  that  neither  the  prison  nor  the  want  of  meat, 
clothes,  or  bed  any  ways  terrified  us.  On  Thursday  in  the  evening, 
after  we  had  eat  nothing  that  day  but  a little  black  bread,  we  had  our 
papers  restored  to  us,  and  we  were  put  out  of  the  town,  and  about  ten 
o'clock  at  night  we  arrived  at  the  suburbs  of  La  Fere,  God  Almighty 
showing  us  the  way,  which  we  knew  not.  When  we  had  here  rested 
our  wearied  bodies,  the  next  day  the  governor  of  La  Fere  gave  us  a 
crown,  and  sent  us  away  in  peace;  and  now  we  are  at  Abbeville.’  So 
far  Mr.  Genings  in  his  letter  to  Dr.  Barret,  recorded  in  the  Doway 
Diary. 

He  and  his  companions  embarked  at  Treport,  on  the  coast  of 
Normandy,  in  a French  vessel,  the  master  of  which  promised  to  set 
them  ashore  in  the  night  on  the  English  coast.  They  landed  near 
Whitby,  in  Yorkshire,  on  the  side  of  a high  cliff,  with  great  danger 
of  their  lives;  and  when  they  came  into  the  town  to  refresh  them- 
selves, they  found  in  the  inn  one  Ratcliff e,  a pursuivant,  who  sus- 
pected them,  and  put  them  many  questions  concerning  their  arrival 
thither.  But  their  time  was  not  yet  come,  and  God  delivered  them 
out  of  his  hands,  and  conducted  them  safe  to  a Catholic  gentleman’s 
house  within  two  or  three  miles  of  Whitby.  And  here  they  parted 
from  one  another;  and  Mr.  Genings,  after  half  a year’s  stay  in  the 
northern  parts  of  the  kingdom,  going  to  Lichfield,  his  native  city,  in 
order  to  gain  there  the  souls  of  his  nearest  relations,  found  that  most 
of  his  friends  and  kindred  were  dead,  except  one  brother  whom  he 
heard  to  be  in  London,  but  in  what  part  of  the  town  he  could  not 

172 


EDMUND  GENINGS 


1591] 

learn.  But  as  he  understood  the  state  of  his  soul  to  be  at  that  time 
very  bad,  his  charity  determined  him  to  go  up  to  London  to  seek 
after  this  strayed  sheep.  Here,  for  a whole  month,  he  left  no  place 
untried  where  he  could  suspect  his  brother  might  be;  but  still  not 
finding  him,  and  having  now  no  hopes  of  meeting  with  him,  he 
resolved  to  leave  the  town  for  a time,  when,  behold  ! God  Almighty 
brought  him  to  the  sight  of  his  brother — though  at  first  without 
knowing  him — and  that  in  a strange  manner.  ‘ And  thus  it  was,’ 
[says  this  brother  in  his  Life,  p.  54,]  ‘ as  I have  heard  from  his  own 
mouth. 

‘ Having,  as  I have  said,  a determination  to  leave  London  for  a 
while,  he  walked  forth  of  his  inn  one  morning  (certain  days  before 
he  had  purposed  to  travel)  to  visit  a friend  of  his  on  the  other  side 
of  the  city;  and  passing  by  St.  PauVs  Churchy  when  he  was  on  the 
east  side  thereof,  he  suddenly  felt  a great  alteration  in  his  body, 
insomuch  as  his  face  glowed,  and,  as  he  thought,  his  hair  stood  on 
end,  and  all  his  joints  trembling  for  fear,  his  whole  body  seemed 
to  be  bathed  in  a cold  sweat.  This  strange  accident  causing  him  to 
fear  some  evil  to  be  imminent  towards  him,  or  danger  of  taking,  he 
looked  back  to  see  if  he  could  perceive  any  body  pursuing  him,  but 
seeing  nobody  near  but  only  a youth  in  a brown  coloured  cloak, 
making  no  reflection  who  it  should  be,  he  went  forward  to  his 
intended  place  to  say  Mass  that  day.  Not  long  after,  on  the  very 
morning  before  he  purposed  to  depart  out  of  the  town,  the  blessed 
man,  recollecting  himself  in  his  devotions,  seriously  prayed  that 
his  departure  without  finding  his  desired  brother  might  increase 
his  patience;  and  although  it  afflicted  him  very  much,  yet  he  cried 
out.  Fiat  voluntas  tua — My  will  is  Thy  will^  sweet  Lord^  Thy  will  be 
done.  His  devotions  being  finished,  he  went  abroad  to  another 
place,  where  he  had  promised  to  celebrate  Mass  that  day  before  his 
departure;  which  done,  as  he  was  returning  homewards  towards 
his  inn,  upon  Ludgate  Hill,  suddenly,  as  he  was  going,  he  felt  the 
same  motions  as  he  had  done  the  time  before;  and  as  the  lamb 
naturally  feareth  the  ravening  wolf,  so  his  innocency  fearing  the 
worst,  looked  back  to  see  who  followed  him:  and  behold,  no  man 
of  mark  but  a youth  in  a brown  cloak,  and  at  the  same  instant 
reflecting  on  the  time  past  when  he  suffered  the  like  agitation,  and 
steadfastly  viewing  the  young  man  (whom  he  had  left  a little  boy  in 
the  country,  and  had  not  seen  for  eight  or  nine  years),  he  was  struck 
with  this  thought.  This  may  he  my  brother.  Upon  this  he  approached 
the  youth,  and  courteously  saluting  him,  inquired  what  countryman 
he  was ; and  hearing  that  he  was  a Stajfordshire  man,  civilly  demanded 

173 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 


his  name,  who  made  answer  his  name  was  Genings^ — by  which  he 
knew  he  certainly  was  his  brother,  so  long  sought  after.  Then 
casting  an  eye  towards  heaven,  by  way  of  love  and  thanks,  smiling 
upon  the  party,  he  told  him.  He  was  his  kinsman  and  was  called 
Ironmonger,  and  asked  him  what  was  become  of  his  brother  Edmund. 
The  youth,  not  suspecting  him  to  be  the  man,  told  him  He  had  heard 
he  was  gone  to  Rome  to  the  Pope,  and  was  become  a notable  Papist 
and  a traitor  both  to  God  and  his  country,  and  that  if  he  did  return 
he  would  be  hanged  infallibly.  Mr.  Edmund  hearing  this,  and  smiling 
at  the  boy’s  folly,  told  him.  That  he  had  heard  his  brother  was  a very 
honest  man,  and  loved  both  the  Queen  and  his  country,  but  God  above 
all.  But  tell  me,  said  he,  good  cousin  John,  do  you  not  know  him 
if  you  see  him  ? To  which  John  answered.  No.  But  beginning  to 
suspect  that  he  was  his  brother  and  a priest,  told  him.  He  could  not 
tell  what  he  was,  but  that  he  greatly  feared  he  had  a brother  a Papist 
priest,  and  that  he  was  the  man — swearing  withal.  That  if  it  was  so, 
he  would  discredit  himself  and  all  his  friends;  and  protesting.  That 
in  this  he  would  never  follow  him,  although  in  other  matters  he  would 
greatly  respect  himi* 

In  a word,  Mr.  Edmund  upon  this  occasion  discovered  himself  to 
his  brother,  though  not  telling  him  that  he  was  a priest,  but  did  not 
find  in  him  any  present  dispositions  towards  his  conversion ; neither 
was  it  a proper  time  or  place  to  treat  upon  that  subject.  Therefore, 
taking  his  leave  of  him,  he  promised  to  see  him  again  after  his  return 
out  of  the  country,  and  then  to  impart  to  him  some  affairs  of  great 
consequence.  But  the  conversion  of  his  brother  was  to  be  the  fruit 
of  his  martyrdom,  which,  after  labouring  for  some  short  time  in 
preaching,  catechising,  and  performing  his  other  priestly  functions 
in  the  country,  he  came  to  meet  with  in  London,  as  we  shall  now  see. 

It  was  on  the  yth  of  November,  1591,  Mr.  Genings  returned  to 
London,  and  met  that  evening,  in  a Catholic  house  in  Holborn, 
Mr.  Poly  dor  e Plasden,  a very  virtuous  and  godly  priest,  and  a fellow 
collegian  of  his  at  Rhemes;  and  treating  with  him  where  they  should 
say  Mass  the  next  day,  it  being  the  Octave  of  All  Saints,  they  con- 
cluded to  say  their  matins  together,  and  to  celebrate  the  next  morning 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Swithin  Wells,  and  acquainted  some  friends  with 
this  design.  Here,  on  the  next  day,  Mr.  Genings  being  at  the  con- 
secration, and  Mr.  Plasden  [and  Mr.  White,]  priests,  Mr.  Brian 
Lacy,  gtnt.,John  Mason,  and  Sydney  Hodgson,  laymen,  Mrs.  Wells 
and  others  being  present,  Topcliffe,  the  arch-priest-catcher,  with  other 
officers,  came  in  and  broke  open  the  chamber  door  where  he  was 
celebrating.  Upon  this  occasion,  the  gentlemen  before  named 

174 


1591] 


EDMUND  GENINGS 


arising  from  their  devotions,  thought  proper  to  oppose  force  to 
force,  so  to  prevent  the  profanation  of  the  sacred  mysteries:  and  one 
of  the  laymen  seeing  Mr.  Topclijfe  obstinately  bent  upon  coming  in, 
run  upon  him  to  thrust  him  down  stairs,  and  in  the  struggle  fell 
with  him.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Plasden^  having  appointed  the  rest 
to  keep  the  broken  door,  went  to  the  altar  and  bid  Mr.  Genings  go 
forward  and  finish  the  Mass.  Then,  returning  to  the  door,  and 
seeing  Mr.  Topclijfe  hastening  up  with  a broken  head,  and  fearing 
he  would  raise  the  whole  street,  to  pacify  him,  told  him.  He  should 
come  in  presently^  and  they  would  all  yield  themselves  up  his  prisoners; 
which  they  did  as  soon  as  the  Mass  was  ended:  when  Topclijfe  and 
the  rest,  rushing  in,  took  Mr.  Genings  as  he  was  in  his  vestments, 
and  all  the  rest,  men  and  women,  to  the  number  of  about  ten,  with 
their  church  stuff,  books,  <Sfc.,  and  carried  them  to  Newgate;  who 
were,  shortly  after,  all  examined  by  Justice  Yonge,  and  returned  to 
prison  to  take  their  trials  next  sessions.  Mr.  Wells,  who  was  absent 
when  this  happened,  at  his  return  finding  his  house  ransacked  and 
his  wife  carried  away  to  prison,  went  forthwith  to  Justice  Yonge,  to 
expostulate  with  him  about  the  matter,  and  to  demand  his  wife  and 
the  keys  of  his  lodging.  But  the  justice,  without  more  ado,  sent  him 
to  bear  the  rest  company,  with  a pair  of  iron  bolts  on  his  legs;  and 
examining  him  the  next  day  in  Newgate,  upon  his  answering.  That 
he  was  not  indeed  privy  to  the  Mass  being  said  in  his  house,  hut 
wished  he  had  been  present,  thinking  his  house  highly  honoured  by 
having  so  divine  a sacrifice  offered  therein,  the  justice  told  him  that, 
though  he  was  not  at  the  feast,  he  should  taste  of  the  sauce. 

On  the  4th  of  December,  Mr.  Genings  and  all  the  rest  were 
brought  upon  their  trial,  and  a jury  was  impanelled  to  find  them 
all  guilty;  and  yet  all  they  could  prove  against  them  was  no  more 
than  that  one  of  them  had  said  Mass  in  Mr.  Wells's  house  and  the 
rest  had  heard  the  said  Mass.  Many  bitter  words  and  scoffs  were 
used  by  the  judges  and  others  upon  the  bench,  particularly  to  Mr. 
Genings,  because  he  was  very  young,  and  had  angered  them  with 
disputes.  And  the  more  to  make  him  a scoff  to  the  people,  they 
vested  him,  not  now  in  his  priestly  garments  (in  which  they  had 
before  carried  him  through  the  streets),  but  in  a ridiculous  fool’s 
coat,  which  they  found  in  Mr.  Wells's  house.  In  conclusion,  the 
next  day  the  jury  brought  in  their  verdict,  by  which  the  three  priests 
were  all  found  guilty  of  high  treason  for  returning  into  the  realm 
contrary  to  the  statute  of  27  Elizabeth,  and  all  the  rest  of  felony  for 
aiding  and  assisting  to  the  priests;  and  it  was  appointed  that  they 
should  all  die  at  Tyburn,  except  Mr.  Genings  and  Mr.  Wells,  who 

175 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 

were  to  be  executed  before  Mr.  Wellses  own  door  in  Gray's  Inn 
Fields.  The  judges,  after  pronouncing  sentence,  began  to  persuade 
them  to  conform  to  the  Protestant  religion,  assuring  them  that  by 
so  doing  they  should  obtain  mercy,  but  otherwise  they  must  certainly 
expect  to  die.  But  they  all  bravely  answered.  That  they  would  live 
and  die  in  the  true  Roman  Catholic  faiths  which  they  and  all  antiquity 
had  ever  professed^  and  that  they  would  by  no  means  go  to  the  Protestant 
churches,  or  once  think  that  the  Queen  could  be  the  head  of  the  Church 
in  spirituals. 

At  their  return  to  Newgate,  the  three  priests  were  cast  into  the 
dungeon;  and  whilst  they  were  there.  Justice  Yonge,  Mr.  Topcliffe, 
and  others  twice  or  thrice  came  to  the  prison,  and  calling  for  Mr. 
Genings,  promised  him  both  life  and  liberty  if  he  would  go  to  their 
church  and  renounce  his  religion,  giving  him  also  hopes  of  a living 
and  promotion  in  that  case;  but  they  found  him  still  constant  and 
resolute;  with  which  they  being  highly  offended,  put  him  into  a 
dark  hole  within  the  prison,  where  he  could  not  so  much  as  see  his 
own  hands,  nor  get  up  or  down  without  hazard  of  breaking  his  neck. 
Here  he  remained  in  prayer  and  contemplation,  without  any  food 
or  sustenance,  till  the  hour  of  his  death. 

On  the  loth  of  December,  at  eight  in  the  morning,  Mr.  Plasden, 
Mr.  White,  &c.,  were  carried  to  Tyburn  and  there  executed;  Mrs. 
Wells,  to  her  great  grief,  was  reprieved,  and  died  in  prison.  Mr. 
Genings  and  Mr.  Wells  were  brought,  according  to  sentence,  to 
Gray's  Inn  Fields,  over  against  Mr.  Wells's  door,  to  suffer  there; 
where,  after  a few  speeches  of  some  ministers  that  were  there  present, 
Mr.  Genings  was  taken  off  the  sled,  and,  like  St.  Andrew,  joyfully 
saluted  the  gibbet  prepared  for  him.  ‘ Being  put  upon  the  ladder 
(p.  84),  many  questions  were  asked  him  by  some  standers  by,  whereto 
he  still  answered  directly.  At  length  Mr.  Topcliffe  cried  out  with 
a loud  voice,  Genings,  Genings,  confess  thy  fault,  thy  Popish  treason, 
and  the  Queen  by  submission  no  doubt  will  grant  thee  pardon.  To 
which  he  mildly  answered,  I know  not,  Mr.  Topcliffe,  in  what  I have 
offended  my  dear  anointed  Princess;  for  if  I had  offended  her,  or  any 
other,  in  any  thing,  I would  willingly  ask  her  and  all  the  world  for- 
giveness. If  she  be  offended  with  me  without  a cause,  for  professing  my 
faith  and  religion,  because  I am  a priest,  or  because  I will  not  turn 
minister  against  my  conscience,  I shall  be,  I trust,  excused  and  innocent 
before  God.  I must  obey  God,  saith  St.  Peter,  rather  than  men, 
(Acts  V.) ; and  I must  not  in  this  case  acknowledge  a fault  where  there 
is  none.  If  to  return  into  England  priest,  or  to  say  Mass,  be  Popish 
treason,  I here  confess  I am  a traitor;  but  I think  not  so,  and  therefore 

176 


EDMUND  GENINGS, 


1591] 

/ acknowledge  myself  guilty  of  these  things,  not  with  repentance  or 
sorrow  of  heart,  but  with  an  open  protestation  of  inward  joy  that  I 
have  done  so  good  deeds;  which,  if  they  were  to  do  again,  I would,  by 
the  permission  and  assistance  of  God,  accomplish  the  same,  although 
with  the  hazard  of  a thousand  lives.' 

Mr.  Topcliffe  being  very  angry  at  this  speech,  scarce  giving  him 
liberty  to  say  a Pater  Noster,  bid  the  hangman  turn  the  ladder,  which 
being  done,  he  presently  caused  the  rope  to  be  cut.  The  holy  priest, 
being  little  or  nothing  stunned,  stood  on  his  feet,  casting  his  eyes 
towards  heaven  till  the  hangman  tripped  up  his  heels  to  make  him 
fall  on  the  block  on  which  he  was  to  be  quartered.  After  he  was 
dismembered,  the  violence  of  the  pain  caused  him  to  utter  these 
words  with  a loud  voice,  Oh,  it  smarts!  which  Mr.  Wells  hearing, 
replied,  Alas ! sweet  sold,  thy  pain  is  great  indeed,  but  almost  past; 
pray  for  me  now,  most  holy  saint,  that  mine  may  come.  After  he  was 
ripped  up,  and  his  bowels  cast  into  the  fire,  ‘ if  credit  may  be  given,’ 
says  his  brother,  [p.  86,]  ‘ to  hundreds]  of  people  standing  by,  and 
to  the  hangman  himself,  the  blessed  martyr  (his  heart  being  in  the 
executioner’s  hand)  uttered  these  words,  Sancte  Gregori  ora  pro  me; 

which  the  hangman  hearing,  swore  a most  wicked  oath,  Z ds  ! 

see,  his  heart  is  in  my  hand,  and  yet  Gregory  is  in  his  mouth.  O 
egregious  Papist!' 

Amongst  many  Catholics  that  were  present  at  his  execution, 
there  was  a devout  virgin,  who  had  wholly  dedicated  herself  to  the 
service  of  God,  who  had  a great  desire  to  get,  if  possible,  some  little 
part  of  his  flesh  or  of  his  blood  to  keep  as  a relic ; but  not  being  able 
to  come  near  the  gibbet  for  the  crowd,  she  followed  his  quarters 
as  they  were  carried  back  again  to  Newgate  to  be  boiled ; when  many 
running  to  see  them  before  they  were  carried  up  to  boiling,  to  satisfy 
their  curiosity.  Bull,  the  hangman,  took  up  one  of  the  fore-quarters 
by  the  arm,  which,  when  he  had  shewed  to  the  people,  he  flung  down 
carelessly  into  the  basket  again,  so  that  both  the  hand  and  arm  hung 
out  over  the  sides  of  the  basket;  which  the  said  virgin  seeing,  drew^ 
near  to  touch  it,  and  laying  hold  of  his  anointed  thumb,  by  a secret 
instinct  gave  it  a little  pull,  only  to  shew  her  love  and  desire  of  having 
it,  when,  behold  ! to  her  great  surprise,  the  thumb  was  instantly 
separated  from  the  rest  of  the  hand,  and  remained  in  her  hand,  which 
she  carried  off  without  being  taken  notice  of  by  any  one. 

This  young  gentlewoman,  presently  after  this  miraculous 
acquisition,  took  a resolution  to  renounce  entirely  the  world  and  all 
its  vanities,  and  going  beyond  the  seas  with  this  her  relic,  became  a 
nun  of  the  Order  of  St.  Augustine,  and  hearing  of  this  martyr’s  own 

177  M 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 

brother,  says  my  author,  speaking  of  himself  (p.  94),  living  in  the 
Seminary  of  Doway^  sent  him,  for  a token,  a little  piece  of  the  same 
thumb  enclosed  in  a letter  written  with  her  own  hand,  protesting 
the  verity  of  all  the  aforesaid  narration. 

But  the  most  wonderful  event  that  followed  Mr.  Genings'  death 
was  the  sudden  conversion  of  this  same  brother,  which  he,  speaking 
of  himself  in  the  third  person,  thus  relates,  p.  98,  &c.: — ‘ This 
martyr’s  brother,  called  John  Genings,  being  in  London  at  the  very 
time  of  his  brother’s  apprehension,  condemnation,  and  execution, 
hearing  of  the  same,  rather  rejoiced  than  any  way  bewailed  the 
untimely  and  bloody  end  of  his  nearest  kinsman,  hoping  thereby  to 
be  rid  of  all  persuasions,  which  he  mistrusted  he  should  receive 
from  him  touching  the  Catholic  religion,  [having  been  brought  up, 
as  he  tells  his  readers  a little  above,  in  great  prejudices  to  Catholics, 
and  rather  inclined  to  Puritanism.]  But  about  ten  days  after  his 
execution,  towards  night,  having  spent  all  that  day  in  sport  and 
jollity,  being  weary  with  play,  he  resorted  home,  where,  to  repose 
himself,  he  went  into  a secret  chamber.  He  was  no  sooner  there 
set  down,  but  forthwith  his  heart  began  to  be  heavy,  and  he  began 
to  weigh  how  idly  he  had  spent  that  day.  Amidst  these  thoughts 
there  presently  was  represented  to  his  mind  a strange  imagination 
and  apprehension  of  the  death  of  his  brother,  and  amongst  other 
things,  how  he  had  not  long  before  forsaken  all  worldly  pleasures, 
and,  for  his  religion  only,  endured  intolerable  torments.  Then 
within  himself  he  made  long  discourses  concerning  his  religion  and 
his  brother’s,  comparing  the  Catholic  manner  of  living  with  his,  and 
finding  the  one  to  embrace  pain  and  mortification,  and  the  other  to 
seek  pleasure;  the  one  to  live  strictly,  and  the  other  licentiously; 
the  one  to  fear  sin,  the  other  to  run  into  all  kinds  of  sin.  Upon  this, 
being  struck  with  exceeding  terror  and  remorse,  he  wept  bitterly, 
desiring  God,  after  his  fashion,  to  illuminate  his  understanding  that 
he  might  see  and  perceive  the  truth.  Oh  ! what  great  joy  and  con- 
solation did  he  feel  at  that  instant;  what  reverence  on  the  sudden  did 
he  begin  to  bear  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  to  the  Saints  of  God,  which 
before  he  had  never  scarce  heard  tell  of;  what  strange  motions,  as  it 
were  inspirations,  with  exceeding  readiness  of  will  to  change  his 
religion,  took  possession  of  his  soul;  and  what  a heavenly  conceit 
had  he  now  of  his  dear  brother’s  felicity  ! He  imagined  he  saw  him ; 
he  thought  he  heard  him.  In  this  ecstasy  of  mind,  he  made  a vow 
upon  the  spot,  as  he  lay  prostrate  on  the  ground.  To  forsake  kindred 
and  country  to  find  out  the  true  knowledge  of  his  brother's  faith;  which 
vow  he  soon  after  performed,  and  departed  England  without  adver- 

178 


591] 


SWITHIN  WELLS 


tising  any  one  of  his  friends,  and  went  beyond  the  seas  to  execute 
his  promise.’ 

This  Mr.  John  Genings  became  afterwards  an  alumnus  of  Doway 
College,  where  he  was  made  priest  in  1607,  and  was  from  thence 
sent  upon  the  mission  in  1608.  After  some  time  he  entered  into 
the  holy  Order  of  St.  Francis,  and  was  the  happy  instrument  of 
procuring  a convent  for  his  Order  at  Doway  in  1617,  and  of  restoring 
the  English  Franciscan  province,  of  which  he  was  the  first  Provincial, 
which  has  since  furnished  the  mission  with  many  zealous  apostolical 
labourers  and  holy  martyrs. 


SWITHIN  WELLS,  Gentleman.* 

He  was  the  sixth  son  of  Thomas  Wells,  of  Bramhridge,  near 
Winchester,  Esq.,  and  brother  to  that  worthy  confessor,  Gilbert 
Wells,  Esq.,  renowned  for  his  immovable  constancy,  and  great 
persecutions  which  he  suffered  under  Queen  Elizabeth  for  the 
Catholic  religion.  Mr.  Swithin  was  virtuously  educated  from  his 
infancy,  and  carefully  instructed  in  all  manner  of  learning  fitting  his 
age  and  condition.  He  was  good-natured,  pleasant  in  conversation, 
courteous,  generous,  courageous,  and  every  way  a gentleman  in  his 
comportment.  He  took  to  wife  a virtuous  gentlewoman,  who,  as 
we  have  seen,  was  condemned  with  him;  but  did  not  die  with  him, 
being  reserved  to  suffer  a longer  and  more  lingering  martyrdom  in 
prison. 

‘ As  Mr.  Wells  grew  more  mature  in  age,  so  he  did  in  virtues; 
and  although  he  much  delighted  in  hawking,  hunting,  and  other 
such-like  gentleman’s  diversions,  yet  he  so  soberly  governed  his 
affections  therein  as  to  be  content  to  deprive  himself  of  a good  part 
of  those  pleasures,  and  retire  to  a more  profitable  employment  of 
training  up  young  gentlemen  in  virtue  and  learning,  with  such 
success,  says  my  author,  that  his  school  hath  been,  as  it  were,  a 
fruitful  seminary  to  many  w^orthy  members  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
whereof  one  hath  already  gained  the  crown  of  martyrdom;  others 
yet  remain,  some  industrious  and  painful  workmen  in  the  happy 
harvest  of  soul,  and  some  strong  and  immovable  pillars,  to  support 
the  Catholic  cause  against  so  many  grievous  storms  and  tempests 
as  are  daily  raised  against  it.’ 

* Ven.  Swithin  Wells. — From  Mr.  John  Genings’  Relation  of  the  Life 
and  Death  of  Mr.  Wells,  and  from  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript  History; 
see  also  Catholic  Encyclopcedia.  Also  infra,  Appendix  II. 

179 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 


We  have  already  seen  in  what  manner  Mr.  Wells  was  appre- 
hended, imprisoned,  and  condemned  to  die,  and  how  he  refused  to 
save  his  life  by  renouncing  his  religion.  The  following  letter,  which 
he  wrote  to  his  brother-in-law,  JMr.  Gerard  Morin  (a  constant 
professor  of  and  sufferer  for  the  Catholic  faith),  whilst  he  was  in 
prison  before  his  condemnation,  as  it  excellently  expresses  the 
interior  dispositions  of  his  soul,  deserves  particularly  to  be  here 
recorded. 

‘ The  comforts  which  captivity  bringeth  are  so  manifold,  that  I 
have  rather  cause  to  thank  God  highly  for  His  fatherly  correction 
than  to  complain  of  any  worldly  misery  whatsoever.  Dominus  de 
coelo  in  terram  aspexit  ut  audiret gemitus  compeditorum,  etc.  Potius  mihi 
hahetur  ajfligt  pro  Christo,  quam  honor ari  a Christo.  These,  and  the 
like,  cannot  but  comfort  a good  Christian,  and  cause  him  to  esteem 
his  captivity  to  be  a principal  freedom,  his  prison  a heavenly  harbour, 
and  his  irons  an  ornament.  These  will  plead  for  him,  and  the  prison 
will  protect  him.  God  send  me  withal  the  prayers  of  all  good  folks 
to  obtain  some  end  of  all  miseries,  such  as  to  His  holy  will  and 
pleasure  shall  be  most  agreeable.  I have  been  long  time  in  durance, 
and  endured  much  pain ; but  the  many  future  rewards  in  the  heavenly 
payment  make  all  pains  seem  to  me  a pleasure;  and  truly  custom 
hath  caused  that  it  is  now  no  grief  to  be  debarred  from  company, 
desiring  nothing  more  than  solitariness;  but  rather  I rejoice  that 
thereby  I have  the  better  occasion,  with  prayer,  to  prepare  myself 
to  that  happy  end  for  which  I was  created  and  placed  here  by  God, 
assuring  myself  always  of  this  one  thing,  that  how  few  soever  I see, 
yet  am  I not  alone.  Solus  non  est  cui  Christus  comes  est — “ He  is  not 
alone  who  has  Christ  in  his  company.”  When  I pray,  I talk  with 
God;  when  I read.  He  talketh  to  me;  so  that  I am  never  alone.  He 
is  my  chiefest  companion  and  only  comfort.  Cum  ipso  sum  in 
trihulatione. 

‘ I have  no  cause  to  complain  of  the  hardness  of  prison,  considering 
the  effects  thereof,  and  the  rather  because  I fasten  not  my  affections 
upon  worldly  vanities,  whereof  I have  had  my  full,  to  my  great  grief 
and  sorrow. 

‘ I renounced  the  world  before  ever  I tasted  of  imprisonment, 
even  in  my  baptism;  which  being  so,  how  little  doth  it  import  in 
what  place  I be  in  the  world,  since,  by  promise,  I vowed  once  never 
to  be  of  the  world;  which  promise  and  profession,  how  slenderly 
soever  I have  kept  heretofore,  I purpose,  for  the  time  to  come,  God 
assisting  me  with  His  grace  in  my  commenced  enterprise,  to  continue 
to  my  life’s  end.  The  world  is  crucified  to  me,  and  I to  the  world. 

180 


SWITHIN  WELLS 


1591] 

God  forbid  that  I should  glory  in  any  thing  but  in  the  cross  of  Christ. 
I utterly  refuse  all  commodities,  pleasures,  pastimes,  and  delights, 
saving  only  the  sweet  service  of  God,  in  whom  is  the  perfectio  1 of 
all  true  pleasures.  Vanitas  vanitatum,  et  omnia  vanitas  prceter  amare 
Deum — “ Vanity  of  vanities  and  all  is  vanity,  besides  loving  God.” 
I am  bound  and  charged  with  gyves y yet  am  I loose  and  unbound 
towards  God;  and  far  better  I account  it  to  have  the  body  bound, 
than  the  soul  to  be  in  bondage.  I am  threatened  hard  with  danger 
of  death;  but  if  it  be  no  worse,  I will  not  wish  it  to  be  better.  God 
send  me  His  grace,  and  then  I weigh  not  what  flesh  and  blood  can 
do  unto  me.  I have  answered  to  many  curious  and  dangerous 
questions,  but  I trust  with  good  advisement,  not  offending  my  con- 
science. What  will  become  of  it,  God  knows  best,  to  whose  pro- 
tection I commit  you. 

‘ E carcere  et  catenis  ad  Regnum, 

Tuus  hum  vixero. 

Sw.  W.’ 

Mr.  Wells  received  the  sentence  of  death  with  undaunted  courage, 
and  religiously  prepared  himself  for  it.  The  morning  he  was  to  die, 
his  wife  (who  had  also  received  the  like  sentence  for  the  like  guilt  of 
harbouring  priests)  was  brought  out  of  prison  with  him  and  Mr. 
GeningSy  in  order,  as  it  was  supposed,  for  execution;  but  she  was 
remanded  back  to  prison  by  the  Sheriff,  there  to  wait  the  Queen’s 
pleasure.  That  which  would  have  afforded  great  joy  to  another, 
was  grievously  afflicting  to  this  good  lady,  who  lamented  to  see 
herself  left  behind,  and  not  suffered  to  bear  her  husband  and  her 
ghostly  father  company  in  so  glorious  a death.  She  lived  ten  years 
a close  prisoner  in  Newgatey  exercising  herself  there  in  fasting, 
watching,  and  continual  prayer,  and  died  most  holily  in  1602.  Mr. 
Wells  was  carried  to  be  executed  with  Mr.  Genings  in  Gray^s  Inn 
FieldSy  over  against  his  own  door.  In  the  way,  seeing  by  chance  an 
old  friend  of  his,  he  could  not  forget  his  wonted  mirth;  but  saluted 
him  in  these  words:  ‘ Farewelf  dear  friend ! farewell  all  hawking y 
hunting  y and  old  pastimes;  I am  now  going  a better  way  I At  the  place 
of  execution  he  was  first  witness  of  the  bloody  butchery  of  Mr. 
Genings;  but  so  far  from  being  terrified  by  it,  or  desiring  any  respite 
or  delay  of  execution,  he  rather  expressed  a desire  to  have  his  death 
hastened.  Despatchy?>2dd\\QyMr.  TopcXi^G-y  despatch.  Are  you  not 
ashamed  to  suffer  an  old  man  to  stand  here  so  long  in  his  shirt  in  the 
cold?  I pray  God  make  you  of  a Saul  a Paul,  of  a persecutor  a 
Catholic  professor.  And  in  these  and  other  like  sweet  speeches, 

181 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [159 


says  my  author,  p.  109,  full  of  Christian  piety,  charity,  and 
magnanimity,  he  happily  consummated  his  course  the  loth  of 
December^  1591  • 


EUSTACHIUS  WHITE,  Priest.^ 

EUSTACHIUS  WHITE  was  born  at  Louth  in  Lincolnshire. 
His  father  was  an  earnest  Protestant,  who,  upon  his  son’s 
conversion,  was  so  highly  offended  as  to  lay  his  curse  upon 
him;  but  God  turned  this  curse  into  a blessing.  Mr.  Eustachius 
going  abroad  became  an  alumnus of  the  College  of  Doway^  then 
residing  at  Rhemes^  and  afterwards  of  that  of  Rome,  where  he  was 
made  priest.  He  returned  to  Rhemes  in  October^  1588;  and  from 
thence,  in  the  November  following,  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission. 
Mr.  John  Genings^  in  the  Life  of  his  brother,  reckons  Mr.  White 
in  the  number  of  those  who  were  taken  together  in  Mr.  Wells's 
house;  and  certain  it  is  that  he  suffered  on  the  same  day  with  Mr. 
Genings  and  Mr.  Plasden;  but,  except  we  suppose  him  to  have  been 
twice  apprehended,  I have  some  reason  to  think  there  may  be  a 
mistake  in  that  particular  of  his  being  taken  with  Mr.  Genings;  for  I 
have  a manuscript  in  my  hands,  written  by  Mr.  Stephen  Barnes^ 
priest,  who  was  acquainted  with  Mr.  White^  which  gives  a very 
different  account  of  his  apprehension;  for  thus  he  writes  to  Mr. 
Barber^  priest,  then  living  in  Doway  College: — 

‘ Amongst  your  priests  martyred,  there  is  one  Mr.  Eustachius 
White,  who  resided  in  our  country,  whom  I knew.  He  was  taken 
at  Blandford  in  this  manner:  Coming,  as  I think,  from  London,  he 
fell  into  company  of  a West-countryman,  whose  name  I know  not, 
but  he  was  somewhat  belonging  to  the  law.  Riding  with  him,  Mr. 
White,  being  a fine  gentleman-like  man,  and  of  good  discourse  and 
conversation,  passed  his  time  very  well  with  him,  and,  to  feel  the 
man’s  disposition  in  religion,  talked  of  matters  beyond  the  seas,  as 
having  been  a traveller;  and  finding  the  lawyer  well  affected,  as  he 
thought,  in  religion,  spoke  the  more  freely,  but  no  ways  discovering 
what  he  was.  Their  ways  lying  together  to  Blandford,  but  no 
farther,  Mr.  White  would  have  taken  his  leave  there,  but  the  lawyer 
urged  him  that  they  might  there  breakfast  together  before  they 
parted,  to  whose  importunity  he  yielded;  and  having  a little  bag  at 

* Ven.  Eustace  White. — From  Dr,  Champney’s  Manuscript  History 
and  other  Manuscripts  in  my  hands;  and  from  the  Bishop  of  Tarrasona’s 
History  of  the  Persecution;  see  also  Life  of  Genings;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

182 


1591]  EUSTACHIUS  WHITE 

his  saddle,  in  which,  amongst  other  things,  was  his  breviary,  took  that 
into  the  chamber  with  him;  but  after  breakfast,  having  taken  leave 
of  his  companion,  and  gone  out  of  the  town,  the  lawyer  informed 
the  officers  that  he  was  a Seminary  priest,  and  telling  them  which  way 
he  was  to  go,  they  made  after  him.  Mr.  White,  in  the  mean  time, 
missing  his  breviary,  which  he  had  left  in  the  inn,  turned  back. 
The  officers  met  him,  but  not  suspecting  him  coming  towards  the 
town,  nor  he  them  about  what  they  were  going,  came  directly  to 
the  inn,  where  he  was  taken.  And  being  much  urged  whether  he 
vvas  not  a priest,  easily  confessed  it,  when  he  might  do  it  without 
danger  to  any  other.  Having  confessed  himself  to  be  a priest,  they 
sent  immediately  for  the  minister,  one  Dr.  Howel,  a tall  man,  and  a 
great  opinion  there  was  of  his  learning.  They  conferred  together, 
what  their  controversy  was  I know  not;  but  Mr.  White  alleged  for 
himself  a place  of  Scripture,  which  the  Doctor  denied.  Mr.  White 
avouched  that  it  was  so  in  their  own  book,  and  the  other  still  denied 
it.  Mr.  White  wished  him  to  come  again  the  next  day,  and  bring 
his  book  with  him,  and  if  he  could  not  show  it  in  his  book,  he  would 
go  to  church  with  him:  the  other  answered  as  resolutely.  That  if  it 
were  so,  he  would  never  go  to  church  more  but  he  a Papist.  Thus,  for 
the  present,  they  left  their  disputation.  The  next  day  (the  rumour 
of  this  being  spread  about)  great  numbers  came,  expecting  surely 
to  have  the  priest  to  church  with  them.  The  Doctor  also  came  and 
brought  his  book  with  him;  but  being  come  into  the  room,  he  laid 
the  book  on  the  table  and  his  elbow  upon  it,  and  began  to  talk  of 
other  matters;  but  Mr.  White  repeating  openly  the  conditions  agreed 
on  the  night  before,  asked  him  whether  he  had  brought  his  book. 
He  answered.  Yes;  but  he  held  it  fast  under  his  elbow,  and  would 
have  entered  into  other  disputes;  but  Mr.  White  urged  they  were 
not  needful,  but  that  he  should  bring  forth  the  book,  and  their 
conference  would  be  ended ; for  that  either  he  must  go  to  church  or 
the  Doctor  be  a Papist.  The  Doctor  as  yet  not  offering  to  shew 
the  book,  Mr.  White  endeavoured,  with  modesty,  to  take  it  from 
under  his  elbow,  but  he  would  not  let  it  go;  whereupon  Mr.  White, 
turning  to  the  audience,  repeated  the  conditions  again,  and  willed 
them  to  judge  who  had  the  right,  and  withal  to  consider  well  with 
what  false  doctrine  they  were  seduced,  and  so  would  deal  no  more 
with  Dr.  Howel.  The  people  were  much  moved,  and  many,  of 
whom  I know  some,  that  were  very  hot  Protestants  before,  became 
very  calm;  and  the  opinion  of  the  common  sort  was,  that  there  was 
not  such  a learned  man  again  in  England.  He  was  detained  there 
for  some  days,  and  afterwards  sent  for  to  London  by  a pursuivant, 

‘83 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 


and  there  racked,  as  was  said,  seven  times,  and  put  to  death.  I heard, 
at  that  time,  some  of  Blandford  say.  That  they  hoped  the  town  would 
join  together^  and  put  up  a petition  to  the  Queen  to  beg  him.  This  I 
have  heard  from  the  mouths  of  some  in  Blandford  that  were  present, 
and  told  it  me  while  it  w^as  in  every  man’s  mouth ; for  I had  occasion 
to  come  thither  very  soon  after.’  So  far  Mr.  Barnes. 

The  Bishop  of  Tarrasona  and  Dr.  Chanipney  confirm  what  is 
here  said  of  Mr.  White's  being  cruelly  tortured  in  prison.  And  the 
former  in  particular  relates  that  Mr.  White,  lying  in  Bridewell  at 
the  mercy  of  the  inhuman  Toplijfe  or  Topclijfe  (for  I find  his  name 
differently  written),  besides  other  cruel  treatments,  was  once  hung 
up  for  eight  hours  together  by  the  hands  in  iron  manacles,  to  oblige 
him  to  confess  in  whose  houses  he  had  said  Mass,  or  from  whom  he 
had  received  any  relief  since  his  return  into  England.  But  though 
this  torment  was  so  grievous  that  the  sweat  which  the  violence  of  the 
pain  forced  from  his  body  passed  all  his  garments  and  wet  the  very 
ground  under  him,  as  was  attested  by  eye-witnesses,  yet  nothing 
could  be  extorted  from  him  which  might  prejudice  the  persecuted 
Catholics ; and  under  the  greatest  of  his  pains  he  cried  out.  Lord,  more 
pain,  if  Thou  pleasest,  and  more  patience.  Though  Mr.  White  had 
been  thus  inhumanly  handled  by  the  tyrant,  he  told  him,  with  a great 
deal  of  meekness  and  humility,  Mr.  Topcliffe,  I am  not  angry  at  you 
for  all  this,  but  shall  pray  to  God  for  your  welfare  and  salvation. 
Topcliffe  replied  in  a passion.  That  he  wanted  not  the  prayers  of  a 
traitor,  and  that  he  would  have  him  hanged  the  next  sessions.  Then, 
said  Mr.  White,  I will  pray  for  you,  sir,  at  least,  at  the  foot  of  the 
gallows ; for  you  have  great  need  of  prayers. 

Mr.  White  was  condemned  merely  on  account  of  his  priesthood, 
and  was  drawn  to  Tyburn,  and  there  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quar- 
tered, December  10,  1591. 


POLYDORE  PLASDEN,  Priest  * 

POLYDORE  PLASDEN,  whom  Mr.  Stow  calls  Blaxto^i,  was  a 
native  of  London,  and  performed  his  studies  abroad,  partly  in 
the  College  of  Doway,  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  and  partly  in 
that  of  Rome,  from  whence  he  was  sent  priest  upon  the  English 

* Ven.  Polydore  Plasden. — From  the  Douay  Diary  and  the  Bishop  of 
Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  see  also  Life  of  Genings;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia 
(s.v.  White) ; Lives  of  E.  M. 


184 


POLYDORE  PLASDEN 


1591] 

mission.  We  have  already  seen,  in  the  Life  of  Mr.  Genings^  all  that 
regards  Mr.  Plasden's  apprehension,  trial,  and  condemnation.  He 
was  sentenced  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  for  being  a priest 
and  returning  into  England  to  exercise  his  priestly  functions  here. 

He  was  drawn  to  Tyburn,  and  there  hanged,  bo  welled,  and  quar- 
tered, December  10,  1591. 

With  Mr.  White  and  Mr.  Plasden  three  others  were  executed  for 
being  aiding  and  assisting  to  priests,  viz.,  Mr.  Brian  Lacy,  gentle- 
man, John  Mason,  and  Sydney  Hodgson.  They  all  constantly  chose 
to  die  for  their  religion,  rather  than  to  save  their  lives  by  occasional 
conformity. 

Of  all  these  executions  thus  writes  the  Protestant  historian  Mr. 
Stow  in  his  Chronicle,  1591 : — ‘ The  loth  of  December,  three  Semi- 
nary priests,  for  being  in  this  realm  contrary  to  the  statute,  and  four 
others  for  relieving  them,  were  executed.  Two  of  them,  viz.,  a 
Seminary  named  Ironmonger,  and  Swithin  Wells,  gentleman,  in 
Gray's  Inn  Fields,  on  the  north  side  of  Holborn;  Blaxton  and  White, 
Seminaries,  and  three  others,  their  abettors,  at  Tyburn.' 


[ 1592-  ] 

WILLIAM  PATENSON,  or  PATTESON,  Priest.* 

WILLIAM  PATENSON,  or  PATTESON,  was  a native  of  the 
bishopric  of  Durham,  an  alumnus  and  priest  of  Doway  College 
during  its  residence  at  Rhemes.  He  was  ordained  in  1587,  and 
sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1589.  Falling  into  the  hands  of 
the  persecutors,  he  was  prosecuted  and  condemned  to  die  as  in  cases 
of  high  treason,  merely  upon  account  of  his  priestly  character  and 
functions.  This  holy  man,  the  night  before  his  execution,  was  put 
down  into  the  condemned  hole  with  seven  malefactors,  who  were  all 
to  suffer  on  the  next  day ; and  being  more  concerned  for  their  eternal 
salvation  than  his  own  temporal  life,  he  so  movingly  preached  to  them 
repentance  for  their  sins,  and  a sincere  conversion  to  God  and  His 
Church,  that  six  of  the  seven  were  reconciled  by  him,  and  on  the 
next  morning  professed  themselves  determined  to  die  in  the  Catholic 
faith,  as  they  did,  with  great  marks  of  repentance  for  their  past  crimes, 

* Ven.  William  Patenson. — From  the  Douay  Catalogues;  Manuscript 
History  of  Dr.  Champney;  and  Father  Ribadeneira  in  his  Appendix;  see 
also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Acts  of  E.  M.;  Foley,  Records,  iii. 

. 185 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1591 


and  a willingness  to  suffer  that  ignominious  death  in  satisfaction  for 
them.  The  persecutors  were  so  enraged  at  this,  that  they  treated 
Air.  Patenson  on  this  account  with  more  than  ordinary  cruelty, 
causing  him  to  be  cut  down  immediately,  and  butchered  whilst  he 
was  alive  and  in  his  perfect  senses. 

He  suffered  at  Tyburn^  January  22,  159 1-2. 


THOMAS  PORMORT,  or  PORTMORE,  Priest.* 

Thomas  PORMORT,  or  PORTMORE,  was  bom  in  Lincoln- 
shire,  of  a gentleman’s  family.  He  performed  his  studies 
abroad,  partly  in  the  College  of  Rhemes,  and  partly  in  that  of 
Rome,  to  which  he  was  sent  from  Rhemes  in  1581.  At  Rome  he  W'as 
made  priest,  and  from  thence  he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission. 
He  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors  in  August,  1591,  and  was 
committed  to  the  Tower,  where  he  was  several  times  cruelly  racked 
to  extort  from  him,  by  force  of  torments,  the  names  of  those  who 
had  harboured  or  relieved  him.  But  his  constancy  was  proof  against 
all  their  torments,  although  by  the  violence  of  them,  his  body  was 
all  disjointed  and  his  belly  broken.  So  they  proceeded  to  his  trial 
and  condemned  him  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason.  The  crimes 
for  which  he  was  sentenced  to  death  and  afterwards  executed  are 
thus  set  down  by  Air.  Stow  in  his  Chronicle,  1591 : — 

‘ The  8th  of  February,  Thomas  Pormort  was  convicted  of  two 
several  high  treasons,  the  one  for  being  a Seminary  priest,  and  the 
other  for  reconciling  John  Barwys,  haberdasher.  John  Barwys  was 
also  convicted  of  high  treason  for  being  reconciled,  and  of  felony 
for  relieving  the  said  priest  contrary  to  the  statute.  Thomas  Por- 
mort was  executed  in  Paul’s  Churchyard,  February  20.’ 

This  year,  1592,  on  the  23d  of  June,  Robert  Ashton,  gentleman, 
born  at  Croston,  in  Lancashire,  was  executed  at  Tyburn  for  procuring 
a dispensation  from  Rome  to  marry  his  second  cousin  {Catalog. 
Chalced.,  &c.),  and  in  the  same  month,  Thomas  Metham,  one  of  the 
first  missioners  from  Doway,  afterwards  a Jesuit,  died  a prisoner  for 
his  faith  in  Wisbeach  Castle. 

* Ven.  Thomas  Pormort,  or  Portmore. — From  the  Douay  Diary  and 
Catalogues;  from  Ribadeneira;  and  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript;  see  also 
Lives  of  E.  M.;  Acts  of  E.  M.;  C.R.S.,  v. 


186 


593] 


EDWARD  WATERSON 


[ 1593-  ] 

EDWARD  WATERSON,  Priest.* 

Edward  WATERSON  was  bom  at  London,  and  being  come 
to  man’s  estate,  travelled  with  certain  merchants  into  Turkey 
to  see  those  Eastern  regions.  Here  a rich  Turk  taking  a liking 
to  him,  offered  his  daughter  in  marriage  if  he  would  renounce  the 
Christian  religion;  but  this  condition  Mr.  Waterson,  though  at  that 
time  no  Catholic,  rejected  with  horror.  Coming  back  from  Turkey, 
he  took  Rome  in  his  way  homewards,  and  there  was  instructed  and 
reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church  by  means  of  Mr.  Richard  Smith 
(afterwards  Bishop  of  Chalcedon),  then  living  in  the  English  College 
in  that  city.  From  Rome  he  went  to  Rhe?nes,  where  the  College 
was  at  that  time,  which  is  now  at  Doway.  Here  he  was  admitted 
a student,  and  here  he  lived  for  some  years,  a great  pattern  of 
humility,  penance,  and  other  virtues.  He  had  a most  ardent  zeal 
for  the  salvation  of  souls;  and  upon  that  account,  though  he  was  but 
indifferently  learned,  he  was  desirous  to  be  made  priest,  and  to  be 
sent  upon  the  English  mission.  He  had  his  desire,  and  was  ordained 
priest  the  Saturday  after  Mid-Lent  Sunday,  1592,  and  was  sent  into 
England  the  Whitsuntide  following;  on  which  occasion  he  declared 
to  his  companions.  That  if  he  might  have  the  kingdom  of  France  to 
stay  there  till  the  next  Midsummer,  he  would  rather  choose  to  go  for 
England,  as  he  did;  such  was  his  desire  of  being  serviceable  to  the 
souls  of  his  countrymen. 

Mr.  Waterson  was  but  a short  time  in  England  before  he  was 
apprehended,  tried,  and  condemned,  for  being  made  priest  by 
Roman  authority,  and  coming  into  England  and  remaining  here. 
He  received  the  sentence  of  death  with  joy,  and  suffered  with  con- 
stancy. The  Rev.  Archdeacon  Trollope  relates,  from  the  testimony 
of  virtuous  Catholics  who  were  eye-witnesses,  and  related  it  to  him, 

‘ That  whilst  this  blessed  martyr  was  drawn  upon  the  hurdle  to  his 
execution,  upon  a sudden  the  hurdle  stood  still,  and  the  officers,  with 
all  their  whipping  and  striving,  could  not  make  the  horses  to  move 
it,  and  fresh  horses  passing  by,  they  took  them  and  put  them  to  the 
hurdle,  yet  they  could  not  (though  they  broke  the  tresses)  in  any 
way  move  him  or  the  hurdle ; who  seeing  their  attempts  to  be  frus- 

* Ven.  Edward  Waterson. — From  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript 
and  from  a MS.  Relation  of  his  death  sent  over  to  Douay  by  Mr.  Cuthbert 
Trollop,  archdeacon;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Troubles,  iii. 

187 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1593 


trate,  were  forced  to  take  the  martyr  from  the  hurdle,  and  lead  him 
on  foot  to  the  place  of  execution,  saying.  It  would  he  a note  to  the 
Papists  which  had  happened  that  day  I 

Dr.  Champney  adds,  that  being  upon  this  occasion  taken  off  the 
hurdle,  he  walked  cheerfully  towards  the  gallows,  not  as  to  a punish- 
ment, but  as  to  a crown;  and  that  coming  to  the  place,  and  recom- 
mending himself  by  a short  prayer  to  God,  as  he  was  offering  to  go 
up  the  ladder,  it  was  violently  agitated  of  itself,  without  any  visible 
hand,  till  the  confessor  made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  then  the  ladder 
stood  still;  and  he  ascending,  was  shortly  after  turned  off,  and, 
according  to  sentence,  cut  down,  bowelled,  and  quartered.  I find 
Dr.  Champney  was  Mr.  Waterson's  contemporary  at  the  College,  and 
received  clerical  tonsure^  with  about  forty  others,  on  the  same  day 
as  Mr.  Water  son  was  made  deacon,  February  24,  1592. 

Mr.  Water  son  suffered  at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne^  January  7, 1593. 


JAMES  BIRD,  Gentleman.* 

JAMES  BIRD  was  born  at  Winchester,  of  a gentleman’s  family. 
His  parents  brought  him  up  in  the  Protestant  religion,  which, 
upon  a conviction  of  conscience,  he  afterwards  forsook  and 
became  a Catholic,  and  going  abroad,  was  for  some  time  a student 
in  Poway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes.  At  his  return  home, 
his  zeal  for  his  religion  caused  him  to  be  apprehended.  The  accu- 
sations laid  to  his  charge  were  that  he  had  been  reconciled  to  the 
Roman  Church,  and  that  he  maintained  the  Pope  to  be,  under 
Christ,  the  head  of  the  Church.  When  he  was  brought  to  the  bar, 
he  acknowledged  the  indictment,  and  thereupon  received  sentence 
of  death  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  yet  so  that  both  life  and  liberty 
were  offered  him  if  he  would  but  once  go  to  the  Protestant  church, 
but  he  chose  rather  to  die  than  to  act  against  his  conscience.  And 
when  his  father  solicited  him  to  save  his  life  by  complying,  he 
modestly  answered.  That  as  he  had  always  been  obedient  to  him,  so 
would  he  willingly  obey  him  in  this  also,  if  he  could  do  it  without  offend- 
ing God.  After  a long  imprisonment  he  was  hanged,  drawn,  and 
quartered  at  Winchester,  March  25,  1593. 

He  suffered  with  wonderful  constancy  and  cheerfulness,  being 
but  nineteen  years  old.  His  head  was  set  up  on  a pole  upon  one 

* Ven.  James  Bird. — From  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue,  and 
Dr.  Champnev’s  Manuscript;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M. 

188 


1593] 


ANTONY  PAGE— JOSEPH  LAMPTON 


of  the  gates  of  that  city,  which  his  father  one  day  passing  by,  and 
viewing  the  face  of  his  son,  thought  that  the  head  bowing  down  made 
him  a reverence:  upon  which  he  cried  out.  Ah  ! my  son  Jemmy,  who 
not  only  living  wast  ever  obedient  and  dutiful^  but  now  also,  when 
dead,  payest  reverence  to  thy  father ! how  far  from  thy  heart  was 
all  affection  or  will  for  treason,  or  any  other  wickedness  ! 


ANTONY  PAGE,  Priest.^ 

K NTONY  PAGE  was  born  of  a gentleman’s  family,  at  Harrow- 
j \ on-the-Hill,  in  the  county  of  Middlesex,  He  performed  his 
^ ^ studies  abroad  in  then  residing  at  where 

he  was  made  priest  in  1591,  and  sent  upon  the  mission  January  3, 
1 59 1 -2.  Dr.  Champney,  who  was  his  contemporary  at  the  College, 
tells  us  that  he  was  a man  of  wonderful  meekness,  of  a virginal 
modesty  and  purity,  and  of  a more  than  common  learning  and  piety, 
who,  for  his  singular  candour  of  mind  and  sweetness  of  behaviour, 
was  dear  to  all.  Falling  into  the  hands  of  the  adversaries  of  his 
faith,  after  suffering  much  in  prison  and  maintaining  by  disputation 
his  religion  in  some  conferences  with  the  ministers,  he  was  condemned 
to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  merely  on  account  of  his  priestly 
character,  and  was  drawn,  hanged,  and  quartered  at  York,  April  20, 

1593- 


JOSEPH  LAMPTON,  Priest.f 

He  was  born  of  a gentleman’s  family,  at  Malton,  in  Yorkshire; 
and  going  abroad  to  the  College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  there 
performed  part  of  his  studies ; and  being  in  his  divinity,  went 
from  thence  to  Rome,  to  the  English  College  of  that  city,  in  1589. 
But  he  had  not  been  here  long  before  his  zeal  for  the  salvation  of 
the  souls  of  his  neighbours  prompted  him  to  desire  to  break  off  the 
course  of  his  school  divinity,  and  to  return  home  to  look  after  the 
lost  sheep.  So  being  made  priest,  he  was  sent  upon  the  mission, 
where  he  was  immediately  apprehended  and  committed  to  prison, 

* Ven.  Antony  Page. — From  the  same  Catalogue  and  Manuscript, 
and  from  the  Douay  Diary ; see  Aso  Troubles,  in . 

t Ven.  Joseph  Lampton. — From  the  same  Catalogue  and  Manuscript; 
see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Troubles,  iii.;  Gillow. 

189 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1593 


and  not  long  after  brought  to  the  bar,  arraigned  and  condemned  for 
being  a priest,  and  coming  into  England  to  perform  his  priestly 
offices  in  this  kingdom.  For  this,  and  no  other  treason,  he  had 
sentence  to  die  the  death  of  a traitor,  which  he  suffered  with  great 
constancy  and  fortitude.  He  was  cut  down  alive,  and  the  hangman 
(who  was  one  of  the  felons,  who,  to  save  his  own  life,  was  to  perform 
that  office)  having  begun  the  butchery  by  dismembering  the  martyr, 
had  so  great  a horror  of  what  he  was  doing,  that  he  absolutely  refused 
to  go  on  with  the  operation,  though  he  was  to  die  for  the  refusal;  so 
that  the  Sheriff  was  obliged  to  seek  another  executioner,  whilst  the 
martyr,  with  invincible  patience  and  courage,  supported  a torment 
which  cannot  be  thought  of  without  horror,  and  which  shocked  even 
the  most  barbarous  of  the  spectators;  till,  at  length,  a butcher  from 
a neighbouring  village  was  brought  to  the  work,  who,  ripping  him 
up  and  bowelling  him,  set  his  holy  soul  at  liberty,  to  take  its  happy 
flight  to  its  sovereign  and  eternal  good. 

He  suffered  at  Newcastle,  July  2^,  1593,  in  the  flower  of  his  age 
(for  he  was  not  yet  thirty)  and  in  the  sight  of  his  friends  and  relations. 


WILLIAM  DAVIES,  Priest.* 

Mr.  DAVIES  was  born,  according  to  Yepez's  relation,  in 
Caernarvon;  according  to  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon^ s catalogue, 
at  Crois  in  Yris,  in  Denbighshire  of  North  Wales.  He  was,  says 
the  former,  of  one  of  the  best  families  of  that  country;  but  leaving 
home,  he  went  beyond  sea,  and  became  a student  in  the  College, 
then  residing  at  Rhemes.  Here,  in  a short  time,  he  made  great 
progress  in  virtue;  and  such  was  his  zeal  of  souls,  that  he  was  very 
desirous,  even  before  he  had  finished  the  usual  course  of  his  divinity 
studies,  to  run  to  the  succour  of  numbers  in  his  country  perishing 
through  error  and  vice.  He  was  made  priest  and  sent  upon  the 
mission  in  1585.  He  chose  his  owm  country  for  the  seat  of  his 
labours,  and  there,  for  several  years,  in  the  midst  of  difficulties  and 
dangers,  sought  after  the  lost  sheep,  and  brought  many  of  them  back 
to  his  Lord’s  fold,  till  about  the  20th  of  March,  1591-2,  going  to 
Holyhead  to  procure  a passage  for  four  young  men  into  Ireland,  who 

* Ven.  William  Davies. — From  the  Douay  Diary;  and  from  the  relation 
of  one  of  his  companions  and  fellow-prisoners,  recorded  by  Bishop  Yepez 
in  his  History  of  the  Persecution ; see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Gillow ; Catholic 
Encyclopcedia;  Camm,  In  the  Brave  Days  of  Old. 

190 


1593] 


WILLIAM  DAVIES 


from  thence  designed  to  go  over  into  Spain,  to  the  College  of  Valla- 
dolid, both  he  and  his  companions  were  taken  up  upon  suspicion,  at 
the  instance  of  one  Mr.  Fulk,  a great  enemy  of  the  Catholics.  They 
passed  that  first  night  in  the  hands  of  the  dregs  of  the  people,  who 
entertained  them  all  the  night  with  scoffs  and  injuries;  but  the  next 
morning  they  were  hurried  away  to  Beaumaris,  which  is  the  county 
town  of  Anglesea.  Here  they  were  all  five  examined — 

If  they  had  any  Agnus  Deis,  or  blessed  medals,  or  Pope’s 
bulls,  or  if  they  had  received  any  letters  from  the  English  Seminaries 
abroad.  They  answered.  No.  They  were  asked  if  they  would  swear 
it  upon  the  Bible.  They  answered.  They  would  not,  for  they  thought 
their  word  was  enough. 

'zdly.  They  were  asked  where  they  were  going  } They  answered. 
To  Ireland. 

'idly.  They  were  asked  if  they  would  go  to  church  or  take  the 
oath  of  supremacy.  They  absolutely  refused  to  do  either.  And  so 
this  day’s  work  ended,  after  they  had  treated  them  with  many 
injurious  words  and  reproaches. 

The  next  day  they  were  again  brought  before  the  magistrates, 
and  examined  more  rigorously;  and  then  Mr.  Davies  frankly  con- 
fessed, That  he  was  a priest  of  the  Seminary  of  Rhemes,  and  that  he 
had  returned  home  to  administer  the  sacraments  to  his  brethren,  the 
Catholics  of  this  kingdom,  and  to  bring  back  as  many  Protestants  as 
he  could  to  the  true  Catholic  religion.  They  urged  him  much  to  tell 
them  with  whom  he  had  lived  all  the  time  he  had  been  in  England,  but 
he  absolutely  refused,  whatever  efforts  they  made,  to  give  them  any 
answer  to  such  questions  as  these,  which  might  be  of  bad  consequence 
to  others. 

Upon  this  confession,  Mr.  Davies  was  separated  from  his  com- 
panions, and  cast  into  a dark,  stinking  dungeon,  between  two  walls 
of  the  Castle  of  Beaumaris , where  he  was  not  suffered  to  see  or  speak 
with  any  one,  till,  after  about  a month’s  time,  his  virtue  and  patience 
had  gained  so  far  upon  the  jailor,  as  to  permit  him  for  about  one  hour 
in  the  day,  viz.,  between  eight  and  nine  in  the  morning,  to  come  out 
of  his  dungeon  to  breathe  a better  air  and  to  converse  with  his  com- 
panions, who  were  kept  prisoners  in  another  part  of  the  Castle.  They 
then  found  the  means  privately  to  procure  a vestment  and  other 
necessaries  to  say  Mass,  which  Mr.  Davies  celebrated  every  day,  and 
afterwards  punctually  returned  to  his  dungeon  to  give  God  thanks, 
and  there  entertained  himself  with  his  Saviour.  The  jailor,  by 
degrees,  was  still  more  indulgent,  insomuch  that  Mr.  Davies  and  his 
companions  wanted  not  opportunities  of  making  their  escape  out 

igi 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1593 


of  the  Castle;  but  they  would  not  requite  the  jailor’s  kindness  by 
exposing  him  to  the  danger  of  falling  into  any  inconveniences  on 
their  account. 

While  Mr.  Davies  was  confined  in  the  Castle  of  Beaumaris^  many, 
attracted  by  the  reputation  of  his  sanctity,  had  recourse  to  him  from 
twenty,  thirty,  or  forty  miles  round — some  for  counsel  in  their 
doubts  and  comfort  in  their  affliction,  others  to  confess  their  sins  and 
treat  with  him  of  the  salvation  of  their  souls;  and  those  who  could 
not  come  in  person  consulted  him  by  letters.  And  it  is  not  to  be 
expressed  how  much  the  cause  of  religion  and  piety  was  thus  in  a 
short  time  advanced  in  all  that  neighbourhood,  insomuch  that 
whereas  before  there  was  scarcely  one  to  be  found  in  those  parts 
who  openly  professed  himself  a Catholic,  there  were  now  a great 
many,  in  spite  of  the  ministers,  who  frequently  came  to  the  Castle 
to  dispute  with  Mr.  Davies;  amongst  whom  was  one  Mr.  Burgess,  a 
noted  preacher,  who  brought  with  him  two  sacks  of  books,  but  gained 
nothing  by  the  conference  but  his  own  confusion. 

When  the  assizes  came  Mr.  Davies  and  his  four  companions  were 
all  brought  to  the  bar,  and  he  was  arraigned  of  high  treason  for  having 
been  made  priest  beyond  the  seas  by  Roman  authority  and  returning 
into  this  kingdom,  and  his  companions  of  felony  for  having  been 
found  in  his  company.  The  jury  found  them  all  guilty  of  their 
respective  indictments;  upon  which,  instead  of  being  any  ways  dis- 
mayed, Mr.  Davies  began  with  a joyful  voice  the  hymn  Te  Deum^  and 
his  companions  joined  with  him  in  the  thanksgiving,  till  the  officers 
of  justice  prohibited  them  to  proceed.  In  the  mean  time  the  people 
murmured  aloud  at  the  injustice  of  the  verdict,  till  the  judge,  to 
appease  them,  told  them.  That  as  to  the  priest,,  nothing  could  he  said 
to  excuse  him  from  the  sentence  of  death;  hut  as  to  the  four  youths  who 
were  taken  in  his  company,  he  thought  the  jury  had  stretched  the  point 
too  far  to  bring  them  in  guilty  of  felony,  since  it  had  not  been  made  to 
appear  at  the  trial  that  they  knew  him  to  he  a priest,  and  therefore  they 
should  be  all  five  sent  hack  to  prison  till  the  Queen  and  her  Council 
had  been  informed  of  the  case,  and  should  signify  their  pleasure  what 
should  he  done  with  them. 

Not  long  after  this  Mr.  Davies  was  ordered  from  Beaumaris  to 
Ludlow,  where,  at  that  time,  the  Council  of  the  Marches  of  Wales 
resided.  Here  the  most  learned  ministers  of  that  country  were 
employed  to  confer  with  him,  and  the  President  of  the  Council 
neglected  no  means  of  bringing  him  to  conformity;  and  once,  under 
pretence  of  a disputation  to  be  held  with  the  ministers,  led  him  to 
church  in  an  afternoon,  and  caused  the  Common  Prayer  service  to 

192 


1593] 


WILLIAM  DAVIES 


be  read  there,  that  Mr.  Davies  might  seem  to  countenance  it  by  his 
presence.  The  confessor,  perceiving  the  artifice,  'would  have  gone 
out  immediately,  but  the  door  was  shut  upon  him  and  he  was  kept 
there  by  force.  Upon  which  he  began  to  recite  with  a loud  voice 
the  vespers  of  the  Roman  breviary,  so  that  the  minister  could  not  be 
heard,  and  all  was  confusion.  And  when  all  was  over,  to  prevent 
the  scandal  that  might  be  taken  from  his  having  been  there,  he 
publicly  declared  in  the  hearing  of  all  the  people,  calling  God  and 
His  holy  angels  to  witness.  That  he  had  been  brought  thither  by  a 
stratagem  and  kept  by  force,  and  that  he  would  rather  die  a thousand 
deaths  than  willingly  communicate  in  an  heretical  service.  The  Pre- 
sident told  him  he  was  a madman  for  refusing  to  purchase  his  life 
and  liberty  at  so  easy  a rate  as  that  of  acquiescing  to  their  liturgy, 
and  so  with  injuries  and  reproaches  sent  him  back  to  prison. 

From  Ludlow  he  was  sent  bound  to  Bewdley,  making  the  journey 
in  three  days,  in  company  of  a malefactor  who  was  ordered  to  the 
prison  there.  Here  Mr.  Davies  was  no  sooner  arrived,  but,  sick  and 
weary  as  he  was,  he  was  thrust  down  into  a dungeon,  amongst  felons 
that  lay  under  sentence  of  death,  so  closely  penned  up  together  that 
they  had  no  room  to  stir,  nor  any  other  convenience  to  lie  down  to 
rest  on,  or  even  to  sit  on,  than  a sort  of  a stone  seat  two  feet  high, 
which  the  malefactors  very  civilly  offered  Mr.  Davies  to  sit  on  in 
the  day  and  sleep  on  at  night.  But  his  chief  suffering  here  was 
from  the  insupportable  stench  of  the  place,  the  prisoners  being 
obliged  to  do  all  their  necessities  in  that  close  place.  From  Bewdley 
he  was  shifted  again  to  other  prisons,  till  at  length  he  was  ordered 
back  again  to  Beaumaris  Castle,  to  his  own  great  satisfaction,  who 
had  made  it  his  prayer  to  God,  as  he  told  his  companions,  that  if 
His  Divine  Majesty  was  pleased  to  do  him  that  honour,  of  which 
he  acknowledged  himself  infinitely  unworthy,  to  shed  his  blood  for 
his  faith,  it  might  be  in  that  place,  where  no  one  had  suffered  before, 
and  where  the  Catholic  religion  was  so  little  known,  and  in  a manner 
quite  forgot. 

The  resolution  of  sending  back  Mr.  Davies  to  Beaumaris  coming 
to  the  knowledge  of  some  Catholic  gentlemen,  they  formed  a design 
of  rescuing  him  on  the  way  out  of  the  hands  of  the  officers  of  justice, 
and  setting  him  at  liberty;  but  having  imparted  their  design  to  him, 
he  would  by  no  means  consent  to  it,  assuring  them  withal.  That  were 
they  to  come  to  rescue  hhn,  he  would  not  go  along  with  them;  such  was 
his  desire  of  suffering  for  Christ.  And  this  plainly  appeared  by 
what  happened  the  night  he  was  brought  to  Beaumaris,  when,  the 
officers  having  lost  their  way  in  the  dark,  and  giving  him  an  oppor- 

193  N 


MEMO.IRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1593 


tunity  of  escaping,  he  would  not  make  use  of  it,  but  being  himself 
well  acquainted  with  the  country,  served  them  as  a guide  till  they 
came  to  the  Castle. 

Here  Mr.  Davies  found  his  four  companions,  who  were  overjoyed 
to  see  him  again,  and  with  them  he  formed  a kind  of  religious  com- 
munity in  the  prison,  observing  from  this  time  till  his  death  the 
following  order  or  regulation  of  life: — They  all  rose  at  four  in  the 
morning  and  then  employed  one  hour  in  mental  prayer;  they 
recited  together  the  hours  of  the  divine  office,  and  Mr.  Davies  every 
day  said  Mass  to  them  with  great  devotion  and  many  tears,  which, 
though  he  strove  to  conceal,  he  was  not  able,  his  heart  being  brimful 
of  divine  consolations  on  these  occasions.  After  Mass  and  thanks- 
giving they  sung  together  the  anthem  O Sacrum  Convivium^  and  then 
applied  themselves  to  reading  and  studying,  and  Mr.  Davies  to  his 
prayer.  At  their  meals  the  holy  man  taught  them,  both  by  word 
and  example,  to  practise  self-denial,  by  abstaining  from  wffiat  they 
had  the  most  inclination  to.  After  their  meals  they  employed  half 
an  hour  in  reading  in  the  Imitation  of  Christ  and  other  spiritual  books. 
After  which  Mr.  Davies  entertained  them  for  a while  with  pious  and 
edifying  discourses  upon  the  subject  of  their  spiritual  lecture,  or  the 
Lives  of  the  Saints^  or  the  devotions  he  had  seen  abroad  in  Catholic 
countries,  <Sfc.  Then  they  recited  together  the  Litanies  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  and  the  remainder  of  the  afternoon  and  evening  they 
spent  in  their  studies  and  in  reciting  their  rosary,  and  Mr.  Davies 
in  mental  prayer  and  in  treating  with  those  that  came  to  him  about 
the  concerns  of  their  souls.  At  night  they  recited  together  the 
Litany  of  the  Saints,  and  made  their  examination  of  consciences, 
and  so  went  to  rest.  Twice  in  the  week  they  confessed,  and  they 
communicated  on  all  Sundays  and  holidays.  And  thus  they  spent 
the  last  six  months  after  Mr.  Davies's  return  to  Beaumaris,  with  so 
much  comfort  to  their  souls  that  they  seemed  to  be  rather  in  heaven 
than  in  a prison.  Whilst  the  holy  confessor,  not  content  with  the 
hardships  and  mortifications  incident  to  imprisonment,  wore  all 
the  while,  night  and  day,  a rough  penitential  hair  shirt,  woven  like 
a net,  which  he  concealed  a long  time,  but,  a little  before  his  death, 
privately  gave  as  a token  of  his  love  to  one  of  his  companions. 

And  now  the  time  was  come  when  God  was  pleased  to  crown 
His  servant ; for  the  judges  coming  again  upon  their  circuit  to  hold 
the  assizes  at  Beaumaris  for  the  county  of  Anglesea  in  1593,  had 
instructions  from  court  to  proceed  against  Mr.  Davies  as  in  cases 
of  high  treason.  In  consequence  of  these  instructions,  he  was 
brought  to  the  bar,  and  received  sentence  of  death  in  the  usual  form. 

194 


1593] 


WILLIAM  DAVIES 


After  which  the  judges  extolled  to  him  the  Queen’s  clemency,  and 
assured  him  that  he  might  not  only  save  his  life,  but  also  look  for 
encouragement  and  promotion,  if  he  would  but  consent  to  go  once 
to  the  Protestant  church ; but  neither  the  fear  of  a most  cruel  death 
nor  any  worldly  hopes  had  any  influence  upon  a soul  that  was  fixed 
in  God,  as  was  that  of  Mr.  Davies,  who,  with  a loud  voice  and 
cheerful  countenance,  blessed  the  Lord,  That  he  was  now  to  he  so 
happy  as  to  shed  his  blood  for  the  love  of  His  Divine  Majesty. 

Some  days  passed  before  the  sentence  could  be  put  in  execution ; 
for  the  people  of  Beaumaris  had  conceived  so  great  an  opinion  of 
the  sanctity  of  Mr.  Davies,  and  so  great  a veneration  for  him,  that 
not  a man  in  the  town  would  furnish,  for  love  or  money,  anything 
necessary  for  that  purpose,  such  as  ladder,  rope,  cauldron,  wood, 
&c.,  much  less  could  any  one  be  found  there  who  could  be  prevailed 
upon  to  do  the  hangman’s  office.  So  that  the  Sheriff  was  obliged 
to  hire  two  fellows  from  a distant  place  to  undertake  the  business,  that 
if  one  failed,  the  other  might  perform  the  office;  who,  though  at 
their  coming  to  Beaumaris  they  strove  to  conceal  the  design  of  their 
coming,  yet  being  suspected  by  the  people,  were  shut  out  from  every 
house  they  came  at,  and  were  pelted  with  stones  by  the  boys  in  the 
streets.  In  the  mean  time,  some  of  the  gentlemen  of  that  country 
made  a fresh  proffer  to  Mr.  Davies  to  rescue  him  out  of  the  hands  of 
the  Sheriff  and  his  men  by  force  on  the  morning  designed  for  his 
execution;  but  he  earnestly  entreated  them.  For  the  love  of  Jesus 
Christ,  not  to  think  of  any  such  enterprise,  which  would  expose  them- 
selves to  great  danger,  and  do  him  no  service. 

On  the  27th  of  July,  in  the  morning,  the  prisoner  was  brought 
out  to  the  hurdle  in  order  for  execution;  and  passing  before  the 
window  where  his  companions  stood  to  take  their  last  farewell  of 
him,  turning  towards  them  with  a cheerful  smile  in  his  countenance, 
gave  them  his  last  benediction,  which  they  received  on  their  knees, 
shedding  many  tears,  for  which  he  rebuked  them,  as  being  altogether 
unseasonable,  since  he  was  going  to  be  delivered  from  all  his  sufferings, 
and  to  enter  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord.  When  he  was  arrived  at  the 
place  of  execution,  being  taken  off  the  hurdle,  he  mounted  the  ladder, 
and  making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  began  to  speak  to  the  people,  who, 
with  their  heads  uncovered,  attended  to  his  words;  but  the  Sheriff 
would  not  suffer  him  to  go  forward,  but  told  him  he  did  not  come 
there  to  preach,  but  to  die;  and  therefore  bid  him  prepare  for  death. 
The  confessor  obeyed,  and  having  made  a short  profession  of  his 
faith,  and  declared.  That  the  cause  for  which  he  died  was  no  other  than 
his  priestly  character , prayed  that  his  innocent  blood,  which  he  joyfully 

195 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1593 

shed  for  his  religion^  might  not  cry  to  Heaven  for  vengeance^  but  rather 
plead  for  mercy  for  that  island^  that  it  might  once  more  be  illustrated 
with  the  light  of  faiths  which  it  had  lost.  Then  taking  the  rope,  he 
kissed  it  and  put  it  about  his  neck,  saying,  Thy  yoke^  O Lord^  is  sweety 
and  Thy  burthen  is  light.  Then  having  stood  awhile  in  silent  prayer, 
with  a serenity  of  countenance  that  was  admired  by  all,  he  was 
turned  off  the  ladder,  and  half  hanged,  and  then  cut  down,  dis- 
membered, bowelled,  and  quartered.  His  clothes,  dyed  in  his  blood, 
were  purchased  by  his  companions;  and  the  hangman  not  long  after, 
for  some  crime  falling  into  the  hands  of  justice,  declared  at  the  gallows. 
That  of  all  he  had  done  in  his  life,  nothing  troubled  his  conscience  so 
much  as  having  embrued  his  hands  in  the  blood  of  so  holy  a man;  con- 
fessing, That  God  had  justly,  on  that  account,  brought  him  to  suffer  a 
shameful  death. 

As  to  Mr.  Fulk,  who  had  caused  Mr.  Davies  to  be  apprehended, 
of  a rich  man  that  he  then  was,  in  about  a year’s  time  he  was  obliged 
to  sell  all  his  substance,  and  became  miserably  poor,  so  as  to  have 
neither  a farthing  of  money  nor  credit  with  any  one;  and  being 
despised  by  all,  he  privately  withdrew,  and  was  never  heard  of  more. 
The  constable  also  that  apprehended  Mr.  Davies  was  seized  imme- 
diately with  an  inflammation  in  the  great  toe  of  his  right  foot,  accom- 
panied with  most  violent  pains,  which  spread  and  communicated 
itself  to  all  that  side,  till  it  reached  his  right  hand,  in  spite  of  all  the 
endeavours  of  physicians  and  surgeons,  and  corrupted  the  whole 
body,  so  as  to  yield  a most  loathsome  stench,  insupportable  to  himself 
and  to  all  that  came  near  him;  and  in  this  manner  he  miserably 
expired. 

One  of  Mr.  Davieses  companions,  who  was  younger  than  the  rest, 
was  put  into  the  hands  of  a country  schoolmaster  to  be  whipped 
into  a conformity  with  the  Church  by  law  established ; but  he  found 
means  to  make  his  escape  into  Ireland,  where  meeting  with  a young 
gentleman  formerly  his  schoolfellow,  and  prevailing  with  him  to  be 
reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church,  they  both  went,  not  long  after, 
over  into  Spain,  to  the  College  of  Valladolid,  where  they  were  both 
actually  living,  with  great  edification,  when  the  Bishop  of  Tarrasona 
was  writing  his  account  of  Mr.  Davies's  martyrdom,  viz.,  in  1598. 

Mr.  Davies  suffered  at  Beaumaris  the  27th  of  July,  1593,  after 
about  sixteen  months’  imprisonment. 


196 


1594] 


WILLIAM  HARRINGTON 


[ 1594-  ] 

JOHN  SPEED,  Layman. 

IN  the  beginning  of  this  year,  or,  according  to  the  English 
account,  in  the  latter  end  of  1593,  on  the  4th  of  February , John 

Speedy  layman,  was  executed  at  Durham.  His  guilt  was  being 
aiding  and  assisting  to  priests,  whom  he  used  to  serve  in  guiding 
and  conducting  from  one  Catholic  house  to  another.  He  died  with 
constancy,  despising  the  proffers  that  were  made  him  to  bring  him 
to  conform. 


WILLIAM  HARRINGTON,  Priest.* 

WILLIAM  HARRINGTON  was  born  of  a gentleman’s 
family,  at  a place  called  St.  John's  Mounts  in  Yorkshire.  He 
performed  his  studies  abroad  in  Doway  College  during  its 
residence  at  Rhemes.  Here  he  was  made  priest,  and  from  hence  he 
was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1592.  When,  how,  or  where 
he  was  apprehended,  or  any  other  particulars  of  his  sufferings  or 
missionary  labours,  I have  not  been  able  to  learn,  only  that  he  was 
* condemned  to  die  on  account  of  his  priestly  character  and  functions, 
and  for  this,  and  no  other  treason,  was  put  to  a most  cruel  death. 

‘ The  1 8th  of  February  ' says  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Chronicle,  ‘ one 
named  Harrington^  a Seminary  priest,  was  drawn  from  Newgate  to 
Tyburn^  and  there  hanged,  cut  down  alive,  struggled  with  the  hang- 
man, but  was  bowelled  and  quartered.’  So  far  Mr.  Stow,  where  it  is 
to  be  noted  that  what  the  historian  mentions  of  Mr.  Harrington' s 
struggling  with  the  hangman  after  he  was  cut  down  cannot  be  drawn 
to  an  argument  of  his  not  being  resigned  to  die,  but  only  shows  the 
efforts  which  nature  will  be  sure  to  make  in  a man  whose  senses  are 
stunned  by  having  been  half  hanged,  and  therefore,  by  the  motions 
of  his  hands  and  body,  strives  to  resist  that  unnatural  violence  which 
is  offered  by  the  hands  and  knife  of  the  executioner. 

Mr.  Harrington  suffered  at  Tyburn,  February  18,  1594. 

* Ven.  William  Harrington. — From  the  Douay  Diary  and  Catalogues, 
and  from  Stow’s  Chronicle ; see  also  Gillow ; Catholic  Encyclopcedia;  Month, 
April  1874. 


T97 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1594 


JOHN  CORNELIUS,  alias  MOHUN, 

Priest,  SJ.^ 

JOHN  CORNELIUS,  alias  MOHUN,  was  born  at  Bodmin^  in 
Cornwall,  of  Irish  parents,  and  brought  up  at  school  in  the  same 
town,  from  whence  he  was  sent  to  Oxford  by  Sir  John  Arundell, 
who  was  much  taken  with  his  rare  genius  and  diligence  in  learning ; 
but  Mr.  Cornelius,  liking  the  old  religion  better  than  the  new,  left 
Oxford,  and  went  beyond  the  seas  to  Rhemes  (the  English  College 
having  been  lately  translated  thither  from  Doway),  and  was  there 
received  by  Dr.  Allen,  the  institutor  and  first  President  of  that 
Seminary  of  martyrs.  After  some  stay  here,  he  was  sent,  in  1580, 
to  Rome  to  finish  his  studies  in  the  English  College  of  that  city,  where 
he  remained  for  some  years,  and  had  the  honour  once  to  make  an 
oration  in  Latin,  and  speak  it  in  the  Pope’s  Chapel  on  St.  Stephen's 
Day.  Here  he  was  made  priest,  and  from  hence  was  sent  upon  the 
English  mission,  where  he  laboured  with  great  fruit  for  about  ten 
years.  He  was  a man  of  a most  mortified  life,  and  greatly  addicted 
to  prayer  and  contemplation,  but  withal  zealous  and  diligent  in  his 
pastoral  functions,  and  had  a notable  talent  in  preaching,  so  that  he 
was  admired  and  loved  by  all  that  knew  him. 

Mr.  Manger  relates  of  him,  from  the  testimony  of  a worthy 
gventleman  who  was  familiarly  acquainted  with  him,  ‘ That  he  was 
very  powerful  in  dealing  with  those  that  were  possessed;  and  that 
from  one,  in  the  presence  of  the  same  gentleman,  he  forced  the  devil 
to  bring  forth  from  her  inward  parts  a piece  of  a rusty  knife  of  an 
inch  and  a half  in  length,  which  he  took  out  of  her  mouth,  and  a 
bag  of  sand  of  the  fashion  of  a pincushion  and  bigness  of  a little 
penny  purse.’  He  adds  also,  from  the  same  testimony,  that  when 
Mr.  Cornelius  was  saying  Mass  for  the  soul  of  John  Lord  Stourton 
(who  had  died  unreconciled,  but  with  great  desire  of  the  sacraments, 
and  more  than  ordinary  marks  of  sorrow  and  repentance),  he  had 
a vision,  after  the  consecration  and  elevation  of  the  chalice,  of  the 
soul  of  the  said  Lord  Stourton,  then  in  purgatory,  desiring  him.  To 
pray  for  him,  and  to  request  of  the  lady,  his  mother,  to  cause  Masses 
to  he  said  for  his  soul.  This  vision  was  also  seen  at  the  same  time 

* Ven.  John  Cornelius,  alias  Mohun.^ — From  a Manuscript  relation  in 
my  hands  penned  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Manger;  and  from  the  Bishop  of  Tarra- 
sona’s  History  of  the  Persecution  of  England;  and  from  a relation  sent  out  of 
England  three  months  after  Mr.  Cornelius’s  martyrdom;  see  also  Foley 
Records,  iii.;  Troubles,  ii.;  D.N.B.;  Month,  May  1922,  Jan.  1923. 

iq8 


1594] 


JOHN  CORNELIUS 


by  Patrick  Salmon ^ a good  religious  soul,  who  was  then  serving 
Mr,  Cornelius  at  Mass. 

Mr.  Cornelius  was  apprehended  in  the  house  of  the  widow  of 
Sir  John  Arundell  (upon  the  information  of  a wicked  servant)  on  the 
second  Sunday  2ihtv  Easter ^ in  Aprils  i594>  by  Mr.  Trenchard,  Sheriff 
of  Dorsetshire;  and  with  him  Mr.  Thomas  Bosgrave,  a Cornish  gentle- 
man, a kinsman  of  Sir  Jo/zw  Arundell,  was  also  hurried  away  to  prison, 
because,  seeing  Mr.  Cornelius  in  the  hands  of  the  officers  hurried 
away  without  any  hat,  he  clapped  his  own  hat  upon  the  confessor’s 
head,  saying,  The  honour  I owe  to  your  function  may  not  suffer  me  to  see 
you  go  bare-headed.  Upon  which  the  Sheriff  told  him  he  should  bear 
him  company;  and,  as  we  shall  see  by-and-by,  for  this  offence  he 
afterwards  also  suffered  with  him.  John,  or,  as  others  call  him, 
Terence  Carey,  and  Patrick  Salmon,  both  natives  of  Dublin,  and 
servants  in  the  family,  were  also  committed  to  prison  upon  this 
occasion,  as  aiding  and  assisting  Mr.  Cornelius. 

The  confessor  was  first  carried  to  the  Sheriff’s  house,  where  some 
Protestant  ministers  strongly  attacked  him  on  the  subject  of  religion; 
but  Mr.  Cornelius  maintained  the  Catholic  cause  with  such  strong 
argument,  that  the  Sheriff,  fearing  the  influence  his  words  would 
make  upon  those  that  were  present,  put  a stop  to  the  dispute.  Shortly 
after,  the  Council  being  informed  of  all  that  had  passed,  the  confessor 
was  ordered  to  be  sent  up  to  London,  where  he  was  examined  by  the 
Lord  Treasurer,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury , and  others  of  the 
Privy  Council,  who  strove  to  extort  out  of  him  first  by  words,  and 
afterwards  by  the  rack,  the  names  of  such  Catholics  as  had  harboured 
or  relieved  him;  but  his  constancy  was  proof  against  all  their  efforts, 
and  he  refused  to  the  last  to  make  any  discovery  which  might 
redound  to  the  prejudice  of  his  benefactors.  Upon  this  he  was  sent 
back  into  the  country,  there  to  take  his  trial,  and  there  to  die.  The 
three  last  days  before  the  assizes  he  spent  wholly  in  prayer  and  pious 
exhortations  to  his  fellow  prisoners,  without  eating,  in  a manner,  or 
sleeping,  and  so  prepared  himself  for  his  conflict.  After  this  he  was 
brought  to  the  bar  with  his  three  companions,  where  they  were  all 
found  guilty  by  their  jury;  Mr.  Cornelius  of  high  treason,  for  being 
a priest  and  coming  into  this  kingdom  and  remaining  here;  Mr. 
Bosgrave  and  the  other  two  of  felony,  for  aiding  and  assisting  Mr. 
Cornelius,  knowing  him  to  be  a priest. 

After  the  jury  had  brought  in  their  verdict,  the  three  laymen  cast 
themselves  at  the  feet  of  Mr.  Cornelius  to  crave  his  blessing,  and 
they  were  all  sent  back  to  prison,  sentence  not  being  to  be  pronounced 
till  the  next  day.  They  prepared  themselves  for  it  by  prayer,  and 

199 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1594 

animated  one  another  by  pious  colloquies,  in  which  they  passed  that 
night,  and  on  the  following  day  they  were  all  sentenced  to  die.  It 
was  observed  that  Judge  Walmesley  pronounced  the  sentence  with 
tears  in  his  eyes.  Mr.  Cornelius  would  have  spoken  to  the  judges 
after  sentence  was  given,  but  was  ordered  to  be  silent.  However, 
the  judges  assured  them  all  that  their  lives  would  be  saved  if  they 
would  conform  and  go  to  the  Protestant  church;  which  they  all 
stoutly  refusing,  were  sent  back  to  prison,  there  to  prepare  for  their 
last  end. 

They  were  condemned  on  the  2d  oijuly,  1 594,  and  on  the  4th  were 
carried  out  to  their  martyrdom.  Mr.  Cornelius  was  drawn  on  a 
hurdle  to  the  place  of  execution;  the  other  three  walked  on  foot. 
The  confessor  animated  them  by  the  way  to  suffer  death  with  courage 
and  constancy;  and,  indeed,  it  appeared  by  their  countenances  that 
they  went  to  the  gallows  with  as  much  content  and  satisfaction  as  if 
they  had  been  going  to  a feast.  Mr.  Cornelius  made  also  the  best 
use  he  could  of  his  time  in  favour  of  a malefactor  who  was  to  suffer 
with  them,  whom  he  so  effectually  exhorted  to  faith  and  repentance, 
that  the  man  declared  aloud.  That  he  looked  upon  himself  happy  that 
he  was  to  die  in  such  good  company. 

The  first  that  was  ordered  up  the  ladder  was  John  Carey,  a man 
of  great  courage.  He  kissed  the  rope  when  it  was  to  be  put  about 
his  neck,  saying,  O precious  collar  ! then  made  a profession  of  his 
faith,  for  which  he  declared  he  died,  and  so  was  turned  off.  The 
next  was  Patrick  Salmon,  a man  much  admired  and  beloved  for  his 
virtues.  In  dying  he  admonished  the  people.  That  the  only  way  to 
secure  their  eternal  welfare  was  to  embrace  that  faith  for  which  he  and 
his  companions  laid  down  their  lives.  Mr.  Bosgrave  was  called  upon 
next,  who,  being  a man  of  reading,  made  a speech  to  the  people  of 
the  certainty  of  the  Catholic  faith,  which  was  heard  with  great  atten- 
tion, the  ministers  standing  by,  and  not  offering  a word  in  vindication 
of  their  religion.  And  now  it  was  come  to  Mr.  Cornelius's  turn  to 
ascend  the  ladder,  at  the  foot  of  which  he  knelt  down  and  prayed  a 
little  while,  then  kissed  the  ground,  and  aftervvards  the  feet  of  his 
companions  who  were  still  hanging;  then  addressing  himself  to  the 
gallows,  he  saluted  it  with  those  words  of  St.  Andrew,  O bona  crux 
diu  desiderata,  etc. — O good  cross,  a long  time  desired,  & c.  And  going 
up  the  ladder,  offered  there  several  times  to  speak  to  the  people,  and 
was  as  often  interrupted.  Then  he  declared  what  had  hitherto  been 
kept  a secret,  viz..  That  he  was  admitted  into  the  Society  of  Jesus  in 
London  by  the  Superior  of  the  English  Jesuits,  and  was  to  have  gone 
over  with  others  to  make  his  noviceship  in  Flanders  had  he  not  been 

200 


594] 


JOHN  CORNELIUS 


prevented  by  his  apprehension.  After  which  he  prayed  aloud  for  his 
persecutors  and  for  the  conversion  of  the  Queen,  and  so  was  flung 
off  the  ladder,  and  shortly  after  cut  down  and  quartered.  His 
quarters  were  set  up  upon  four  poles,  but  afterwards  were  taken 
down  by  the  Catholics  and  buried  with  the  bodies  of  his  companions. 
His  head  was  nailed  to  the  gallows,  till  it  was  removed  at  the  desire 
of  the  town,  apprehending  the  scourges  of  God  upon  them,  as  they 
had  experienced  before  on  the  like  occasions.  Yet  we  are  told  that 
the  following  year  a dreadful  plague  ensued  amongst  them,  which 
carried  off  so  many  that  the  living  were  not  sufficient  to  bury  the 
dead. 

Mr.  Cornelius  and  his  companions  suffered  at  Dorchester ^ July  4, 

^594- 

Since  this  was  written,  I received  from  the  English  College  of 
St.  OmeEs  a copy  of  a manuscript  concerning  Mr.  Cornelius,  the 
original  of  which  is  kept  in  the  archives  of  that  College,  in  which 
are  added  the  following  particulars  relating  to  the  life  of  this  holy 
servant  of  God.  That  he  every  day  said  Mass  at  five  o’clock  in  the 
morning,  and  never  without  tears ; that  whenever  he  read  the  Passion 
of  Christ  in  the  Office  of  the  Holy  Week,  he  wept  exceedingly ; that 
he  was  sometimes  in  an  ecstasy  at  his  prayers ; and  that  a gentleman 
who  came  to  him  for  counsel  found  him  on  his  knees,  his  hands 
crossed  before  his  breast,  his  eyes  cast  up  to  heaven,  but  without 
motion,  and  the  whole  man  so  absorpt  in  God,  that  the  gentleman 
for  some  time  doubted  whether  he  was  alive  or  dead,  and  not  without 
difficulty  brought  him  to  hear  and  see  him.  That  he  always  wore 
a rough  hair  shirt,  and  used  frequent  disciplines,  and  for  many  years 
fasted  four  days  in  the  week ; that  his  charity  for  the  poor  was  such 
as  to  give  them  all  that  came  to  his  hands,  committing  the  care  of 
himself  to  God’s  providence;  that  he  preached  regularly  twice  a 
week;  gave  catechistical  instruction  for  about  an  hour  almost  every 
day,  and  read  some  pious  lessons  for  about  half  an  hour  in  the  evening 
to  such  as  more  particularly  aspired  to  perfection.  In  fine,  that  the 
mortification  of  his  senses  and  his  recollection  in  God  was  so  great, 
that  for  three  whole  years  that  his  lodging  was  in  a room,  the  window 
of  which  looked  upon  the  parish  church,  he  had  never  observed  it, 
nor  knew  whether  the  house  in  which  he  lived  was  leaded  or  tiled. 
The  m.anuscript  adds,  that  upon  more  occasions  than  one  his  face 
was  observed  to  shine  with  a certain  heavenly  light. 


201 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1594 


A copy  of  a letter  written  hy  Father  Cornelius,  half  an  hour  before  he  was  called 
out  to  suffer,  to  his  ghostly  child  Mrs.  Dorothy,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
the  Lady  Arundell,  who  had  consecrated  her  virginity  to  God,  and  pro- 
mised by  vow  to  be  a religious  woman  of  the  Order  of  St.  Bridget. 

‘ He  that  loveth  his  life  in  this  world  shall  lose  it,  and  he  that 
hateth  it  shall  find  it.  If  I find  it,  by  the  grace  and  infinite  mercy  of 
God  (though  very  unworthy  and  miserable),  with  exceeding  great 
satisfaction  and  never-ending  pleasure,  I shall  remember  you.  In 
the  mean  time,  whilst  the  soul  remains  in  this  body,  pray  you  for 
me,  for  I have  a great  confidence  that  we  shall  see  one  another  in 
heaven,  if  you  keep  inviolable  the  word  you  have  given,  first  to  God 
and  then  to  St.  Bridget.  I heartily  recommend  you  to  my  poor 
mother,  and  the  promise  of  your  vow,  concerning  which  I have 
written  to  you  three  or  four  times,  and  wonder  that  you  have  taken 
no  notice  of  it.  The  devil  is  always  upon  the  watch:  be  you  also 
watchful.  Signify  your  will  to  me  that  I may  carry  with  me  your 
resolution  to  St.  Bridget.  I don’t  forget  those  whom  I don’t  name. 
God  be  your  keeper.— John,  who  is  going  to  die  for  a moment, 
that  he  may  live  for  ever.’ 


JOHN  BOST,  Priest.* 

Mr.  BOST,  or  BOAST,  was  born  of  a gentleman’s  family,  in 
the  town  of  Penrith  {viilgo  Pei'eth) , in  the  county  of  Cumber- 
land. He  was  educated  in  one  of  our  universities  at  home, 
where  he  also  took  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  and  was  contem- 
porary with  and  much  esteemed  by  Tohie  Matthews,  who,  at  the 
time  of  Mr.  Bosfs  execution,  was  Bishop  of  Durham  (afterwards 
Archbishop  of  York),  and  who,  extolling  his  excellent  parts,  is 
reported  to  have  said  upon  that  occasion.  It  was  pity  so  much  worth 
should  have  died  that  day.  But  Mr.  Bost  left  both  the  university 
and  the  kingdom  and  all  hopes  of  worldly  preferment  for  conscience’ 
sake,  and  being  reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church,  was  received  into 
the  College  lately  translated  from  Doway  to  Rhemes;  and  after  some 
time  spent  there  in  his  studies,  was  made  priest,  and  sent  upon  the 
English  mission  in  1581.  Here  he  laboured  for  several  years  with 

* Ven.  John  Boste. — From  two  Manuscript  relations  sent  me  from 
Douay,  the  one  formerly  sent  over  by  the  Rev.  Cuthbert  Trollop,  arch- 
deacon, the  other  by  the  Rev.  Father  Thuresby,  of  the  Society  of  Jesus; 
and  from  letters  written  out  of  England  in  1594,  recorded  by  the  Bishop  of 
Tarrasona  in  his  History;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  C.R.S.,  i.;  D.N.B.  Also 
infra,  Appendix  II. 


202 


1594] 


JOHN  DOST 


great  zeal  and  much  fruit,  insomuch  that  he  was  in  a particular 
manner  sought  after  by  the  persecutors ; and  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon 
in  particular,  then  Lord  President  of  the  Norths  and  a most  bitter 
enemy  of  the  Catholics,  of  all  the  priests  in  those  provinces,  was 
most  intent  upon  the  apprehending  him;  so  that  when  the  said 
Lord  President  was  promised  by  one  Francis  Ecclesjield  to  have  two 
of  the  gravest  priests  of  the  North  betrayed  to  him,  he  desired  the 
traitor  rather  to  be  sure  of  Bost.  At  length,  after  many  narrow 
escapes,  he  was  betrayed  by  the  said  Ecclesjield  into  the  President’s 
hands  in  this  manner:  The  traitor  having  intelligence  that  Mr.  Bost 
was  in  the  house  of  Mr.  William  Claxton^  “ in  the  Bishopric  of 
Durham,''  signified  the  same  to  the  Lord  President;  and,  to  be  more 
sure  of  his  game,  went  thither  to  confession  and  communion;  and 
having  thus  hypocritically  and  sacrilegiously  abused  the  sacred 
mysteries,  he  went  forth,  like  another  to  accomplish  his  wicked 

project,  and  meeting  Sir  William  Bowes  and  others,  went  along  with 
them  to  the  house  in  order  to  apprehend  Mr.  Bost.  The  holy  man  ^ 
was  so  well  concealed,  that  after  a long  search  they  could  not  find 
him,  so  that  they  thought  they  had  been  deluded;  but  the  traitor 
bid  them  pull  down  the  house  or  burn  it,  for  he  was  sure  the  priest 
was  in  it;  upon  which  they  began  to  make  breaches  in  the  walls,  and 
at  length  discovered  their  prey. 

Mr.  Bost,  being  thus  apprehended,  was  brought  before  the  Lord 
President,  who  made  upon  that  occasion  a prolix  speech  concerning 
the  long  search  that  had  been  made  for  him  from  time  to  time  for 
the  space  of  some  years,  all  which  while  by  his  cunning  tricks  he 
had  deluded  the  diligence  of  his  officers  whom  he  had  employed  to 
apprehend  so  notorious  a traitor,  but  that  now,  to  his  great  satis- 
faction, he  had  taken  him  at  last.  To  which  speech  Mr.  Bost  in  the 
end  replied  with  a smiling  countenance:  And  after  all  this,  my  Lord, 
you  have  hut  gotten  Boast, — alluding  to  the  Earl’s  boast  in  having 
used  such  diligence  for  his  apprehension.  The  confessor  was. 
shortly  after  sent  up  to  London,  where  he  was  for  a long  time  kept 
prisoner  in  the  Tower,  and  often  most  cruelly  racked,  insomuch 
that  he  was  afterwards  forced  to  go  crooked  upon  a staff.  At  length, 
after  a hard  imprisonment,  and  many  torments  endured  at  London, 
he  was  sent  back  again  into  the  North,  there  to  be  tried  and  executed. 

He  was  a man  of  great  courage,  learning,  and  wisdom,  and  no 
ways  defeated  or  overcome  by  his  sufferings.  When  he  was  brought 
to  the  bar  for  his  trial,  Mr.  George  Swallowell  (who  had  lately  been 
a reader  of  the  Protestant  Church,  and  was  now  arraigned  for  the 
Catholic  religion),  somewhat  wavering,  and  being  upon  the  point  of 

203 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1594 


yielding  through  fear,  Mr.  Bost  in  the  public  court  so  effectually 
encouraged  him  to  stand  firm  to  the  Catholic  faith,  that  he  imme- 
diately declared  himself  sincerely  penitent  for  his  staggering;  and 
Mr.  Bost^  putting  his  hand  on  his  head,  publicly  absolved  him. 
Upon  which,  some  of  the  bench  cried  out.  Away  with  Bost,  away  with 
the  traitor  ! Sentence  was  passed  upon  Mr.  Bost  as  in  cases  of  high 
treason,  merely  upon  account  of  the  exercising  his  priestly  functions 
in  England^  and  in  consequence  of  this  sentence  he  was  drawn  to 
the  place  of  execution,  and  there  was  scarce  turned  off  the  ladder 
when  he  was  immediately  cut  down,  so  that  he  stood  on  his  feet, 
and  was  cruelly  butchered  alive.  At  the  taking  out  of  his  heart, 
he  spoke  aloud  thrice,  Jesus,  Jesus,  Jesus  forgive  thee,  as  Thomas 
Forcer,  Esq.,  a grave  Catholic  gentleman,  for  a certainty  affirmed  to 
Mr.  Trollop,  the  author  of  the  manuscript  relation  of  Mr.  Bosfs 
martyrdom. 

He  suffered  at  Durham,  July  24,  1594;  some  July  19. 


JOHN  INGRAM,  Priest.* 

Mr.  INGRAM  was  born  of  a gentleman’s  family,  in  Warwick- 
shire. His  parents  were  Protestants,  but  he  was  happily 
reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church ; and  for  recusancy  ejected 
out  of  New  College,  Oxford,  and  going  abroad,  was  received  alumnus 
in  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes,  from  whence  he  was 
sent  to  the  English  College  of  Rome,  where  he  finished  his  studies 
and  was  made  priest,  and  from  thence  was  sent  upon  the  English 
mission.  His  missionary  labours  seem  to  have  been  in  the  North, 
upon  the  borders  of  Scotland,  where  at  length  he  was  apprehended, 
and  sent  up  prisoner  to  the  Tower  of  London,  and  there  at  several 
times  most  cruelly  tortured  by  Topcliffe;  but  he  would  by  no  means 
discover  the  names  of  any  who  had  entertained  or  assisted  him, 
which  was  what  the  tyrant  pretended  to  extort,  so  that  Topcliffe  in  a 
rage  said.  He  was,  of  all  others,  a monster  for  his  taciturnity.  At  length 
he  was  sent  back  again  into  the  North  to  take  his  trial.  Here,  [in 
York  Castle  or  in  Durham  Jail^  he  wrote  two  letters,  of  which  I 
have  copies  in  my  hands,  to  the  Catholics  in  other  parts  of  the  same 

* Ven.  John  Ingram. — From  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Manuscript 
Catalogue;  and  from  two  letters  of  Mr.  Ingram  to  his  fellow-prisoners, 
copies  of  which  are  kept  in  Douay  College;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Troubles, 
hi.;  C.R.S.,  i. 


204 


1594] 


JOHN  INGRAM 


prison,  worthy  of  one  who  was  going  to  be  immolated  for  Christ. 
In  the  first,  he  earnestly  exhorts  them  to  constancy  and  perseverance 
in  that  holy  profession  for  which  they  suffered,  and  arms  them  against 
the  temptation  of  being  staggered  by  the  unhappy  fall  of  two,  whom 
he  calls  Iscariots^  who  had  lately  gone  forth  from  them,  and  ad- 
monishes them  of  that  of  the  apostle,  that  if  himself  or  an  angel  from 
heaven  should  preach  any  other  gospel  to  them  than  what  they  had 
received,  he  ought  to  be  anathematised.  Then  he  tells  them,  ‘ I 
say  now  to  myself  and  you.  Let  he  that  stands  take  heed  lest  he  fall; 
and.  Hold  what  thou  hast,  lest  another  take  thy  crown.  Pray,  there- 
fore, I conjure  you,  in  the  name  of  my  sweet  Saviour  for  my 

constancy,  courage,  and  zeal  in  my  holy  enterprise;  For  the  spirit  is 
ready,  but  the  flesh  is  weak.  Desire  Almighty  God  to  overpoise  the 
multitude  of  my  sins  with  His  precious  blood,  one  drop  of  which 
is  sufficient  to  wash  away  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.  I am  not  as 
yet  condemned,  nor,  to  my  knowledge,  my  blessed  brother,  [Mr. 
Bost,'\  of  whose  security  temporal  I have  no  hope.  As  for  my  own 
part,  I am  altogether  in  the  same  estate  I was  in  before  my  departure; 
and  I take  God  to  witness  that  I have  neither  named  house,  man, 
woman,  or  child,  in  time  of  or  before  my  torments.  I look  for  my 
trial  on  Thursday,  and  consequently  for  my  death,  to  God’s  honour. 
Pray  for  me  earnestly.’ 

In  the  latter  he  writes  thus:  ‘ My  dear  concaptives,  if  the  vessel 
of  election  St.  Paul  vouchsafed  not  only,  by  way  of  paper,  to  comfort 
oftentimes  the  Christians  of  the  primitive  times,  but  also  to  give  his 
temporal  benefactors  a sweet  surrender  of  thanks,  it  will  fit  me  to 
imitate  him  in  like  matter  and  manner;  first,  to  ascertain  you  that  in 
my  pained  body  my  spirit  is  not  pained,  nor  in  any  disaster,  distress, 
or  durance.  For  St.  Paul  testifies.  That  the  passions  of  this  time 
are  not  condign  of  the  future  glory  which  shall  be  revealed  in  us.  And, 
for  my  part,  I have  long  since  imprinted  in  my  heart.  Not  to  fear 
those  that  kill  the  body  but  cannot  destroy  the  soul,  but  rather  to 
remember  these  golden  sentences  which  have  issued  out  of  the 
mouth  of  all  verity : He  that  hateth  his  life  in  this  world  keepeth  it  for 
life  everlasting . And,  He  that  confesses  Me  before  men,  I will  confess 
him  before  My  Father,  who  is  in  heaven.  And  although  in  my  native 
country  I have  taken  great  pains  in  God’s  vineyard,  yet  I doubt  not, 
if  God  will  strengthen  me,  through  yours  and  my  patron’s  prayers, 
I shall  purchase  for  our  Babylonic  soil  more  favour  by  my  death. 
The  blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  seed  of  the  Church.  To  those  that 
made  that  bountiful  offer  of  a thousand  crowns  for  my  life,  as  my 
Lord  Chamberlain  in  my  presence  imparted,  I return  a thousand 

205 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1594 


thanks,  in  sign  of  gratitude,  meaning  (if  God  will  give  to  a miscreant 
and  wretched  sinner  constancy,  forgiveness  of  my  sins,  and  grace 
to  die  for  His  glory  and  His  Spouse’s  consolation)  to  make  the  return 
of  my  bloody  sacrifice  for  their  oblation.  To  all  my  spiritual  children 
wheresoever  they  are  now  sorrowing,  I most  heartily  send  greeting, 
with  humble  request  to  God  for  their  constancy  in  the  true  way  of 
salvation.  My  carnal  friends  I salute,  and  wish,  as  to  my  own  soul, 
conversion  from  impiety  and  irreligiosity  to  virtue  and  St.  Peter^s 
sheepfold.  I love  them  most  entirely,  but  my  Creator  in  a far  higher 
degree;  For  he  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more  than  Me^  is  not 
worthy  of  Me,  saith  our  Saviour  Christ.  I send  this,  my  last,  written 
in  haste;  for  I fear  I shall  have  no  means  hereafter.  Therefore  I 
desire  God  Almighty  to  protect  you  all  and  bless  and  establish  you 
to  suffer  persecution  for  justice’  sake.  Thus,  in  post  haste,  in 
visceribiis  Christi.  Adieu.’ 

Mr.  Ingram  was  tried  and  condemned  at  the  same  time  with 
Mr.  Post,  and  for  the  same  cause;  that  is,  for  his  character  and 
functions  only,  and  not  for  any  other  treason. 

He  suffered,  with  great  constancy,  at  Newcastle,  July  25,  1594. 


GEORGE  SWALLOWELL,  Layman.* 

George  SWALLOWELL  was  bom  in  the  bishopric  of 
Durham,2ind  brought  up  in  the  Protestant  religion,and  for  some 
time  officiated  in  the  double  capacity  of  reader  and  of  school- 
master at  Houghton-le-Sprmg,  in  the  same  bishopric.  Going  one 
day  to  visit  a Catholic  gentleman  imprisoned  for  his  recusancy,  and 
falling  into  discourse  on  the  subject  of  religion,  he  was  so  close 
pressed  by  the  gentleman  upon  the  article  of  his  mission  and  that 
of  his  prelates,  that  he  was  forced,  by  way  of  a last  shift,  to  shelter 
himself  under  the  Queen’s  spiritual  supremacy,  and  to  derive  their 
commissions  from  her  authority.  The  gentleman  exposed  to  him 
the  absurdity  of  making  a woman,  whom  St.  Paul  did  not  allow  to 
speak  in  the  church,  the  head  of  the  Church  and  the  fountain  of 
ecclesiastical  jurisdiction;  and  treated  so  well  both  this  and  other 
points  of  controversy,  that  Mr.  Swallowell,  who  was  none  of  those 

* Ven.  George  Swallowell. — From  a Manuscript  in  my  hands;  and  from 
Bishop  Yepez’s  History  of  the  Persecution,  who  had  his  information  from 
letters  sent  over  from  England  two  months  after  Mr.  Swallowell’s  exe- 
cution; see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Troubles,  iii.;  C.R.S.,  i. 

206 


1594] 


GEORGE  SWALLOWELL 


who  are  resolved  to  be  rebels  to  the  light,  yielded  to  the  strength  of 
his  arguments;  and,  not  content  privately  to  embrace  the  truth,  he 
not  long  after  publicly  professed  from  the  pulpit.  That  he  had 
hitherto  been  in  error ^ hut  zvas  nozv  convinced  that  they  had  no  true 
mission  in  their  Church,  and  therefore  he  zjcould  no  longer  officiate  there. 

Upon  this  he  was  apprehended  and  committed  to  Durham  Jail, 
and  after  a year’s  imprisonment  was  brought  to  the  bar  at  the  same 
time  with  Mr.  Bost  and  Mr.  Ingram,  priests,  and  stood  between 
them.  At  first,  through  fear  of  that  cruel  death  to  which  he  was 
condemned,  he  yielded  to  go  to  the  church,  and  to  conform  to  what 
the  judges  required  of  him.  Whereupon  Mr.  Bost,  looking  at  him, 
said,  George  Swallowell,  zvhat  hast  thou  done?  At  these  words  of 
the  confessor  of  Christ,  ‘ he  was  struck  with  a great  dump  and  con- 
fusion, and  desired  the  judge  and  the  Lord  President  (who  at  that 
time  was  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon)  For  God's  sake  to  let  him  have  his 
zjoord  again.  To  which  the  judge  replied,  Swallowell,  look  zjoell 
zvhat  thou  doest;  for,  although  thou  he  condem?ied,  yet  the  Queen  is 
merciful.  But  still  he  craved  to  have  his  desire  granted.  Then  the 
judge  answered.  If  thou  he  so  earnest,  thou  shalt  have  thy  zvord  again; 
say  zvhat  thou  zvilt.  Then  presently  he  recalled  what  he  had  formerly 
yielded  unto,  and  courageously  said.  That  in  that  faith  zvherein  those 
tzvo  priests  did  die  he  zvould  also  die,  and  that  the  same  faith  zvhich  they 
professed  he  did  also  profess.  With  that  Mr.  Bost  looked  at  him  again, 
and  said.  Hold  thee  there,  Swallowell,  and  my  soul  for  thine;  and  with 
these  words  he  laid  his  hand  upon  his  head.  Then  the  Lord  Presi- 
dent said,  Azvay  zvith  Bost, /or  he  is  reconciling  him.  Upon  this  his 
judgment  was  pronounced,  which  was  to  be  hanged,  drawn,  and 
quartered  at  Darlington.' 

Upon  the  day  designed  for  execution,  he  was  brought  two  miles 
off  the  place  on  foot,  and  then  was  put  into  a cart,  where  he  lay  on 
his  back,  with  his  hands  and  eyes  up  to  heaven,  and  so  was  drawn 
to  the  gallows.  To  terrify  him  the  more,  they  led  him  by  two  great 
fires,  the  one  made  for  burning  his  bowels,  the  other  for  boiling  his 
quarters;  and  withal  four  ministers  attended  him  to  strive  to  bring 
him  over  to  their  way  of  thinking,  but  he  would  not  give  ear  to  them, 
or  stay  with  them,  but  went  presently  to  the  ladder,  and  there  fell 
down  upon  his  knees,  and  continued  for  some  time  in  prayer.  Then 
making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  he  went  up  the  ladder,  and  having  leave 
of  the  Sheriff  to  speak,  he  said,  / renounce  all  heresy,  and  spoke  some 
other  words  which  were  not  well  heard  by  the  people,  with  which 
the  Sheriff  being  offended,  struck  him  with  his  rod,  and  told  him 
that  if  he  had  no  more  to  say,  he  should  go  up  further,  for  the  rope 

207 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1594 


should  be  put  about  his  neck;  which  being  done,  Mr.  Swallowell 
desired,  if  there  were  any  Catholics  there,  they  would  say  three 
Paters^  three  Aves^  and  the  Creed  for  him ; and  so  making  the  sign 
of  the  cross  upon  himself,  he  was  turned  off  the  ladder.  After  he 
had  hung  a while,  they  cut  the  rope  and  let  him  fall,  and  the  hang- 
man, who  was  but  a boy,  drew  him  along  by  the  rope  yet  alive,  and 
there  dismembered  and  bowelled  him,  and  cast  his  bowels  into  the 
fire.  At  the  taking  out  of  his  heart,  he  lifted  up  his  left  hand  to  his 
head,  which  the  hangman  laid  down  again;  and  when  the  heart  was 
cast  into  the  fire,  the  same  hand  laid  itself  over  the  open  body. 
Then  the  hangman  cut  off  his  head,  and  held  it  up,  saying.  Behold 
the  head  of  a traitor.  His  quarters,  after  they  were  boiled  in  the 
cauldron,  were  buried  in  the  baker’s  dunghill. 

He  suffered  at  Darlington  {vulgo  Darnton),  July  26,  1594. 


EDWARD  OSBALDESTON,  Priest.^ 

This  gentleman  was  of  the  family  of  the  Oshaldestons  of  Oshaldes- 
ton^  in  the  parish  of  Blakehurn,  in  the  county  palatine  of  Lan- 
caster. He  had  his  education  in  Doway  College  during  its  resi- 
dence at  Rhemes.  Here  he  was  made  priest  in  1585,  and  from  hence 
was  sent  upon  the  English  mission,  April  27,  1589.  After  labouring 
here  some  years,  he  was  apprehended  by  the  means  of  one  Clark y a 
fallen  priest,  at  Towlerton,  in  Yorkshire y on  the  30th  of  September y 
1594,  and  committed  to  York  Castle.  His  letter  to  his  fellow 
prisoners  gives  an  account  of  his  apprehension,  and  the  dispositions 
he  was  then  in,  and  therefore  deserves  to  be  here  inserted. 

‘ I was  apprehended  at  Towlerton  by  Mr.  Thomas  Clarky  the 
apostate  priest,  upon  St.  Hierome's  Dayy  at  night — a thing  much 
more  to  my  comfort  than  at  any  other  time,  for  that  I had  such  a 
special  patron  to  commend  myself  to,  and  such  a stout  champion 
under  Christ;  and  besides,  it  pleased  God,  much  to  my  comfort, 
to  let  this  sign  of  His  love  fall  unto  me  that  day  above  all  others. 
For  it  was  God’s  great  goodness  to  call  me  to  the  honour  of  priest- 
hood, and  that  upon  St.  Hierome's  Day  I said  my  first  Mass  and 
consecrated  the  blessed  body  and  blood  of  my  Saviour  Jesus  Christy 
and  received  Him  with  great  reverence  and  devotion,  and  ever  since 

* Ven.  Edward  Osbaldeston. — From  a Douay  Manuscript,  and  a copy 
of  a letter  written  by  Mr.  Osbaldeston,  which  I have  in  my  hand;  see  also 
Lives  of  E.  M.;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

208 


1594] 


EDWARD  OSBALDESTON 


have  honoured  St.  Hierome.  And  the  morning  before  I came  forth, 
I made  my  prayer  to  blessed  St.  Hierome,  and  in  his  merits  I offered 
myself  a sacrifice  to  God,  and  recommended  myself  to  him  to  direct 
me  to  His  will  and  pleasure,  and  that  I might  walk  aright  in  my 
vocation,  and  follow  St.  Hierome  as  long  as  God  should  see  it  expe- 
dient for  His  Church  and  most  for  His  honour  and  glory;  and  if  it 
pleased  Him  still  to  preserve  me,  as  He  had  done  before,  I never 
would  refuse  to  labour,  or  murmur  at  any  pain  or  travail;  and  if  it 
should  please  His  Majesty  to  suffer  me  to  fall  into  the  persecutors’ 
hands,  that  then  it  would  please  His  infinite  goodness  to  protect 
me  to  the  end;  which  I have  no  doubt  but  He  will,  after  so  many 
and  so  great  goodnesses  and  gifts  as  He  hath  bestowed  on  me  over 
all  my  life,  which  are  without  number  and  inexplicable.  W^herefore 
my  hope  and  trust  is  much  helped  that  now  He  will  be  most  sure 
unto  me,  since  this  is  the  weightiest  matter  that  I ever  was  about 
in  my  life:  and  so  considering  this,  and  infinite  others  such  like,  I 
find  great  comfort,  and  fully  trust  in  God’s  goodness,  and  distrust 
only  in  myself;  but  in  Him  that  comforteth  me  I can  do  all  things. 
And  this  actual  oblation  of  myself  that  morning,  and  this  that 
ensueth,  maketh  me  very  comfortable,  and  bringeth  me  into  many 
good  and  heavenly  cogitations,  feeling  His  strength  so  much  as  I 
have  done  in  lesser  matters,  and  further  off  from  Him  than  this  is. 
Therefore  I nothing  doubt,  by  His  grace,  but  He  will  grant  me  to 
finish  that  which  was  for  Him  and  by  Him  begun — which  I pray 
God  I may  worthily  do  when  His  good  will  and  pleasure  is,  and  not 
before ; and  that  I may  not  wish  or  desire  any  thing  in  this  life  but 
what  may  bpt  please  Him  and  honour  Him  and  our  Blessed  Lady 
His  Mother  and  all  the  court  of  heaven  the  most,  and  edify  the 
people,  and  strengthen  them  in  the  way  to  Jesus,  the  King  of  bliss. 

‘ The  manner  [of  my  apprehension]  was  thus: — Abraham 
Sayre  and  I came  to  the  inn  a little  before  Mr.  Clark,  and  we  all 
came  before  night.  I knew  him  not  fully,  for  I thought  he  had 
been  in  the  South;  but  at  supper  I looked  earnestly  at  him,  and  I 
thought  it  was  he,  and  yet  I still  persuaded  myself  that  he  knew  me 
not,  and  if  he  should  know  me,  he  would  do  me  no  harm,  which  fell 
out  otherwise;  God  forgive  him  for  it.  For  when  we  were  going  to 
bed,  he  went  and  called  the  curate  and  constable,  and  apprehended 
us,  and  watched  us  that  night,  and  came  with  us  to  York,  and  stood 
by  when  I was  examined  before  the  Council,  but  said  nothing  then 
that  I feared;  and  he  was  present  afterwards  when  I was  called 
again;  and  since  I have  been  nothing  said  unto;  what  will  follow 
God  knoweth;  but  I will  not  be  partial  to  myself,  but  prepare  me 

209  o 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1594 


for  death,  and  what  else  may  befall  unto  me.  Now  I pray  you,  for 
God’s  sake,  what  you  hear  or  learn  let  me  know;  and  what  is  the 
best  course  for  me  to  take  in  all  points,  and  how  my  brethren  have 
behaved  themselves  in  this  case  that  have  gone  before  me;  and,  for 
myself,  I yield  me  wholly  to  obedience  to  you  in  that  blessed  society 
and  number  in  the  Castle,  and  desire  in  all  points  to  live  in  discipline 
and  order,  and  as  the  common  live,  and  what  I have  or  shall  have 
it  shall  be  in  common.  And  therefore,  I pray  you,  direct  me  in  all 
things,  both  for  my  apparel  and  diet  and  every  thing;  and  as  my 
brethren  have  gone  before  me,  so  would  I follow  in  the  humblest 
sort.’  So  far  the  letter. 

As  to  other  particulars  relating  to  Mr.  Oshaldeston,  I have  found 
none;  but  only  that  being  brought  upon  his  trial,  he  was  condemned 
to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  on  account  of  his  priestly  character 
and  functions,  and  suffered  at  York,  the  i6th  of  Novembei',  1594. 


[ 1595-  ] 

ROBERT  SOUTHWELL,  Priest,  SJ  * 

Robert  SOUTHWELL  was  of  a family  of  good  repute,  born 
at  St.  Faith's,  in  Norfolk,  and  was  sent  over  young  to  Doway, 
where  he  was  for  some  time  alumnus  of  the  English  College  or 
Seminary  in  that  University;  from  thence  he  went  to  Rome,  and 
there  was  received  into  the  Society  of  Jesus  when  he  was  but  sixteen 
years  of  age.  Having  finished  his  noviceship,  and  g^ne  through 
his  course  of  philosophy  and  divinity  with  very  great  satisfaction  of 
his  superiors,  he  was  made  Prefect  of  the  Studies  in  the  English 
College  of  Rome,  and  took  that  opportunity  of  applying  himself  to  the 
study  of  his  native  language,  in  which  he  proved  no  small  proficient, 
as  the  elegant  pieces,  both  in  prose  and  verse,  which  he  has  published 
in  print  abundantly  demonstrate. 

In  1584  he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission,  and  there  laboured 
with  great  fruit  in  the  conversion  of  many  souls,  and  amongst  them 
several  persons  of  distinction,  till  the  year  1592,  when  he  was 

* Ven.  Robert  Southwell. — From  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript;  the 
Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  and  the  Bishop  of  Tarrasona’s  History 
of  the  Persecution,  who  has  transcribed  the  account  of  his  martyrdom  from 
a letter  of  Father  Garnet’s  written  the  4th  March  following,  who  declares 
he  had  his  information  from  eye-witnesses;  see  also  Foley,  Records,  i.; 
Catholic  Encyclopcedia;  D.N.B.;  C.R.S.,  v. 

210 


1595] 


ROBERT  SOUTHWELL 


betrayed  and  apprehended  in  a gentleman’s  house  at  Uxenden,  in 
Middlesex,  within  seven  miles  of  London,  and  was  then  committed 
to  a dungeon  in  the  Tower,  so  noisome  and  filthy,  that  when  he  was 
brought  out  at  the  end  of  the  month  to  be  examined,  his  clothes  were 
quite  covered  with  vermin.  Upon  this  his  father  presented  a petition 
to  the  Queen,  humbly  begging.  That  if  his  son  had  committed  any- 
thing for  which  hy  the  laws  he  had  deserved  death,  he  might  suffer 
death;  if  not,  as  he  was  a gentleman,  he  hoped  her  Majesty  woidd  be 
pleased  to  order  that  he  should  he  treated  as  a gentleman,  and  not  he 
confined  any  longer  to  that  filthy  hole.  The  Queen  was  pleased 
to  have  regard  to  this  petition,  and  to  order  Mr.  Southwell  a better 
lodging,  and  to  give  leave  to  his  father  to  supply  him  with  clothes  and 
other  necessaries,  and  amongst  the  rest  with  the  books  which  he  asked 
for,  which  were  only  the  Holy  Bible  and  the  works  of  St.  Bernard. 

He  was  kept  in  prison  three  years,  and  at  ten  several  times  was 
most  cruelly  racked,  till  at  length  a resolution  was  taken  on  a sudden 
in  the  Council  to  have  him  executed.  Some  days  before  his  execu- 
tion, he  was  removed  from  the  Tower  to  Newgate,  and  there  put  down 
into  the  hole  called  Limho,  from  whence  he  was  brought  out  to  suffer 
on  account  of  his  priesthood,  the  21st  of  February,  1594-5,  having 
been  condemned  but  the  day  before.  Care  was  taken  not  to  let  the 
people  know  beforehand  the  day  he  was  to  die,  to  hinder  their  con- 
course on  that  occasion ; and  a famous  highwayman  was  ordered  to  be 
executed  at  the  same  time  in  another  place,  to  divert  the  crowd  from 
the  sight  of  the  last  conflict  of  the  servant  of  Christ.  But  these  pre- 
cautions availed  nothing;  great  numbers,  and  amongst  them  many 
persons  of  distinction,  flocked  to  Tyburn  to  be  witnesses  of  his 
glorious  martyrdom.  Hither  Mr.  Southwell  was  drawn  on  a sled 
through  the  streets,  and  when  he  was  come  to  the  place,  getting  up 
into  the  cart,  he  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  in  the  best  manner  that 
he  could,  his  hands  being  pinioned,  and  began  to  speak  to  the 
people  those  words  of  the  apostle  {Rom.  xiv.).  Whether  we  live,  we 
live  to  the  Lord;  or  whether  we  die,  we  die  to  the  Lord:  therefore, 
whether  we  live  or  die,^we  belong  to  the  Lord.  Here  the  Sheriff  would 
have  interrupted  him,  but  he  begged  leave  that  he  might  go  on, 
assuring  him  that  he  would  utter  nothing  that  should  give  offence. 
Then  he  spoke  as  follows: — I am  come  to  this  place  to  finish  my 
course,  and  to  pass  out  of  this  miserable  life,  and  I beg  of  my  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  in  whose  most  precious  passion  and  blood  I place  my  hope  of 
salvation,  that  He  would  have  mercy  on  my  soul.  I confess  I am  a 
Catholic  priest  of  the  Holy  Roman  Church,  and  a religious  man  of  the 
Society  of  Jesus,  on  which  account  I owe  eternal  thanks  and  praises 

211 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1595 

to  my  God  and  Saviour.  Here  he  was  interrupted  by  a minister 
telling  him,  that  if  he  understood  what  he  had  said  in  the  sense  of 
the  Council  of  Trent,  it  was  damnable  doctrine.  But  the  minister 
was  silenced  by  the  standers  by,  and  Mr.  Southwell  went  on,  saying. 
Sir,  I heg  of  you  not  to  he  troublesome  to  me  for  this  short  time  that  I 
have  to  live.  I am  a Catholic,  and  in  whatever  manner  you  may 
please  to  interpret  my  words,  I hope  for  salvation  hy  the  merits  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  And  as  to  the  Queen,  I never  attempted  nor  con- 
trived or  imagined  any  evil  against  her,  but  have  always  prayed  for 
her  to  our  Lord;  and  for  this  short  time  of  my  life  still  pray  that,  in 
His  infinite  mercy.  He  would  he  pleased  to  give  her  all  such  gifts  and 
graces  which  he  sees  in  His  divine  wisdom  to  be  most  expedient  for 
the  welfare  both  of  her  soul  and  body,  in  this  life  and  in  the  next.  1 
recommend,  in  like  manner,  to  the  same  mercy  of  God  my  poor  country, 
and  I implore  the  Divine  bounty  to  favour  it  with  His  light  and  the 
knowledge  of  His  truth,  to  the  greater  advancement  of  the  salvation  of 
souls,  and  the  eternal  glory  of  His  Divine  Majesty.  In  fine,  I beg  of  the 
Almighty  and  Everlasting  God,  that  this,  my  death  may  be  for  my  own 
and  for  my  country's  good,  and  the  comfort  of  the  Catholics  my  brethren. 

Having  finished  these  words,  and  looking  for  the  cart  to  be 
immediately  drove  away,  he  again  blessed  himself,  and,  with  his 
eyes  raised  up  to  heaven,  repeated  with  great  calmness  of  mind  and 
countenance  those  words  of  the  Psalmist,  In  manus  tuas,  etc. — Into 
thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend  my  spirit, — with  other  short  ejacula- 
tions, till  the  cart  was  drawn  off.  The  unskilful  hangman  had  not 
applied  the  noose  of  the  rope  to  the  proper  place,  so  that  he  several 
times  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  whilst  he  was  hanging  and  was  some 
time  before  he  was  strangled ; which  some  perceiving,  drew  him  by 
the  legs  to  put  an  end  to  his  pain ; and  when  the  executioner  was  for 
cutting  the  rope  before  he  was  dead,  the  gentlemen  and  people  that 
were  present  cried  out  three  several  times.  Hold,  hold!  for  the 
behaviour  of  the  servant  of  God  was  so  edifying  in  these  his  last 
moments,  that  even  the  Protestants  who  were  present  at  the  execu- 
tion were  much  affected  with  the  sight.  After  he  was  dead  he  was 
cut  down,  bowelled,  and  quartered. 

Two  Letters  of  Father  Southwell,  written  before  his  apprehension  to  a friend 
of  his  at  Rome,  translated  from  the  Bishop  of  Tarrasond*s  History,  p.  647. 

THE  FIRST  LETTER. 

‘ I.  As  yet  we  are  alive  and  well,  being  unworthy,  it  seems,  of 
prisons.  We  have  oftener  sent  than  received  letters  from  your 

212 


1595] 


ROBERT  SOUTHWELL 


parts,  though  they  are  not  sent  without  difficulty,  and  some  we  know 
have  been  lost. 

‘ 2.  The  condition  of  Catholic  recusants  here  is  the  same  as 
usual,  deplorable  and  full  of  fears  and  dangers,  more  especially  since 
our  adversaries  have  looked  for  wars.  As  many  of  ours  as  are  in 
chains  rejoice  and  are  comforted  in  their  prisons,  and  they  that  are 
at  liberty  set  not  their  hearts  upon  it,  nor  expect  it  to  be  of  long 
continuance.  All,  by  the  great  goodness  and  mercy  of  God,  arm 
themselves  to  suffer  any  thing  that  can  come,  how  hard  soever  it 
may  be,  as  it  shall  please  our  Lord,  for  whose  greater  glory  and 
the  salvation  of  their  souls  they  are  more  concerned  than  for  any 
temporal  losses. 

‘ 3.  A little  while  ago  they  apprehended  two  priests,  who  have 
suffered  such  cruel  usages  in  the  prison  of  Bridewell  as  can  scarcely 
be  believed.  What  was  given  them  to  eat  was  so  little  in  quantity, 
and  withal  so  filthy  and  nauseous  that  the  very  sight  of  it  was  enough 
to  turn  their  stomachs.  The  labours  to  which  they  obliged  them 
were  continual  and  immoderate,  and  no  less  in  sickness  than  in 
health ; for  with  hard  blows  and  stripes  they  forced  them  to  accom- 
plish their  task,  how  weak  soever  they  were.  Their  beds  were  dirty 
straw,  and  their  prison  most  filthy. 

‘ 4.  Some  are  there  hung  up  for  whole  days  by  the  hands,  in  such 
manner  that  they  can  but  just  touch  the  ground  with  the  tips  of  their 
toes.  In  fine,  they  that  are  kept  in  that  prison  truly  live  in  lacu 
miserice  et  in  Into  feeds ^ Psalm  xxxix.  This  purgatory  we  are  looking 
for  every  hour,  in  which  Topelijfe  and  Youngs  the  two  executioners 
of  the  Catholics,  exercise  all  kind  of  torments.  But  come  what 
pleaseth  God,  we  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  bear  all  in  Him  that 
strengthens  us.  In  the  mean  time  we  pray  that  they  may  he  put  to 
confusion  who  work  iniquity^  and  that  the  Lord  may  speak  peace  to 
His  people,  Psalms  xxiv.  and  Ixxxiv.,  that,  as  the  royal  prophet  says, 
His  glory  may  dwell  in  our  land.  I most  humbly  recommend  myself 
to  the  holy  sacrifices  of  your  reverence  and  of  all  our  friends. — 
January  16,  1590.’ 


THE  SECOND  LETTER. 

‘ I.  We  have  written  many  letters,  but  it  seems  few  have  come 
to  your  hands.  We  sail  in  the  midst  of  these  stormy  waves  with  no 
small  danger,  from  which,  nevertheless,  it  has  pleased  our  Lord 
hitherto  to  deliver  us. 

‘ 2.  We  have  altogether,  with  much  comfort,  renewed  the  vows 
of  the  Society,  according  to  our  custom,  spending  some  days  in 

213 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1595 

exhortations  and  spiritual  conferences.  Aperuimus  ora  et  attraximus 
spiritum.  It  seems  to  me  that  I see  the  beginnings  of  a religious  life 
set  on  foot  in  England^  of  which  we  now  sow  the  seeds  with  tears, 
that  others  hereafter  may  with  joy  carry  in  the  sheaves  to  the  heavenly 
granaries. 

‘ 3.  We  have  sung  the  canticles  of  the  Lord  in  a strange  land, 
and  in  this  desert  we  have  sucked  honey  from  the  rock  and  oil  from 
the  hard  stone.  But  these  our  joys  ended  in  sorrow,  and  sudden 
fears  dispersed  us  into  different  places;  but,  in  fine,  we  were  more 
afraid  than  hurt,  for  we  all  escaped.  I,  with  another  of  ours,  seeking 
to  avoid  Scylla,  had  like  to  have  fallen  into  Charybdis;  but,  by  the 
mercy  of  God,  we  passed  betwixt  them  both  without  being  ship- 
wrecked, and  are  now  sailing  in  a safe  harbour. 

‘ 4.  In  another  of  mine,  I gave  an  account  of  the  late  martyrdoms 
of  Mr.  Bayles  and  of  Mr.  Horner^  and  of  the  edification  which  the 
people  received  from  their  holy  ends.  With  such  dews  as  these  the 
Church  is  watered,  ut  in  stillicidiis  hujusmodi  Icetetur  germinans. 
Psalm  Ixiv.  We  also  look  for  the  time  (if  we  are  not  unworthy  of 
so  great  a glory)  when  our  day,  like  that  of  the  hired  servant,  shall 
come.  In  the  mean  while  I recommend  myself  very  much  to  your 
reverence’s  prayers,  that  the  Father  of  Lights  may  enlighten  us,  and 
confirm  us  with  His  principal  Spirit.  Given  March  8,  1590.’ 

An  Account  of  Father  SouthweWs  Trial,  from  a Latin  Manuscript  kept  in 
the  Archives  of  the  English  College  at  St.  OmeFs. 

After  Father  Southwell  had  been  kept  close  prisoner  for  three 
years  in  the  Tower,  he  sent  an  epistle  to  Cecil,  Lord  Treasurer, 
humbly  entreating  his  Lordship,  That  he  might  either  be  brought 
upon  his  trial  to  answer  for  himself,  or  at  least  that  his  friends  might 
have  leave  to  come  and  see  him.  The  Treasurer  answered.  That  if 
he  was  in  so  much  haste  to  be  hanged,  he  should  quickly  have  his  desire. 
Shortly  after  this  orders  were  given  that  he  should  be  removed  from 
the  Tower  to  Newgate,  where  he  was  put  down  into  the  dungeon 
called  Limbo,  and  there  kept  for  three  days. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  without  any  previous  warning  to  prepare 
for  his  trial,  he  was  taken  out  of  his  dark  lodging  and  hurried  to 
Westminster,  to  hold  up  his  hand  there  at  the  bar.  The  first  news 
of  this  step  towards  his  martyrdom  filled  his  heart  with  a joy  which 
he  could  not  conceal.  The  judges  before  whom  he  was  to  appear 
were  Lord  Chief  Justice  Popham,  Justice  Owen,  Baron  Evans,  and 
Serjeant  Daniel.  As  soon  as  Father  Southwell  was  brought  in,  the 
Lord  Chief  Justice  made  a long  and  vehement  speech  against  the 

214 


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ROBERT  SOUTHWELL 


Jesuits  and  Seminary  priests,  as  the  authors  and  contrivers  of  all 
plots  and  treasons  which  he  pretended  had  been  hatched  during 
that  reign.  Then  was  read  the  bill  of  indictment  against  Father 
Southwell^  drawn  up  by  Cook,  the  Queen’s  Solicitor,  to  this  effect: — 

‘ Middlesex, 

‘ The  jury  present  on  the  part  of  our  sovereign  lady  the  Queen, 
that  Robert  Southwell,  late  of  London,  clerk,  born  within  this  kingdom 
of  Englafid,  to  wit,  since  the  Feast  of  St.John  Baptist,  in  the  first  year 
of  the  reign  of  her  Majesty;  and  before  the  ist  day  of  May,  in  the 
thirty-second  year  of  the  reign  of  our  lady  the  Queen  aforesaid,  made 
and  ordained  priest  by  authority  derived  and  pretended  from  the 
See  of  Rome,  not  having  the  fear  of  God  before  his  eyes,  and  slighting 
the  laws  and  statutes  of  this  realm  of  England,  without  any  regard 
to  the  penalty  therein  contained,  on  the  20th  day  oijune,  the  thirty- 
fourth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  lady  the  Queen,  at  Uxenden,  in  the 
county  of  Middlesex,  traitorously,  and  as  a false  traitor  to  our  said 
lady  the  Queen,  was  and  remained,  contrary  to  the  form  of  the  statute 
in  such  case  set  forth  and  provided,  and  contrary  to  the  peace  of  our 
said  lady  the  Queen,  her  crown,  and  dignities.’ 

The  grand  jury  having  found  the  bill.  Father  Southwell  was 
ordered  to  come  up  to  the  bar.  He  readily  obeyed,  and  bowing 
down  his  head,  made  a low  reverence  to  his  judges,  then  modestly 
held  up  his  hand  according  to  custom,  and  being  asked  whether  he 
was  guilty  or  not  guilty,  he  answered,  I confess  that  I was  horn  in 
England,  a subject  to  the  Queen's  Majesty,  and  that  by  authority 
derived  from  God  I have  been  promoted  to  the  sacred  order  of  priesthood 
in  the  Roman  Church,  for  which  I return  most  hearty  thanks  to  His 
Divine  Majesty.  I confess  also  that  I was  at  Uxenden,  in  Middlesex, 
at  that  time  when,  being  sent  for  thither  by  trick  and  deceit,  I fell  into 
your  hands,  as  it  is  well  known;  but  that  I never  entertained  any  designs 
or  plots  against  the  Queen  or  kingdom,  I call  God  to  witness,  the  revenger 
of  perjury;  neither  had  I any  other  design  in  returning  home  to  my 
native  country  than  to  administer  the  sacraments  according  to  the  rite 
of  the  Catholic  Church  to  such  as  desired  them. 

Here  the  judge  interrupted  him,  and  told  him  that  he  was  to  let 
all  that  alone,  and  plead  directly  guilty  or  not  guilty.  Upon  which 
he  said.  He  was  not  guilty  of  any  treason  whatsoever . And  being 
asked  by  whom  he  would  be  tried,  he  said.  By  God  and  by  you. 
The  judge  told  him  he  was  to  answer.  By  God  and  his  country,  which 
at  first  he  refused,  alleging.  That  the  laws  of  his  country  were  dis- 
agreeable to  the  law  of  God,  and  that  he  was  unwilling  those  poor 

215 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1595 


harmless  men  of  the  jury ^ whom  they  obliged  to  represent  the  country^ 
should  have  any  share  in  their  guilty  or  any  hand  in  his  death.  But, 
said  he,  if  through  your  iniquity  it  must  be  so,  and  I caniiot  help  it, 
be  it  as  you  will,  I am  ready  to  be  judged  by  God  and  my  country. 
When  the  twelve  were  to  be  sworn,  he  challenged  none  of  them, 
saying.  That  they  were  all  equally  strangers  to  him,  and  therefore 
charity  did.  not  allow  him  to  except  any  one  of  them  more  than  another. 

The  jury  being  sworn,  Mr.  Cook  began  to  prove  the  heads  of  the 
indictment,  that  Mr.  Southwell  was  an  Englishmaii  and  a priest  by 
his  own  confession,  and  that  his  being  so  young  was  a demonstration 
that  he  was  made  priest  since  the  time  mentioned  in  the  statute, 
&c.  The  judge  asked  him  how  old  he  was.  He  replied.  That  he 
was  about  the  same  age  as  our  Saviour,  viz.,  thirty-three.  Topcliffe, 
who  was  present,  took  occasion  from  this  answer  to  charge  him  with 
insupportable  pride  in  comparing  himself  to  our  Saviour.  But 
Father  Southwell  refuted  the  calumny,  confessing  himself  to  be  a 
worm  of  the  earth,  and  the  work  and  creature  of  Christ  his  Makei'.  In 
fine,  after  Mr.  Cook  had  declaimed  as  long  as  he  thought  fit  against 
the  servant  of  Christ,  and  Topcliffe  and  Lord  Chief  Justice  Popham 
had  loaded  him  with  reproaches  and  injuries,  to  which  Father 
Southwell  opposed  a Christian  constancy  and  modesty,  the  jury  went 
aside  to  consult  about  the  verdict,  and  a short  time  after  brought  him 
in  guilty.  He  was  asked  it  he  had  anything  more  to  say  for  himself 
why  sentence  should  not  be  pronounced  against  him.  He  said, 
Nothing;  but  from  my  heart  I beg  of  Almighty  God  to  forgive  all  who 
have  been  any  ways  accessory  to  my  death.  The  judge,  Popham, 
exhorted  him  to  provide  for  the  welfare  of  his  soul  whilst  he  had 
time.  He  thanked  him  for  this  shew  of  good-will,  saying.  That  he 
had  long  since  provided  for  that,  and  was  conscious  to  himself  of  his 
own  innocence.  The  judge  having  pronounced  sentence  according 
to  the  usual  form.  Father  Southwell  made  a very  low  bow,  returning 
him  most  hearty  thanks  as  for  an  unspeakable  favour.  The  judge 
offered  him  the  help  of  a minister  to  prepare  him  to  die.  Father 
Southwell  desired  he  would  not  trouble  him  upon  that  head,  that  the 
grace  of  God  woidd  be  more  than  sufficient  for  him.  And  so  being  sent 
back  to  Newgate  through  the  streets  lined  with  people,  he  discovered 
all  the  way  the  overfiowing  joy  of  his  heart,  in  his  eyes,  in  his  whole 
countenance,  and  in  every  gesture  and  motion  of  his  body.  He 
was  again  put  down  into  Limbo  at  his  return  to  Newgate,  where  he 
spent  the  following  night,  the  last  of  his  life,  in  prayer,  full  of  the 
thoughts  of  the  journey  he  was  to  take  the  next  day  through  the 
gate  of  martyrdom  into  a happy  eternity,  to  enjoy  for  ever  the 

216 


595] 


ALEXANDER  RAWLINS 


sovereign  object  of  his  love.  The  next  morning  early  he  was  called 
to  the  combat,  and,  as  we  have  seen  above,  gained  a glorious  victory. 

Mr.  SouthwelVs  execution  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Stow  in  his 
Chronicle.  ‘ February  20,  1594-5,’  says  the  historian,  ‘ Southwell^ 
a Jesuit,  that  long  time  had  lain  prisoner  in  the  Tower  of  London, 
was  arraigned  at  the  Kmg’s  Bench  bar.  He  was  condemned,  and  on 
the  next  morning  drawn  from  Newgate  to  Tyburn,  and  there  hanged, 
bowelled,  and  quartered.’ 


ALEXANDER  RAWLINS,  Priest.* 

Mr.  RAWLINS,  or  RAWLING,  was  a gentleman  by  birth, 
born  on  the  confines  of  Worcestershire  and  Gloucester  shire  ,2ind 
brought  up  for  some  time  in  Oxford,  as  I conjecture  from 
Bishop  Yepez,  who  by  a mistake  supposes  him  to  have  been  a native 
of  that  city.  Going  abroad,  he  was  received  an  alumnus  in  the 
English  College,  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  and  from  thence  was  pre- 
sented to  holy  orders,  and  ordained  priest  at  Soissons  the  i8th  of 
March,  1590,  at  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Genings,  and  with  him  was 
sent  upon  the  English  mission  the  9th  of  April  following.  He 
laboured  for  some  years  in  those  perilous  times,  keeping  himself  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  till  God  was  pleased  to  reward  his 
labours  with  the  crown  of  martyrdom.  He  was  apprehended  some- 
where in  Yorkshire,  about  the  time  that  Father  Walpole  was  sent 
back  from  London  to  York  to  take  his  trial,  and  it  was  resolved  that 
they  should  suffer  together. 

When  Mr.  Rawlins  was  brought  to  the  bar,  and  asked,  according 
to  custom,  by  whom  he  would  be  tried,  he  boggled  at  the  usual  answer. 
By  God  and  my  country — where,  by  the  name  of  the  country  are 
meant  the  twelve  men  of  the  jury — declaring.  That  he  looked  upon 
them  as  no  ways  qualified,  being  ignorant  laymen,  to  judge  in  his 
case,  and  that  he  was  unwilling  that  his  blood  should  lie  at  their  doors. 
Let  the  judges — [Beaumont,  Hiliard,  and  Elvin] — who  knew  better, 
take  it  upon  their  own  consciences.  This  exception  put  the  judges 
to  some  stand,  who  adjourned  the  cause  to  the  afternoon,  but  then 
proceeded  to  his  condemnation.  He  was  sentenced  to  die  merely 
for  being  a Seminary  priest  ordained  by  the  authority  of  the  Bishop 

* Ven.  Alexander  Rawlins. — From  the  Douay  Diary;  the  Bishop  of 
Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  and  Bishop  Yepez;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.; 
Catholic  Encyclopedia. 


217 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1595 

of  Romey  and  for  returning  into  England  to  exercise  his  priestly- 
functions,  and  pervert,  as  they  called  it,  her  Majesty’s  subjects.  He 
received  the  sentence  with  unspeakable  joy,  which  was  pronounced 
upon  him  in  the  usual  form  on  Saturday  the  5th  of  Aprils  and  pre- 
pared himself  that  night  and  the  following  day  to  die  on  the  Monday. 

On  which  day,  being  the  7th  of  April,  1595,  he  was  brought  out 
to  the  hurdle,  on  which  he  and  Father  Walpole  were  to  be  drawn  to 
the  place  of  execution  without  the  city  of  York,  and  laid  himself 
down  on  the  left  side  of  the  hurdle,  saying.  That  he  left  the  more 
honourable  place  for  his  betters.  And  here  he  waited  for  two  whole 
hours  before  his  fellow  confessor  was  brought  out  to  him,  spending 
his  time  in  prayer  to  God  and  in  speaking  things  of  edification  to  the 
people.  He  was  overjoyed  to  see  him  come,  for  the  delay  had  given 
him  some  pain.  They  tenderly  embraced  each  other;  but  to  prevent 
as  much  as  could  be  their  pious  communications.  Father  Walpole 
was  ordered  to  lie  down  with  his  head  towards  the  horses’  tail,  by 
the  feet  of  Mr.  Rawlins.  When  they  were  arrived  at  the  gallows, 
Mr.  Rawlins  was  first  ordered  up  the  ladder,  who  cheerfully  obeyed, 
and  kissed  first  the  gallows,  then  the  ladder,  and  afterwards  the  rope, 
as  the  happy  instruments  which  were  to  send  him  to  heaven.  He 
was  not  allowed  to  speak  in  a manner  at  all,  but  was  quickly  turned 
off,  having  the  sweet  name  of  Jesus  in  his  mouth,  and  so  happily 
finished  his  course — Father  Walpole  being  ordered  to  look  on  whilst 
the  butchery  was  performed,  in  hopes  of  his  being  terrified  by  that 
scene  of  barbarity. 

He  suffered  at  York,  April  7,  1595. 


HENRY  WALPOLE,  Priest,  S.J  * 

Henry  WALPOLE  was  bom  of  pious  and  Catholic  parents, 
of  an  ancient  family  in  Norfolk,  and  was  the  eldest  of  many 
sons  with  whom  God  had  blessed  them.  He  was  educated 
partly  in  Oxford  and  partly  in  Cambridge,  and  then  was  sent  up  to 
London  by  his  father  to  apply  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law,  and 
took  chambers  in  Gray's  Inn  for  that  purpose.  In  the  mean  time 
he  was  a great  reader  of  books  of  controversy,  by  which  he  net  only 
was  confirmed  in  his  religion,  but  was  also  enabled  to  maintain  it 

* Ven.  Henry  Walpole. — From  his  Life,  published  by  the  Bishop  of 
Tarrasona  in  his  History  of  the  Persecution;  and  from  the  Douay  Diary;  see 
also  Lives  of  E.  M. ; Catholic  Encyclopcedia ; Jessopp,  One 

Generation  of  a Norfolk  House;  C.R.S.,  v. 

218 


1595] 


HENRY  WALPOLE 


against  all  opponents,  and  even  to  gain  many  proselytes  to  it,  to 
which  the  sweetness  and  agreeableness  of  his  temper  did  not  a little 
contribute.  In  fine,  having  by  this  means  incurred  the  displeasure 
of  the  Government,  and  being  withal  desirous  to  consecrate  himself 
more  closely  to  the  service  of  God  and  of  his  neighbours,  he 
went  abroad  to  the  College  then  residing  at  Rhemes^  the  common 
refuge  of  those  who  left  England  for  their  religion.  Here  he  arrived 
on  the  7th  of  July^  1582,  as  appears  from  the  Doway  Journal,  where 
at  his  first  coming  he  has  this  eulogium : 7°  die  Julij  ex  Anglia  ad 
nos  venit  D.  Henricus  Walpole^  vir  discretus^  gravis  et  pins — On  the 
7th  oijuly  Mr.  Henry  Walpole  came  to  us  out  of  England^  a discreet, 
grave,  and  pious  man.  Here  he  remained  till  the  following  year, 
when,  with  four  others,  he  was  sent  to  the  College  of  Rome,  where 
not  long  after  (viz.,  anno  1584)  he, entered  into  the  Society  oi  Jesus. 
Three  of  his  brothers  some  time  after  followed  his  example;  and  a 
fourth  going  abroad,  also  to  secure  his  conscience,  became  an  officer 
in  the  Spanish  service  in  the  Netherlands. 

After  some  years  spent  in  Italy,  that  climate  not  agreeing  with 
Father  Walpole's  health,  he  was  sent  by  his  superiors  to  Pont-a- 
Mousson,  in  Lorraine,  and  from  thence  into  Flanders,  where,  travelling 
on  foot,  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  a party  of  the  Calvinists,  then  in 
arms  against  the  King  of  Spain,  and  was  by  them  carried  into 
Flushing,  in  Zealand,  where  he  suffered  much  in  prison  for  the  space 
of  a whole  year,  at  the  end  of  which  time  one  of  his  brothers  pro- 
cured his  liberty.  But  his  suffering  on  this  occasion,  so  far  from 
diminishing  his  courage,  served  only  as  a fresh  spur  to  excite  in  him 
a new  and  more  ardent  desire  of  being  sent  over  into  England  for 
the  conversion  of  souls,  a happiness  after  which  he  had  long  aspired, 
hoping  here  to  meet  with  the  crown  of  martyrdom.  But  his  superiors 
would  not  as  yet  consent  to  this  proposition,  but  sent  him  into 
Spain,  where  two  English  Seminaries  had  been  lately  established — 
the  one  at  Seville,  the  other  at  Valladolid.  He  was  for  some  time  in 
both  these  houses,  but  longer  in  the  latter,  where  he  had  the  charge 
of  minister  or  vice  rector.  From  hence  he  was  sent  back  again  into 
Flanders,  with  a commission  from  the  King  of  Spain  to  the  Council 
there,  in  favour  of  another  Seminary,  for  training  up  English  youths 
in  piety  and  learning,  lately  erected  at  St.  Omer's. 

At  length,  having  happily  discharged  his  commission,  he  had 
leave  from  his  superiors  to  go  upon  the  English  mission.  He 
landed  at  Flamborough  Head,  in  Yorkshire,  being  set  ashore  in  the 
night,  the  4th  of  December,  1593  ; but  had  not  been  above  twenty-four 
hours  at  land  before  he  was  apprehended,  with  his  two  companions, 

219 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1595 


in  a place  called  Killam,  and  three  days  after  was  carried  prisoner 
to  York.  He  was  examined  by  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon^  then  Lord 
President  of  the  North,  and  by  the  Council,  and  freely  owned  himself 
to  be  what  he  was ; upon  which  he  was  committed  close  prisoner  to 
York  Jail  till  the  25th  of  February  following,  when  he  was,  by  orders 
from  the  Privy  Council,  sent  up  to  London,  and  there  committed 
to  the  Tower,  where  he  remained  for  a space  of  a year;  where, 
besides  other  hardships,  he  suffered  the  torture,  according  to  the 
custom  of  that  arbitrary  reign,  no  less  than  fourteen  times,  as  he 
himself  declared  a little  before  his  death. 

The  various  examinations  that  he  underwent  and  his  answers, 
the  conferences  that  he  had  with  the  Protestant  ministers,  the  letters 
he  wrote,  the  particulars  of  his  trial,  the  endeavours  that  were  used 
to  bring  him  to  a conformity  to  the  religion  by  law  established,  and 
the  constancy  with  which  he  refused  to  be  rescued  out  of  prison  by 
some  friends  that  would  have  attempted  it,  are  set  down  at  large 
by  the  Bishop  of  Tarrasona  in  twenty  leaves  in  quarto,  but  are  too 
long  to  be  inserted  in  these  Memoirs.  The  conclusion  was,  that 
having  been  sent  back  to  York  to  take  his  trial,  he  was  there  sen- 
tenced to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  on  account  of  his  priest- 
hood. He  was  brought  in  guilty  by  the  jury  on  Thursday  the  3d  of 
April,  and  received  sentence  on  the  Saturday  following,  and  was 
ordered  to  prepare  himself  to  die  on  the  Monday  the  7th  of  the  same 
month.  He  received  the  sentence  with  alacrity  and  thanksgiving, 
and  was  visited  by  many  during  the  time  which  was  allowed  him 
to  prepare  for  death,  who  were  astonished  to  see  the  joy  and  comfort 
with  which  he  looked  for  that  happy  hour.  On  the  Monday  morning 
he  was  drawn,  as  we  have  seen,  to  the  place  of  execution  with  Mr. 
Alexander  Rawlins,  who  was  appointed  to  suffer  first;  and  when 
Mr.  Rawlins  was  in  quartering,  they  shewed  him  to  Father  'Walpole, 
bidding  him  to  be  more  wise  than  to  follow  his  example,  and  offering 
him  his  life  if  he  would  conform,  which  offer  he  generously  rejecting, 
went  up  the  ladder;  and  there  being  asked  what  he  thought  of  the 
Queen’s  spiritual  supremacy,  freely  declared  against  it.  They  told 
him  this  was  treason,  yet  they  hoped  he  would  die  in  peace,  and  join 
in  prayer  with  them.  He  answered.  That  by  the  grace  of  God  he 
was  in  peace  with  all  the  world,  and  prayed  God  for  all,  particularly 
for  those  that  were  the  cause  of  his  death;  but  as  they  were  not  of  his 
religion,  he  ought  not  to  join  in  prayer  with  them;  yet  he  heartily  prayed 
for  them,  that  God  would  enlighten  them  with  His  truth,  bring  them 
back  to  His  Church,  and  dispose  them  for  His  rnercy.  Then  begging 
the  prayers  of  all  Catholics,  he  lifted  up  his  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven 

220 


1595] 


HENRY  WALPOLE 


and  recited  aloud  the  Lord’s  Prayer,  and  after  it  began  the  Angelical 
Salutation,  which  the  persecutors  had  not  the  patience  to  hear,  and 
therefore  turned  him  off  the  ladder,  and  quickly  cut  the  rope;  and 
so  dismembered,  bowelled,  and  quartered  him;  a spectacle  which 
drew  tears  from  the  eyes  of  a great  part  of  the  beholders,  and  served 
not  a little  to  advance  the  glory  of  God  and  the  propagation  of  His 
Church  in  those  northern  parts  of  the  kingdom. 

Father  Walpole  was  executed  at  York,  the  yth  of  April,  1595. 
The  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  the  great  persecutor  of  the  Northern 
Catholics,  did  not  survive  the  year.  Bishop  Yepez  relates  in  his 
History  of  the  Persecution,  1.  2,  c.  9,  numb.  4,  that  he  died  in  great 
anguish  of  mind,  calling  often  for  his  brother,  the  Honourable 
Walter  Hastings,  who  was  a Catholic,  and  expressing  a most  anxious 
desire  of  seeing  him ; but  whatever  his  motive  might  be  for  desiring 
to  see  his  brother,  he  died  without  seeing  him,  in  all  appearance  in 
the  same  state  in  which  he  lived. 

A copy  of  a Letter  of  Father  Walpole,  after  his  apprehension,  to  Father  Richard, 
a Missioner  of  the  Society  in  Yorkshire,  from  a manuscript  at  St.  OmeFs. 

‘ Although  your  reverence  has  subscribed  no  name  to  your  letter, 
I plainly  understand  it  is  from  a friend  and  from  a fellow  soldier, 
which  gives  me  a very  great  ^comfort.  I should  be  overjoyed  if  I 
could  confer  with  your  reverence  by  word  of  mouth  about  certain 
concerns  of  mine.  In  the  mean  time,  most  dear  father,  I recommend 
myself  to  your  holy  prayers,  and  those  of  the  rest  of  our  brethren 
and  friends  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  I know  not  as  yet  what  will 
become  of  me;  but  whatever  shall  happen,  by  the  grace  of  God  it 
shall  be  welcome;  for  in  every  place,  north  or  south,  east  or  west.  He 
is  at  hand;  and  the  wings  of  His  protection  and  government  are 
stretched  forth  to  every  place  where  they  are  who  truly  serve  and 
worship  Him,  and  study  to  promote  the  glory  and  honour  of  His 
most  holy  and  most  precious  name.  I trust  that  He  will  be  glorified 
in  me,  whether  in  life  or  death,  Qui  ccepit  perficiet;  mihi  vivere 
Christus  est  et  tnori  lucrum.  Some  come  to  dispute  with  me,  but 
with  clamours  and  empty  words  more  than  with  solid  arguments. 
I cannot  go  on.  Gustos  adest.  I recommend  your  reverence  to  our 
guardian  angel,  and  to  the  whole  court  of  heaven,  and  (above  all) 
to  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Memento  meif 

Another  Letter  of  Father  Walpole  to  the  same,  after  his  examination  by  Topcliffe . 

‘ Your  reverence’s  letters  give  me  great  comfort;  but  if  I could 
but  see  you,  though  it  were  but  for  one  hour,  it  would  be  of  greater 

221 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1595 


service  to  me  than  I can  possibly  express.  I hope  that  what  is 
wanting  my  sweet  Lord  Jesus  will  supply  by  other  means,  whose 
heavenly  comfort  and  assistance  has  always  hitherto  stood  by  me  in 
my  greatest  necessities,  and  I am  persuaded  will  continue  so  to  do, 
since  His  love  for  us  is  everlasting. 

‘ If  I would  write  down  all  things  that  have  here  passed  with  our 
adversaries  it  would  be  endless,  and  the  work  of  a long  time.  In  my 
examination  I gave  in  writing  a long  account  of  my  life  beyond  the 
seas,  of  the  places  where  I lived,  and  of  my  actions  and  designs, 
which,  I assured  them,  had  no  other  butt  than  the  only  glory  of 
God,  and  the  increase  of  the  holy  Catholic  faith.  With  which  view 
I told  them  I returned  into  England^  with  a very  great  desire  of  the 
•conversion,  not  only  of  the  people,  but  most  of  all  of  the  Queen 
herself,  and  of  the  whole  English  nobility,  which  I plainly  assured 
them  I should  ever  use  my  best  endeavours  to  bring  about  with  the 
grace  of  God. 

‘ To  their  queries  concerning  others,  I refused  to  answer.  And 
when  Topclijfe  threatened  that  he  would  make  me  answer  when  he 
had  me  in  Bridewell  or  in  the  Tower ^ I told  him.  That  our  Lord  God,  1 
hoped,  would  never  permit  me,  for  fear  of  any  torments  whatsoever , to 
do  any  thing  against  his  Divine  Majesty,  or  against  my  own  conscience, 
or  to  the  prejudice  of  justice  and  the  innocence  of  others. 

‘ I have  had  various  conferences  and  disputations  with  many  of 
the  heretics.  And  whereas  I believed  I should  have  been  tried  at 
the  last  assizes  in  this  city,  \York^  I sent  in  writing  to  the  Lord 
President  all  those  conferences  and  disputations,  who  had  ordered 
me  pen,  ink,  and  paper  for  that  purpose.  To  which  I joined  a large 
discourse  or  treatise,  in  which  I exhorted  all  to  beware  of  false 
prophets,  and  to  give  ear  to  the  voice  of  the  Holy  Church,  the  spouse 
of  the  King,  the  house,  the  vineyard,  and  the  city  of  Christ.  One  of 
the  ministers  complained  of  me  much  to  the  President  for  being  so 
bold  as  to  put  down  such  things  in  writing,  but  he  could  not  refute 
what  was  written;  and,  indeed,  they  seem  to  me  to  be  much  con- 
founded. Blessed  be  Jesus,  Qui  dat  os  insipienti,  cui  non  possunt 
resistere  sapientes.  I want  very  much  to  have  a book  or  two  for  a 
few  hours;  but  if  I cannot  have  them,^^^?/^,  our  God  and  Lord,  is  at 
hand,  and  He  is  the  Eternal  Wisdom.  Your  reverence  will  be  pleased 
to  pray  to  Him,  that  He  may  always  stand  by  me,  and  that  all  things 
may  turn  out  to  His  glory. 

‘ I am  much  astonished  that  so  vile  a creature  as  I am  should  be 
so  near,  as  they  tell  me,  to  the  crown  of  martyrdom;  but  this  I know 
for  certain,  that  the  blood  of  my  most  Blessed  Saviour  and  Redeemer, 

222 


1595] 


HENRY  WALPOLE 


and  His  most  sweet  love,  is  able  to  make  me  worthy  of  it,  omnia 
possum  in  eo  qui  me  confortat.  Your  reverence,  most  loving  Father, 
is  engaged  in  the  midst  of  the  battle.  I sit  here  an  idle  spectator  of 
the  field ; yet  King  David  has  appointed  an  equal  portion  for  us  both ; 
and  love,  charity,  and  union,  which  unites  us  together  in  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord,  makes  us  mutually  partakers  of  one  another’s 
merits;  and  what  can  be  more  closely  united  than  we  two,  who,  as 
your  reverence  sees,  simul  segregati  sumus  in  hoc  ministerium. 

‘ The  President  inquired  of  me  who  was  the  Superior  of  our 
Society  in  this  kingdom,  whether  it  was  this  or  the  other,  or  who 
it  was  ? Topclijfe  answered  he  knew  who  it  was,  and  named  him. 
I beg  your  reverence  would  communicate  this  letter  to  all  our  friends. 
I desire  to  give  myself  to  every  one  of  them,  and  more  particularly 
to  all  our  most  dear  fathers  and  brothers  of  the  Society  of  Christ  my 
Jesus,  in  whose  prayers,  labours,  and  sacrifices,  as  I have  a share,  so 
have  I a great  confidence.  About  Mid-Lent  I hope  my  lot  will  be 
decided,  either  for  life  or  death;  for  then  the  assizes  will  be  held 
here  again.  In  the  mean  while  I have  leisure  to  prepare  myself, 
and  expect  with  good  courage  whatever  His  Divine  Majesty  shall 
be  pleased  to  appoint  for  me.  I beg  your  reverence  to  join  your 
holy  prayers  with  my  poor  ones,  that  I may  walk  worthy  of  that 
high  and  holy  name  and  profession  to  which  I am  called,  which  I 
trust  in  the  mercy  of  our  I.ord  He  will  grant  me,  not  regarding  so 
much  my  many  imperfections  as  the  fervent  labours,  prayers,  and 
holy  sacrifices  of  so  many  fathers,  and  my  brothers  His  servants, 
who  are  employed  over  all  the  world  in  His  service;  and  I hope, 
through  the  merits  of  my  most  sweet  Saviour  and  Lord,  that  I shall 
be  always  ready,  whether  living  or  dying,  to  glorify  Him,  which  will 
be  for  my  eternal  happiness.  And  if  my  unworthiness  and  demerits 
shall  keep  me  at  present  at  a distance  from  the  crown,  I will  strive 
to  deserve  it  by  a greater  solicitude  and  diligence  for  the  future ; and 
if,  in  His  mercy,  our  Lord  shall  grant  me  now  to  wash  my  garments 
in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  I hope  to  follow  Him  for  ever,  clothed  in 
white. 

‘ I can  never  end  when  I get  any  time  to  write  to  your  reverence, 
which  I have  been  seldom  able  to  do;  and  whether,  as  long  as  I live, 
I shall  ever  have  another  opportunity,  I know  not.  I confessed  in 
my  examinations,  That  I had  laboured  for  the  increase  of  the  two 
Seminaries  in  Spain,  and  for  that  of  St.  Omer’s,  and  that  I had 
returned  hearty  thanks  to  his  Catholic  Majesty  for  his  great  favours 
to  the  Seminary  of  St.  Omer’s.  I also  confessed  that  all  my  actions 
had  always  in  view  the  good  of  others,  and  no  one's  harm;  the  procuring 

223 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i595 


peace  among  all^  and  the  propagating  our  holy  Catholic  faith  and  the 
kingdom  of  Christ  to  the  utmost  of  my  power.  This  was  the  sum 
of  my  general  confession  which  I gave  in  writing,  signed  by  my  own 
hand,  to  the  President  and  to  Topcliffe.  They  asked  me  what  I 
would  do  if  the  Pope  should  wage  war  against  England.  I ans- 
wered, That  the  circumstances  of  that  time  woidd  give  me  more  lights 
and  that  I should  then  have  recourse  to  our  Lord  God  for  counsel^  and 
would  think  seriously  on  it  before  I would  anyways  intermeddle  with 
things  of  war.  Hcec  et  hujusmodi^  de  quihus  postea.  May  Jesus  be 
always  with  your  reverence.  Or  emus  pro  invicem.' 

An  extract  of  a Letter  of  Father  Henry  Garnet,  Superior  of  the  English  Jesuits, 
concerning  Father  Walpole's  treatment  in  the  Tower,  and  his  return 
to  York,  written  October  23,  1595,  translated  from  the  Bishop  of 
Tarrasona's  History,  pp.  695,  696. 

‘ Blessed  Father  Walpole  met  in  the  Tower  of  London  with  the 
greatest  misery  and  poverty,  so  that  the  Lieutenant  himself,  though 
otherwise  a hard-hearted  and  barbarous  man,  was  moved  to  inquire 
after  some  of  the  Father’s  relations,  and  told  them  that  he  was  in 
great  and  extraordinary  want — without  bed,  without  clothes,  without 
any  thing  to  cover  him,  and  that  at  a season  when  the  cold  was  most 
sharp  and  piercing,  so  that  himself,  though  an  enemy,  out  of  pure 
compassion  had  given  him  a little  straw  to  sleep  on.  Besides  this, 
the  Father  himself  in  public  court,  upon  occasion  of  answering  some 
question  that  was  put  to  him,  declared.  That  he  had  been  tortured 
fourteen  times;  and  it  is  very  well  known  how  cruel  any  one  of  those 
tortures  is  which  are  now  in  use.  For  it  is  a common  thing  to  hang 
them  up  in  the  air  six  or  seven  hours  by  the  hands,  and,  by  means 
of  certain  irons,  which  hold  their  hands  fast  and  cut  them,  they  shed 
much  blood  in  the  torture.  The  force  of  this  torment  may  be 
gathered  from  what  happened  last  Lent  to  a laic  called  James  Atkin- 
son, whom  they  most  cruelly  tortured  in  this  manner  to  oblige  him 
to  accuse  his  own  master  and  other  Catholics  and  priests,  and  kept 
him  so  long  in  the  torture  that  he  was  at  length  taken  away  for  dead 
after  many  hours’  suffering,  and,  in  effect,  died  within  two  hours. 
Some  time  after  they  carried  the  Father  back  to  York,  to  be  there 
tried  at  the  Mid-Lent  Assizes.  In  all  that  journey  he  never  went  into 
bed,  or  even  lay  down  upon  a bed  to  rest  himself  after  the  fatigue 
of  the  day,  but  his  sleep  was  upon  the  bare  ground.  When  he 
came  to  York,  he  was  put  into  prison,  where  he  waited  many  days 
for  the  judges  coming.  In  the  prison  he  had  nothing  but  one  poor 
mat  three  feet  long,  on  which  he  made  his  prayer  upon  his  knees  for 

22\ 


1595] 


HENRY  WALPOLE 


a great  part  of  the  night;  and  when  he  slept,  it  was  upon  the  ground, 
leaning  upon  the  same  mat.  And  besides  this  long  prayer  in  the 
night,  which  lasted  for  the  greater  part  of  the  night,  he  spent  not  a 
little  time  in  making  English  verses,  in  which  he  had  a particular 
talent  and  grace;  for  before  he  left  the  kingdom,  he  had  made  a 
poem  upon  the  martyrdom  of  Father  Campiori,  which  was  so  much 
taken  notice  of  by  the  public,  that,  the  author  not  being  known,  the 
gentleman  who  published  it  was  condemned  by  the  Council  to  lose 
his  ears  and  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  prison,  in  which, 
after  some  years,  he  made  a pious  end.’  So  far  Father  Garnet. 

Father  Walpole's  Defence  at  his  Trial,  from  Yepez,  p.  702. 

‘ I find,  my  Lords,  I am  accused  of  two  or  three  things. 

^ 1st,  That  I am  a Priest,  ordained  by  the  authority  of  the  See 
of  Rome. 

‘ zdly,  That  I am  2i  Jesuit,  or  one  of  the  Society  oi  Jesus. 

‘ 3^/y , That  I returned  to  my  country  to  exercise  the  ordinary  acts 
of  these  two  callings,  which  are  no  other  than  to  gain  souls  to  God. 

‘ I will  show  that  none  of  these  three  things  can  be  treason. 
Not  the  being  a priest,  which  is  a dignity  and  office  instituted  by  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  given  by  Him  to  His  apostles,  who  were 
priests,  as  were  also  the  holy  fathers  and  doctors  of  the  Church  who 
converted  and  instructed  the  world.  And  the  first  teachers  who 
brought  over  the  English  nation  to  the  light  of  the  gospel  were  also 
priests;  so  that  were  it  not  for  priests  we  should  all  be  heathens, 
consequently  to  be  a priest  can  be  no  treason. 

‘ Judge  Beaumont  here  spoke:  Indeed,  said  he,  the  merely  being 
a Priest  or  Jesuit  is  no  treason;  but  what  makes  you  a traitor  is  your 
returning  into  the  kingdom  against  the  laws.  If  to  be  a priest,  said 
Father  Walpole,  is  no  treason,  the  executing  the  office  or  doing  the 
functions  of  a priest  can  be  no  treason.  But  if  a priest,  said  the 
judge,  should  conspire  against  the  person  of  his  prince,  would  not  this 
be  treason?  Yes,  said  Father  Walpole;  but  then  neither  his  being 
a priest  nor  the  following  the  duties  of  his  calling  would  make  him 
a traitor,  but  the  committing  of  a crime  contrary  to  the  duty  of  a 
priest,  which  is  far  from  being  my  case. 

‘ You  have  been,  said  Beaumont,  with  the  King  of  Spain,  and  you 
have  treated  and  conversed  with  Parsons  a7id  Holt,  and  other  rebels 
and  traitors  to  the  kingdom;  and  you  have  returned  hither  contrary  to 
the  laws,  and  therefore  you  cannot  deny  your  being  a traitor.  Father 
Walpole  replied.  To  speak  or  treat  with  any  person  whatsoever  out 
of  the  kingdom  can  make  me  no  traitor,  as  long  as  no  proof  can  be 

225  p 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1595 


brought  that  the  subject  about  which  we  treated  was  treason;  neither 
can  the  returning  to  my  native  country  be  looked  upon  as  a treason, 
since  the  cause  of  my  return  was  not  to  do  any  evil,  either  to  the 
Queen  or  to  the  kingdom. 

‘ Our  laws  appoint^  said  Beaumont,  that  a priest  who  returns  from 
beyond  the  seas,  and  does  not  present  himself  before  a justice  within 
three  days  to  make  the  usual  submission  to  the  Queen's  Majesty  in 
matters  of  religion,  shall  be  deemed  a traitor.  Then  I am  out  of  the 
case,  said  Father  Walpole,  who  was  apprehended  before  I had  been 
one  whole  day  on  English  ground. 

‘ Here  Beaumont  being  put  to  a nonplus,  Judge  Elvin  asked  him. 
If  he  was  ready  to  make  that  submission  to  the  Queen  in  matters  of 
religion  which  the  laws  of  the  kingdom  required,  viz.,  to  acknowledge 
her  supremacy  and  abjure  the  Pope.  Father  Walpole  answered,  he 
did  not  know  what  laws  they  had  made  in  England  whilst  he  was 
abroad,  nor  what  submission  these  laws  required;  but  this  he  very 
well  knew,  that  no  law  could  oblige  any  one  that  is  not  agreeable  to 
the  law  of  God,  and  that  the  submission  that  is  to  be  paid  to  earthly 
princes  must  always  be  subordinate  to  that  submission  which  we 
owe  to  the  Great  King  of  heaven  and  earth.  Then  he  added.  You, 
my  lords,  sit  here  at  present  in  judgment  as  men,  and  judge  as  such, 
being  subject  to  error  and  passion,  but  know  for  certain  that  there  is  a 
Sovereign  Judge  who  will  judge  righteously,  whom  in  all  things  we  must 
obey  in  the  first  place,  and  then  our  lawful  princes  in  such  things  as  are 
lawful  and  no  farther. 

‘ Here  the  Lord  President  spoke : We  deal  very  favourably  with 
you,  Mr.  Walpole,  said  he,  when,  notwithstanding  all  these  treasons 
and  conspiracies  with  the  persons  aforesaid,  we  offer  you  the  benefit 
of  the  law,  if  you  will  but  make  the  submission  ordered  by  the  law; 
which,  if  you  will  not  accept  of,  it  is  proper  you  shotdd  be  punished 
according  to  the  law.  Father  Walpole  replied.  There  is  nothing,  my 
Lord,  in  which  I would  not  most  willingly  submit  myself,  provided 
it  be  not  against  God;  but  may  His  Divine  Majesty  never  suffer  me 
to  consent  to  the  least  thing  by  which  He  may  be  dishonoured,  nor 
you  to  desire  it  of  me.  As  to  the  Queen,  I every  day  pray  for  her  to 
our  Lord  God  that  He  would  bless  her  with  His  Holy  Spirit,  and 
give  her  His  grace  to  do  her  duty  in  all  things  in  this  world,  to  the 
end  that  she  may  enjoy  eternal  glory  in  the  world  to  come;  and 
God  is  my  witness  that  to  all  here  present,  and  particularly  to  my 
accusers  and  such  as  desire  my  death,  I wish  as  to  myself  the  salva- 
tion of  their  souls,  and  that  to  this  end  they  may  live  in  the  true 
Catholic  faith,  the  only  way  to  eternal  happiness.’ 

226 


1595] 


HENRY  WALPOLE 


The  court,  apprehending  the  impression  the  confessor’s  words 
might  make  upon  the  people  (who  by  this  time  could  not  but  per- 
ceive that  this  noise  about  Treason  was  but  a pretence,  and  that  a 
submission  to  the  Queen’s  religion  was  all  that  was  insisted  upon), 
thought  fit  to  put  an  end  to  the  trial.  So  the  judges  summed  up  the 
evidence  against  the  prisoner,  which  was  no  other  than  his  own 
confession,  viz.,  ‘ That  he  was  a priest  and  a Jesuit;  that  he  had  been 
with  the  King  of  Spain;  that  he  had  treated  with  Father  Parsons  and 
Father  Holt,  and  others  whom  they  called  fugitives,  rebels,  and 
traitors;  and  that  he  had  returned  into  England  to  convert  his 
country,  that  is,  as  they  interpreted  it,  to  seduce  her  Majesty’s 
subjects  from  the  religion  by  law  established,  and  to  reconcile  them 
to  the  See  of  Rome.'  Then  the  jury  were  directed  to  find  him  guilty 
of  the  indictment;  to  whom,  as  they  were  going  out.  Father  Walpole 
addressed  himself  in  these  words:  ‘ Gentlemen  of  the  jury,  I confess 
most  willingly  that  I am  a priest,  and  that  I am  of  the  Company  of 
Jesus  or  a Jesuit,  and  that  I came  over  in  order  to  convert  my  country 
to  the  Catholic  faith,  and  to  invite  sinners  to  repentance.  All  this  I 
will  never  deny;  this  is  the  duty  of  my  calling.  If  you  find  anything 
else  in  me  that  is  not  agreeable  to  my  profession,  show  me  no  favour. 
In  the  mean  time,  act  according  to  your  consciences,  and  remember  you 
must  give  an  account  to  God.  ’ 

The  jury  went  out,  but  returned  again  quickly,  and  brought  in 
their  verdict  guilty,  which  Father  Walpole  hearing,  showed  great 
content  and  joy,  and  returned  most  hearty  thanks  to  the  Divine 
Majesty.  This  passed  on  Thursday,  but  the  sentence  was  not  pro- 
nounced till  the  Saturday  following,  which  was  executed,  as  we  have 
seen,  on  the  Monday. 


WILLIAM  FREEMAN,  Priest.^ 

Mr.  freeman,  who  was  some  time  known  by  the  name  of 
Mason,  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  and  performed  his  studies  in 
Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes.  Here  he  was 
ordained  priest  in  1587,  and  from  thence  he  was  sent  upon  the 
English  mission  in  the  beginning  of  1589.  The  particulars  of  his 
missionary  labours  I have  not  been  able  to  learn,  nor  could  I any 
where  meet  with  the  account  of  his  life  and  martyrdom  quoted  by 

* Ven.  William  Freeman. — From  the  Catalogue  of  the  Bishop  of  Chalce- 
don;  from  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript  History  ; and  from  Bishop  Yepez; 
see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Catholic  Encyclopcedia  ; C.R.S.,  v. 

227 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1595 

the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon  in  his  Catalogue.  Dr.  Champney ^ who  in 
all  probability  had  seen  it,  relates  that  Mr.  Freeman^  having  intelli- 
gence that  a neighbouring  justice  of  the  peace  had  a design  to  make 
a strict  inquisition  after  priests  in  that  neighbourhood,  to  withdraw 
himself  further  from  the  danger,  went  into  another  county.  But  as 
God  would  have  it,  he  met  the  danger  he  sought  to  fly,  and  was  there 
taken  up  upon  suspicion  and  committed  to  prison,  and  afterw'ards 
prosecuted  and  condemned  on  account  of  his  priesthood,  at  the 
instance  chiefly  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury^  Whitgift.  When 
he  heard  the  sentence  pronounced  against  him,  he  sung  Te  Deum^ 
&c.  When  he  was  drawn  to  the  place  of  execution,  he  carried  a 
crucifix  on  his  breast,  protesting  aloud.  That  if  he  had  many  lives ^ 
he  would  most  willingly  lay  them  down  for  the  sake  of  Him  who  had 
been  pleased  to  die  upon  a cross  for  His  redemption.  When  he  came 
to  the  place  of  execution,  where  some  others  for  divers  crimes  were 
also  appointed  to  die  that  day,  he  petitioned  that  he  might  be  the 
first  to  go  up  the  ladder;  but  this  was  refused,  the  Sheriff  being  in 
hopes  that  the  sight  of  their  death  might  terrify  him  and  bring  him 
to  a compliance,  in  which  case  his  life  was  to  be  saved;  but  this  sight, 
as  he  declared,  had  a contrary  effect  upon  him,  and  only  served  to 
give  him  a more  ardent  desire  of  dying  for  Christ.  So  that  with  the 
royal  prophet  he  cried  out.  As  the  hart  desires  after  the  fountains  of 
water y so  does  my  soul  after  Thee^  my  God.  Oh,  when  shall  I come 
and  appear  before  Thy  face?  And  so  great  was  the  joy  of  his  heart, 
that  it  manifestly  discovered  itself  in  the  serenity  and  cheerfulness 
of  his  countenance,  to  the  admiration  and  edification  of  the  beholders. 

He  was  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  at  Warwick  the  13th  of 
August,  1595.  Bishop  Yepez  says  in  September,  1595. 

Molanus,  in  his  Catalogue,  signifies  that  he  suffered  most  cruel 
torments  at  or  before  his  death,  p.  31.  Gulielmus  Freemannus 
Collegii  Duaceni  Presbyter,  post  varios  cruciatus,  et  belluinam  imma- 
nitatem  heroice  super atam,  etc.  William  Freeman,  priest  of  the 
College  of  Doway,  died  after  having  heroically  overcome  divers 
torments  and  the  brutal  cruelty  of  the  persecutors. 


228 


1596]  ERRINGTON  — KNIGHT  — GIBSON— ABBOT 


George  ERRINGTON,  William  KNIGHT, 
William  GIBSON,  and  Henry  ABBOT,  Laymen. 


'HIS  year  is  the  first,  since  1 580,  that  passed  without  the  execu- 


tion  of  any  priest  in  this  kingdom.  And  yet  even  this  year  could 


**■  not  pass  without  seeing  some  Catholic  blood  shed  for  religious 
matters;  for  I find  no  less  than  four  Catholic  laymen  put  to  death, 
as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  at  York  in  the  latter  end  of  November 
of  this  year,  barely  on  a religious  account.  These  were  George 
Errington^  gentleman,  born  at  Herst^  in  Northumberland;  William 
Knight^  son  of  Leonard  Knight y a wealthy  yeoman  of  South  Duffieldy 
in  the  parish  of  Hemin^roughy  in  Yorkshire;  William  Gibson y 
yeoman,  born  near  Ripon  in  the  same  county — a most  exemplar  and 
religious  man,  who  for  many  years  had  been  prisoner,  for  his  con- 
science, in  York  Castle  ; and  Henry  Abbot y a zealous  convert,  who 
lived  in  Holden  in  the  same  county. 

Now  their  case  was  as  follows: — A certain  Protestant  minister, 
for  some  misdemeanour,  was  put  into  York  Casthy  where  the  three 
former  of  the  persons  above  named,  and  several  other  Catholics, 
were  prisoners  for  their  recusancy,  as,  during  a great  part  of  this 
reign,  most  of  the  prisons  of  this  kingdom  were  plentifully  stocked 
with  such  kind  of  offenders.  This  unhappy  man,  to  reinstate 
himself  in  the  favour  of  his  superiors,  took  a method  that  will  be 
justly  detested  by  all  honest  men  of  what  persuasion  soever — which 
was  to  insinuate  himself  into  the  good  opinion  of  the  Catholic 
prisoners,  by  pretending  a deep  sense  of  repentance  for  his  former 
life,  and  a great  desire  of  embracing  the  Catholic  truth;  so  that  they, 
believing  him  to  be  sincere,  directed  him,  after  he  was  enlarged,  to 
Mr.  Abboty  the  zealous  gentleman  mentioned  above,  in  order  to 
procure  a priest  to  reconcile  him.  Mr.  Abbot  used  his  endeavours, 
and  carried  him  to  Carlton  y to  the  house  of  Esquire  Stapyltony  but 
did  not  succeed.  Soon  after,  the  traitor,  having  got  enough  to  put 
them  all  in  danger  of  the  law,  accused  them  to  the  magistrates  to 
shew  his  zeal  for  the  Protestant  religion.  So  they  were  all  arraigned 
for  persuading  the  parson  to  be  reconciled  to  the  Church  of  Romey 
which  is  high  treason  by  the  sanguinary  laws  of  this  reign.  Being 
brought  to  the  bar,  they  confessed.  That  they  hady  according  to  their 
capacity  y explained  to  the  traitor  the  Catholic  faith  and  its  necessity  to 
salvation  y and  withal  had  exhorted  him  to  a serious  amendment  of  his 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1596 


life^  hut  had  used  no  other  persuasions . Upon  this  they  were  all  found 
guilty  by  the  jury,  and  had  sentence  to  die,  and  were  executed  at  York. 

They  suffered  with  fortitude  and  joy  November  29,  1596. 

Two  Catholic  gentlewomen  were,  for  the  same  cause,  condemned 
at  the  same  time  to  be  burnt  alive,  viz.,  Mrs.  Ann  Tesse  and  Mrs. 
Bridget  Maskew,  but  they  were  reprieved,  and  continued  in  prison 
till  the  Queen’s  death;  and  then,  by  the  means  of  friends,  were 
pardoned  by  King  James  I.  Mr.  Stapylton  also,  and  his  lady, 
underwent  great  trouble  upon  this  occasion. 

The  manuscript,  from  which  I have  the  greatest  part  of  these 
particulars,  adds  a very  remarkable  history  with  relation  to  William 
Knight^  uncle  to  the  William  Knight  who  suffered,  and  a great  enemy 
of  his  nephew  and  of  all  Catholics,  which  I shall  here  set  down  in 
the  writer’s  own  words: — ‘ There  happened  in  Hemminghrough 
parish  a thing  worth  memory,  which  was  this : There  was  a Catholic 
man  who  had  been  long  confined  in  York  Castle  for  his  conscience, 
and  having  procured  liberty  to  return  home,  after  many  years’ 
imprisonment,  he  went  one  time  to  visit  an  old  man  of  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  perceiving  him  not  likely  to  live  long,  entered  into  some 
good  talk  with  him  concerning  his  soul,  and  used  some  persuasions 
to  move  him  to  provide  for  death  and  the  salvation  of  his  soul  by 
making  himself  a Catholic.  This  came  to  the  knowledge  of  one 
William  Knight^  [who  was  uncle  to  the  other  of  that  name,  whom  I 
have  mentioned  before,  that  was  a martyr,  and  was  the  first  cause  of 
his  nephew’s  imprisonment,  and  that  upon  this  occasion.  The  good 
youth,  coming  to  man’s  estate,  went  to  his  uncle  about  some  land 
that  was  due  to  him.  Whether  his  uncle  had  the  land  in  his  posses- 
sion, or  the  writings,  I remember  not;  but  knowing  his  nephew  to 
be  a Catholic,  he  took  him  and  sent  him  to  prison,  where  he  remained 
till  he  got  the  crown  of  martyrdom.  If  he  would  have  gone  to  church, 
his  uncle  would  have  given  him  his  land.]  This  bad  William 
Knight^  hearing  of  the  good  counsel  this  prisoner  had  given  his 
neighbour,  determined  to  bring  him  within  the  danger  of  the  statute 
of  persuasion^  which  is  treason;  and,  for  that  end,  took  the  minister 
of  the  parish  with  him,  whose  name  was  Knighton,  and  some  others 
to  be  witnesses,  determining  to  take  the  old  man’s  oath  that  the 
other  had  persuaded  him.  As  they  were  going,  Knight  was  forced 
to  stay  to  untruss,  and  was  in  such  manner  handled  that  he  was 
obliged  to  turn  back.  So  the  minister  and  the  rest,  entertaining  no 
such  malice,  returned  without  proceeding  any  farther.  Knighfs  disease 
left  him  not  till  he  died,  which  was  within  a short  time — how  few  days 
I am  not  certain.  I had  this  from  the  minister  himself,  who  acknow- 
ledged it  to  be  God’s  just  judgment  upon  him.’  So  far  the  manuscript. 

230 


IS97]  WILLIAM  ANDLEBY,  ETC. 

[ 1597-  ] 

WILLIAM  ANDLEBY,  Priest,  THOMAS 
WARCOP,  and  EDWARD  FULTHROP, 
Gentlemen,* 

WILLIAM  ANDLEBY  was  a gentleman  by  birth,  born  at 
Etton,  in  Yorkshire,  and  brought  up  in  the  Protestant  religion, 
and  in  a great  aversion  to  the  Church  of  Rome,  following 
withal  the  liberties  of  the  world  and  the  flesh,  which  are  so  much 
condemned  by  the  old  gospel,  and  so  little  restrained  by  the  new. 
When  he  was  about  twenty-flve  years  of  age,  his  curiosity  carried 
him  abroad  to  see  foreign  countries.  In  his  travels  he  came  to 
Doway,  where  Dr.  Allen  had  not  long  before  instituted  an  English 
College  or  Seminary  for  supplying  England  with  pastoral  missioners. 
Mr.  Andlehy  had  heard  much  of  the  man,  and  was  desirous  of  seeing 
and  conferring  with  him,  making  no  doubt  but  he  could  convince 
him  of  the  absurdity  of  the  Roman  Catholic  religion.  Dr.  Allen 
received  him  very  courteously,  and  treated  with  him  upon  the  con- 
troverted points  of  religion,  with  that  strength  of  argument,  joined 
with  that  candour  and  sweetness  of  temper,  that  Mr.  Andlehy  was 
quite  silenced  and  confounded.  However,  though  he  acknowledged 
himself  unable  to  answer,  yet  he  would  not  yield  up  the  cause  or 
consent  to  embrace  the  Catholic  faith,  but  after  some  days’  con- 
ference took  his  leave  of  the  doctor  with  the  design  of  going  to  the 
wars,  which  the  Hollanders  were  then  engaged  in  against  the  King 
of  Spain.  The  doctor  told  him.  Since  he  saw  his  conferences  had 
not  been  able  to  conquer  the  hardness  of  his  heart,  he  would  try  another 
means,  which  was  by  having  recourse  to  prayer,  and  imploring  the 
Almighty  Master  of  hearts  to  vouchsafe  to  touch  his  with  His  Divine 
grace,  and  open  it  to  receive  His  saving  truths.  And  so  they 
parted. 

Dr.  Allen  was  as  good  as  his  word,  recommending  to  God  by 
fervent  prayers  this  strayed  sheep,  when,  behold  ! the  wonderful 
change  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High  ! Mr.  Andlehy,  of  his 
own  accord,  returns  the  next  morning  bathed  in  tears,  and  desires 
of  the  doctor  to  be  instructed  and  received  into  the  Catholic  Church. 
The  doctor,  glorifying  God  for  His  wonderful  work,  received  him 

* Ven.  William  Andleby,  or  Anlaby. — From  the  Douay  Diary ; the  Bishop 
of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  and  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript  History  ; see 
also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Catholic  Encyclopcedta. 

231 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1597 


with  great  joy;  and  as  Mr.  Andleby  desired  to  make  his  confession 
to  no  other  than  Dr.  Allen  himself,  he  heard  his  general  confession, 
and  received  him  into  his  college,  where,  after  some  years’  probation 
and  an  exemplar  application  to  piety  and  learning,  he  was  at  length 
presented  to  holy  orders,  and  was  ordained  priest  at  the  same  time 
with  Mr.  Sherwin^  Mr.  Laurence  Johnson,  and  others,  by  the  Bishop 
of  Cambray,  at  Gateaux  Cambresis,  the  23d  of  March,  1577,  and  was 
sent  upon  the  English  mission  the  14th  of  April,  1578,  the  last  of 
those  that  went  from  Doway  before  the  removal  of  the  college  to 
Rhemes. 

His  missionary  labours  were  in  his  own  country  of  Yorkshire,  and 
his  zeal  of  souls  was  such  as  to  spare  no  pains,  or  fear  no  dangers, 
where  he  could  be  serviceable  to  any.  For  the  first  four  years  of 
his  mission,  he  travelled  always  on  foot,  meanly  attired,  and  carrying 
with  him  usually  in  a bag  his  vestments  and  other  utensils  for  saying 
Mass;  for  his  labours  lay  chiefly  amongst  the  poor,  who  were  not 
stocked  with  such  things.  Afterwards  humbly  yielding  to  the  advice 
of  his  brethren,  he  used  a horse,  and  went  something  better  clad. 
Dr.  Champney  alleges  as  an  instance  of  his  zeal  and  industry  in 
helping  souls,  that  whereas  many  Catholics  were  kept  prisoners  for 
their  conscience  in  Hull  Castle,  and  no  one  was  allowed  to  have 
access  to  them,  or  speak  to  them,  otherwise  than  in  presence  of  the 
keeper,  who  was  a bitter  enemy  of  their  religion,  Mr.  Andleby  and 
Mr.  Atkinson  (who  afterwards  suffered  under  Ying  James  I.),  with 
incredible  labour  and  danger,  in  spite  of  moats  and  walls,  gates  and 
bars,  found  means  several  times  to  come  at  them,  and  to  comfort 
and  assist  them. 

Wonderful  was  the  austerity  of  his  life  in  frequent  watchings, 
fastings,  and  continual  prayer.  He  never  spoke  but  where  the 
honour  of  God  and  his  neighbour’s  good  required  it.  His  recollec- 
tion was  so  great  that  even  upon  his  journeys  he  was  always  in  prayer, 
mental  or  vocal,  with  his  soul  so  absorpt  in  God,  that  he  often  took 
no  notice  of  those  he  met ; by  which  means  he  sometimes  was  exposed 
to  suspicions  and  dangers  from  the  adversaries  of  his  faith,  into  w^hose 
hands  he  fell  at  length  after  twenty  years’  labours  in  the  vineyard 
of  his  Lord,  and  was  condemned,  barely  on  account  of  his  character 
and  functions,  and  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  at  York  on  the 
4th  of  1597. 

Thomas  Warcop  and  Edward  Fulthrop,  For gentlemen,  were 
executed  at  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Andleby;  the  former  for  having 
harboured  or  entertained  Mr.  Andleby  in  his  house;  the  latter  for 
being  reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church. 

232 


598] 


JOHN  BRITTON— PETER  SNOW 


[ 1598.  ] 

JOHN  BRITTON,  Gentleman  * 

This  year,  on  the  ist  of  April,  John  Britton,  gentleman,  was 
executed  at  York  as  in  cases  of  high  treason.  He  was  born  at 
Britton  in  the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  and  being  of  old  a 
zealous  Catholic,  was,  for  a great  part  of  his  life,  exposed  to  persecu- 
tions on  account  of  his  conscience,  and  generally  obliged  to  be  absent 
from  his  wife  and  family  to  keep  himself  further  from  danger.  At 
length,  being  now  advanced  in  years,  he  was  falsely  accused  by  a 
malicious  fellow  of  having  uttered  some  treasonable  words  against 
the  Queen,  for  which  he  was  condemned  to  die.  He  refused  to  save 
his  life  by  renouncing  his  faith,  and  thereupon  was  put  to  death. 


PETER  SNOW,  Priest.f 

PETER  SNOW  was  born  at  or  near  Ripon,  in  Yorkshire,  says 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Ralph  Fisher  in  his  relation  of  him ; but  in  the 
Doway  Catalogue  he  is  marked  down  to  have  been  of  the  Diocese 
of  Chester.  He  performed  his  higher  studies  at  the  College  then 
residing  at  Rhemes,  where  he  was  made  priest  in  1591,  and  sent  the 
same  year  upon  the  English  mission.  Here  he  laboured  till  1598, 
when,  going  towards  York,  in  company  of  Ralph  Grimston,  of  Nidd, 
gentleman,  about  the  Feast  of  St.  Philip  and  James,  he  was  appre- 
hended with  the  same  gentleman.  They  were  both  shortly  after 
arraigned  and  condemned,  Mr.  Snow  of  treason,  as  being  a Seminary 
priest,  and  Mr.  Grimston  of  felony,  as  being  aiding  and  assisting 
him;  and,  as  it  is  said,  lifting  up  his  weapon  to  defend  him  at  the 
time  of  his  apprehension. 

They  both  suffered  at  York,  June  15,  1598. 

* Ven.  John  Britton. — See  Gillow;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 
t Ven.  Peter  Snow. — From  a Douay  Manuscript,  and  the  Journal  of 
the  College;  see  also  Troubles, in.',  Records,  iii.;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 


233 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1598 


JOHN  JONES,  alias  BUCKLEY,  Priest,  O.S.F.^ 

JOHN  JONES  was  born  of  a gentleman’s  family,  in  the  Parish 
of  Clenock^  in  the  county  of  Carnarvon.  At  what  place  he  had 
his  education  or  where  he  was  made  priest,  I have  not  yet  found, 
only  I have  seen  a list  of  priests'prisoners  in  Wisheach  Castle.,  ^5^7y 
in  which  I meet  with  his  name  with  a note  that  at  that  time  he  was 
a secular  priest.  How  or  when  he  got  out  of  Wisheach  Castle  I 
cannot  tell ; but  certain  it  is  that  after  this  time  he  was  received  into 
the  Order  of  St.  Francis,  either  at  Rome,  as  Father  Garnet  insinuates, 
or  at  Pontoise,  as  Dr.  Champney  expressly  affirms. 

Returning  into  England  about  the  year  1593,  he  laboured  there 
for  three  years  with  great  fruit,  and  then  fell  again  into  the  hands  of 
the  persecutors,  and  was  kept  in  prison  for  about  two  years  more, 
where  many  resorting  to  him  received  great  benefit  to  their  souls 
from  his  conversation,  till  Topclijfe,  the  arch-persecutor,  caused 
him  to  be  arraigned  (together  with  Mr.  Barnet  and  Mrs.  Wiseman, 
who  had  been  aiding  and  assisting  him)  in  the  beginning  of  July,  1 598 . 
Father  Jones  pleaded.  That  he  had  nevei'  been  guilty  of  any  treason 
against  his  Queen  or  country,  and  desired,  That  his  case  should  rather 
he  referred  to  the  conscience  of  the  judges  than  to  an  ignorant  jury. 
Judge  Clinch  told  him  they  were  sensible  he  was  no  plotter  against 
the  Queen,  but  that  he  was  a Romish  priest,  and  being  such,  had 
returned  into  England  contrary  to  the  statute  of  Elizabeth  27,  which 
was  high  treason  by  the  laws.  If  this  be  a crime,  said  the  confessor, 
/ must  own  7ny  self  guilty ; for  I am  a priest,  and  came  over  into  England 
to  gain  as  many  souls  as  I could  to  Christ.  Upon  this  he  was  con- 
demned, and  when  sentence  was  pronounced  upon  him,  according 
to  the  usual  form,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  falling  upon  his  knees 
with  a loud  voice  he  gave  thanks  to  God.  Mr.  Barnet  and  Mrs. 
Wiseman  were  also  condemned  to  die,  but  were  not  executed. 

On  the  1 2th  oijidy  in  the  forenoon,  Mr.  Jones  was  drawn  to  St. 
Thomas's  Waterings,  the  place  designed  for  his  execution,  where, 
being  taken  off  the  sled  and  set  up  into  the  cart,  he  declared.  That 
he  had  never  spoke  a word  or  entertained  a thought  in  his  whole  life 
against  the  Queen  or  his  country,  but  daily  prayed  for  their  welfare. 
He  stood  there  for  about  an  hour  (for  it  seems  the  hangman  had 

* Ven.  John  Jones,  alias  Buckley. — From  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s 
Catalogue : Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript  History  ; and  a relation  of  his  death 
penned  by  Father  Garnet,  and  recorded  by  Bishop  Yepez ; see  also  Thaddeus, 
Franciscans  in  England  ; Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Gillow;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

234 


CHRISTOPHER  ROBINSON 


1598] 

forgot  to  bring  the  rope  with  him),  sometimes  speaking  to  God  in 
prayer,  sometimes  preaching  to  the  people,  till  at  length  a rope  being 
brought  and  fitted  to  his  neck,  the  cart  was  drawn  away  and  he  was 
permitted  to  hang  until  he  was  quite  dead.  His  body  afterwards 
was  bowelled  and  quartered,  and  his  quarters  were  set  up  on  poles 
in  the  roads  to  Newington  and  Lambeth,  and  his  head  in  Southwark. 
His  execution  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Stow  in  his  Chronicle.  Dr. 
Champney  adds  that  both  his  head  and  quarters  were  afterwards  taken 
down  by  the  Catholics,  though  not  without  great  danger;  and  that 
he  knew  two  young  gentlemen,  of  considerable  families,  who  were 
apprehended  and  committed  to  prison  for  attempting  it.  He  also 
informs  us  that  one  of  his  forequarters  is  kept  at  Pontoise,  in  the 
convent  of  the  Franciscans , where  he  was  professed. 

He  suffered  July  the  12th,  1598,  and  Father  Garnet,  who  calls 
him  Godofredus  Mauricius,  wrote  his  account  of  his  death  the  15th 
of  the  same  month  and  year. 


CHRISTOPHER  ROBINSON,  Priest.^ 

Mr.  ROBINSON  was  born  at  Woodside  in  the  county  of 
Cumberland,  and  was  a priest  of  Doway  College,  during  its 
residence  at  Rhemes.  He  was  ordained  and  sent  upon  the 
English  mission  in  1592.  His  missionary  labours  seem  to  have  been 
in  his  own  country,  where  at  length  he  was  apprehended  and  com- 
mitted to  prison.  During  his  confinement  he  had  some  conferences 
with  the  then  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  whose  name  also  was  Robinson. 
This  Protestant  prelate  expressed  a great  deal  of  good  nature  in 
regard  to  his  namesake,  and  spared  no  pains  to  bring  him  over  to 
the  new  religion  by  persuasions  and  promises ; but  this  generous  soul 
was  proof  against  all  his  allurements  and  fair  speeches,  and  remained 
constant  in  his  faith.  He  was  sentenced  to  die,  as  in  cases  of  high 
treason,  barely  on  account  of  his  being  a Roman  Catholic  priest, 
and  exercising  his  functions  in  this  nation.  His  meek  behaviour 
at  the  place  of  execution,  the  sweetness  of  his  words  and  of  his 
countenance,  and  the  constancy  and  cheerfulness  with  which  he  died, 
touched  the  hearts  of  many  of  the  spectators,  and  was  the  occasion 
of  many  conversions. 

He  suffered  at  Carlisle,  August  19,  1598. 

* Ven.  Christopher  Robinson. — From  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript 
and  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  see  also  Catholic  Encyclopcedia  ; 
C.R.S.,i. 


235 


MEMOIRS  OF|  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1599 


RICHARD  HORNER,  Priest.^ 

Richard  HORNER  was  bom  at  BoUon  Bridge,  in  Yorkshire, 
and  was  educated  in  Doway  College,  where  he  was  made  priest 
soon  after  the  return  of  that  community  from  Rhemes  to  Dcway, 
viz.,  in  1595,  and  from  thence  was  sent  that  same  year  upon  the 
English  mission;  where,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  adversaries  of 
his  faith,  he  was  arraigned  and  condemned  merely  as  a Catholic 
priest,  and  after  having  suffered  much  in  prison,  was  executed  at 
York,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason. 

He  suffered  with  great  courage  and  constancy,  September  4,  159B. 


[1599-] 

JOHN  LION  and  JAMES  DOUDAL,  Laymen. 

IN  this  year  most  of  our  catalogues  of  martyrs  place  the  death  of 
Matthias  Harrisonj,  priest,  who  by  some  is  confounded  with  Mr. 
Harrison,  who  suffered  at  York  in  1602,  but  the  lists  of  the  priests 
ordained  and  sent  from  Doway  College  distinguished  them,  and  call 
the  latter  James  Harrison,  of  the  Diocese  of  Lichfield,  ordained  in 
1583,  and  set  from  Rhemes  upon  the  mission  in  1584,  whereas  the 
former  is  there  called  Matthias  Harrison  of  the  Diocese  of  York,  and 
was  ordained  after  the  return  of  the  College  to  Doway  in  1597,  and 
from  thence  sent  the  same  year  upon  the  mission.  Dr.  Champney 
in  his  manuscript  also  distinguishes  them,  and  tells  us  that  Mr. 
Matthias  was  this  year  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered  at  York, 
barely  on  account  of  his  priestly  character. 

This  year  also  I find  two  of  the  laity  executed  for  religious 
matters,  viz.,  Mr.  John  Lion,  who  was  hanged,  bowelled,  and 
quartered  at  Oakham  in  Rutland,  July  16,  for  denying  the  Queen’s 
spiritual  supremacy,  [Catalog.  Chalced.  citans  acta  martirii  ejiis, 
et  relationes  fide  dignorum  ex  certa  scientia.']  And  Mr.  James  Doudal, 
an  Irish  merchant,  native  of  Wexford,  who  for  the  same  cause  was 
hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered  at  Exeter,  August  13;  whose 
burying-place,  says  his  countryman,  Jo/zw  Mullan  of  Cork,  is  said  to 
be  illustrated  with  divine  miracles  to  this  day,  p.  93.  (Appendix  to 
his  Idea  togatce  constantice .) 

* Yen.  Richard  Horner. — From  the  same  Manuscript  and  Catalogue; 
see  also  Lives  of  E.  M. 

t The  Matthias  Harrison  mentioned  above,  as  Challoner  says  both  here 
and  below  at  p.  260,  is  difficult  to  distinguish  clearly  from  the  Harrison  of  1602. 
For  this  reason  the  Holy  See  prudently  differs,  recognising  him  as  a Venerable. 

236 


i6oo] 


CHRISTOPHER  WHARTON 


[ 1600.  ] 

CHRISTOPHER  WHARTON,  Priest  * 

CHRISTOPHER  WHARTON  was  born  at  Middleton,  in  York- 
shire ^ and  brought  up  in  Trinity  College,  Oxford,  of  which 
College  he  was  sometime  fellow,  and  there  also  took  the  degree 
of  master  of  arts ; but  preferring  the  old  religion  before  the  new,  he 
left  Oxford  and  went  over  to  Rhemes,  where  the  English  College  then 
resided,  and  after  some  time  was  there  made  priest  by  the  Cardinal 
de  Guise,  then  Archbishop  of  that  city,  March  31,  1584,  and  from 
thence  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1586.  He  is  much 
commended  by  Dr.  Worthington,  in  his  Account  of  Sixteen  Martyrs, 
p.  81,  for  his  humility,  charity,  and  other  great  virtues,  which  God 
was  pleased  to  reward  with  the  crown  of  martyrdom.  When  or  how 
he  was  apprehended  I have  not  learned;  but  that  he  was  taken  in 
the  house  of  Mrs.  Eleanor  Hunt,  widow,  who  for  harbouring  him 
was  also  committed  prisoner  to  York  Castle,  where  I find  them 
both  in  1599. 

Mr.  Wharton  was  brought  upon  his  trial  in  the  Lent  Assizes  in 
1600,  and  indicted  for  being  a Seminary  priest,  and  returning  into 
the  realm  contrary  to  the  statute  of  Elizabeth  27.  He  acknowledged 
himself  to  be  a priest,  but  added.  That  he  was  so,  as  indeed  he  was, 
before  that  statute  was  made,  leaving  it  to  his  accusers  to  prove  when 
he  was  ordained  priest;  for,  considering  his  age,  he  might,  for  aught 
they  knew,  have  been  ordained  before  the  first  year  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  and  consequently  be  out  of  the  danger  of  that  statute. 
At  his  trial  many  odious  things  were  objected  against  the  Pope, 
cardinals,  missionary  priests,  and  Catholics  in  general,  whom  they 
were  pleased  to  charge  with  idolatry,  superstition,  treasons,  and 
what  not.  All  which  charges  Mr.  Wharton  assured  them  were 
unjust  slanders,  and,  withal,  quite  impertinent  to  the  indictment  and 
the  question  on  which  his  life  depended — which  was,  to  know  the  time 
when  he  was  made  priest.  And  as  to  the  dissensions  between  the 
Jesuits  and  Seminary  priests,  which  they  also  objected  and  amplified, 
he  answered  briefly,  ‘ That  in  the  Catholic  Roman  religion  {which  he 
professed,  and  for  which  he  was  ready  to  die)  there  is  neither  idolatry, 

* Ven.  Christopher  Wharton. — From  a printed  Relation  of  Sixteen 
Martyrs,  published  by  Dr.  Thomas  Worthington  in  1601 ; from  the  Douay 
Diaries  and  Catalogues;  and  from  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript;  see  also 
Lives  of  E.  M.  ; Catholic  Encyclopcedia, 

237 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1600 


nor  superstition^  nor  falsehood ^ nor  contrariety  of  doctrine;  and  though 
there  are  dissensions  sometimes  amongst  Catholics,  either  priests  or 
others,  yet  these  differences  are  not  in  articles  of  their  faith,  but  in  other 
matters,  as  of  some  particular  jurisdiction,  right  or  title,  spiritual  or 
temporal,  and  the  like;  and  that,  for  his  own  part,  he  had  no  such 
controversy  with  any  Catholic,  nor  breach  of  charity  with  any  person 
whatsoever  ' 

As  to  the  point  concerning  the  time  of  his  ordination,  after  a 
few  conjectures  which  proved  nothing,  Mr.  Saville,  Baron  of  the 
Exchequer  (who  was  also  his  judge),  affirming  that  he  knew  him  in 
Oxford  some  years  after  the  time  mentioned  in  the  statute,  and  that 
he  was  not  then  taken  for  a priest,  the  jury  was  directed  to  find  him 
guilty  of  the  indictment,  and  he  was  condemned  of  high  treason. 
Mrs.  Hunt  also  was  condemned  of  felony  for  receiving  him  into  her 
house,  as  if  she  also  had  known  him  in  Oxford  to  have  been  no 
priest,  and  to  have  been  made  priest  afterwards;  whereas,  indeed, 
she  knew  him  not  at  all,  till  a little  time  before  he  was  apprehended 
in  her  house.  She  utterly  refused  to  save  her  life  by  going  to  the 
Protestant  church;  but  though  she  was  sentenced  to  die,  and  lost 
all  her  worldly  substance,  yet  she  did  not  suffer,  as  was  expected, 
but  was  permitted  to  linger  away  in  prison,  under  the  benefit,  as 
it  was  called,  of  a reprieve. 

Mr.  Wharton  had  also  the  usual  baits  offered  him  of  life,  liberty, 
and  promotion,  if  he  would  conform,  which  he  generously  rejecting, 
suffered  death,  according  to  sentence,  with  great  constancy  at  York, 
the  28th  of  March,  being  Easter-Week,  1600. 


JOHN  RIGBY,  Gentleman  * 

JOHN  RIGBY  was  a younger  son  of  Nicholas  Rigby,  a gentle- 
man of  an  ancient  family,  of  Harrock,  in  the  parish  of  Eccleston 
in  Lancashire,  whose  circumstances  being  narrow,  obliged  him 
to  take  to  service,  where,  through  human  frailty  (though  he  was 
always  a Catholic  in  his  heart),  he  sometimes  went  to  the  Protestant 
Church,  for  which  he  afterwards  heartily  repented,  and  confessing 
himself  to  Mr.  Jones,  alias  Buckley,  then  a prisoner,  was  by  him 
reconciled  to  God,  and  from  that  time  lived  a very  exemplar  life,  and 

* Ven.  John  Rigby. — From  Dr.  Worthington’s  printed  account  of  his 
martyrdom,  published  the  following  year;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Foley, 
Records,  v. 


238 


i6ooJ 


JOHN  RIGBY 


was  the  instrument  of  the  reconciliation  of  divers  others,  and  amongst 
the  rest,  of  his  own  father  in  his  old  age.  Whilst  he  was  in  the 
service  of  Sir  Edmund  Huddlestone^  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Fortescue, 
widow,  was  summoned  to  the  Sessions  House  in  the  Old  Bailey  for 
causes  of  religion;  and  she  being  sick,  and  not  able  to  appear,  sent 
Mr.  Rigby  to  testify  the  same  for  her  in  that  court.  Upon  which 
occasion  Sir  Richard  Martin^  one  of  the  commissioners,  who  had  for 
some  time  entertained  a grudge  against  Mr.  Rigby,  began  to  question 
him  concerning  his  own  religion;  and  finding  him  to  be  a Catholic, 
and  that  he  refused  to  go  to  church,  or  take  the  oath  of  the  Queen’s 
supremacy,  he,  with  the  Lord  Mayor  and  the  rest  of  the  commis- 
sioners, ordered  him  to  Newgate.  The  next  day  he  was  again 
examined  in  the  Sessions  House  by  the  Lord  Chief  Justice,  where  he 
again  professed  his  religion,  and  withal  acknowledged.  That  he  had 
sometimes  gone  to  the  Protestant  Church,  though  he  was  akoays  in 
heart  a Catholic;  but  being  convinced  in  his  own  conscience  that  this 
way  of  acting  was  not  consistent  with  his  soul's  salvation,  he  had  been 
reconciled  by  Mr.  Buckley,  in  the  Clink,  and  for  two  or  three  years 
had  not  gone  to  church,  to  which  examination  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
caused  him  to  set  his  hand.  What  follows  is  an  abstract  of  an 
account  written  by  himself  in  prison  of  his  trial  and  examinations. 

‘ Then  my  lord  commanded  the  keeper  to  take  me  and  to  put 
on  me  an  iron  chain,  which,  when  it  came,  I willed  him  to  put  it  on 
in  God’s  name,  and  said  aloud,  / would  not  change  my  chain  for  my 
Lord  Mayor's  great  chain;  and  I gave  the  fellow  sixpence  for  his 
pains.  By-and-by  my  Lord  Chief  Justice  sent  me  word  to  provide 
myself,  for  I was  to  be  arraigned  forthwith.  I bid  the  messenger 
tell  his  Lordship,  I never  heard  so  good  news  in  my  life  before;  and  so 
I was  commanded  to  the  common  gaol.  But  (expecting  every  day 
to  be  arraigned)  the  Tuesday  following  I was  removed  to  the  White 
Lion  in  Southwark,  and  was  there  quiet  till  the  3d  of  March. 
\N.B. — He  was  first  examined  and  committed  on  the  14th  of 
February  1599-1600.]  And  Wednesday,  the  3d  of  March,  in  the 
common  Sessions,  with  a number  of  felons,  I was  brought  to  my 
trial.  In  the  forenoon  I was  called  and  appeared,  but  nothing  was 
said  to  me.  When  the  justices  went  to  dinner  we  also  went  home 
to  prison;  and  being  at  dinner.  Justice  Gaudy  sent  his  man  for  me, 
and  I went  willingly  with  my  keeper;  and  so  coming  to  them  at 
Justice  Dale's  house,  where  the  judges  dined.  Justice  Gaudy  called 
me  to  him  and  asked  my  name,  which  I told  him.  Were  you  not 
committed  by  Lord  Chief  Justice  and  examined  by  him  ? Yea, 
my  lord.  You  know  your  own  hand  ? so  he  shewed  me  my  hand, 

239 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1600 


and  I said,  This  is  my  hand;  I pray  you  give  me  leave  to  speak  for 
myself.  You  shall,  said  he;  I well  perceive  you  have  thought  better 
of  the  matter.  I am  told  by  one  of  my  lord  of  Canterbury's  gentle- 
men that  you  are  now  sorry  for  what  you  have  done,  and  willing  to 
become  a good  subject  and  go  to  church.  If  you  will  do  so,  her 
Majesty  is  merciful.  How  say  you  1 Will  you  go  to  church  now  } 
No,  my  lord.  Good  my  lord,  whosoever  informed  your  lordship  that 
ever  I did  yet  yield  in  any  point  of  my  profession  was  not  my  friend, 
nor  ever  had  my  consent  thereto.  I assure  you,  my  lord,  I am  a true 
subject,  and  obedient  to  her  Majesty  and  her  laws  in  anything  which 
may  not  hurt  my  conscience;  but  to  say  that  I will  go  to  church,  I 
never  will.  Yea,  rather  than  your  lordships  should  have  any  light 
suspicion  of  me  of  such  a consent,  take  my  first  answer  as  it  is;  there 
is  my  hand,  here  is  my  whole  body,  and  most  ready  I am  and  willing 
to  seal  it  with  my  blood.  We  were  told,  said  one  of  the  judges,  you 
were  a simple  young  man,  and  willing  to  recant ; but  we  see  now  thou 
art  a resolute,  wilful  fellow,  and  there  is  no  remedy,  but  law  must 
proceed.  Let  me  have  law,  in  the  name  0/ Jesus;  God's  will  be  done. 

‘ The  next  day  being  Thursday,  we  went  again  to  the  Sessions 
at  St.  Margaret's  Hill,  where,  about  two  in  the  afternoon,  I was 
called  to  the  bar.  About  an  hour  after  I was  called  again  and  bidden 
to  hold  up  my  hand,  which  I did.  My  indictment  was  read,  and  it 
was  a sharp  one.  Then  my  lord  bid  me  speak,  and  I answered 
briefly  in  this  manner: 

‘ 1st,  Whereas  I am  charged  in  my  indictment  that  I was  reconciled 
— it  is  very  true;  to  God  Almighty  I so  was,  and  I think  lawfully  might 
be;  and,  as  I remember,  it  is  also  allowed  in  your  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  in  the  Visitation  of  the  Sick,  that  if  any  man  find  himself 
burthened  in  conscience  he  should  make  his  confession  to  the  minister, 
which  confession  manifesteth  a breach  between  God  and  his  soul,  and 
by  this  humble  confession  he  craveth  pardon  of  his  sins  and  reconcilia- 
tion to  God  again  by  the  hands  of  his  minister’. 

‘ 2dly,  Whereas  I am  charged  that  I was  reconciled  from  my 
obedience  to  her  Majesty  and  to  the  Romish  religion,  I will  depose  the 
contrary ; for  I was  never  reconciled  from  any  obedience  to  my  Princess, 
for  I obey  her  still;  nor  to  any  religion,  for  although  I sometimes  went 
to  church  against  my  will,  yet  was  I never  of  any  other  religion  than 
the  Catholic,  and  therefore  needed  no  reconciliation  to  leligion. 

‘ ^dly.  Whereas  in  my  former  answers  I said  I went  to  church,  it 
is  true;  for  fear  of  temporal  punishment  I so  did,  but  never  minded  to 
fall  from  the  old  religion,  and  therefore  needed  no  reconciliation  to 
religion. 


240 


i6oo] 


JOHN  RIGBY 


‘ ^thly  and  lastly,  I humbly  beseech  your  good  lordships,  as  you  will 
answer  it  before  God,  to  explicate  the  meaning  of  the  statute  to  the 
jury;  if  the  meaning  thereof  be  to  make  it  treason  for  a man  fallen  into 
the  displeasure  of  God  through  his  sins,  to  he  reconciled  to  God  again, 
by  him  to  whom  God  hath  committed  the  authority  of  reconciliation ; 
if  this  be  treason,  God's  will  be  done. 

‘ Then  said  both  the  judges,  It  was  by  a Romish  priest,  and 
therefore  treason.  I answered.  It  was  by  a Catholic  priest,  who  had 
the  liberty  of  the  prison,  and  was  free  for  any  man  to  come  to  him  to 
relieve  him,  and  therefore  by  the  statute  no  treason.  Again,  my  lords, 
if  it  be  not  inquired  of  within  a year  and  a day,  there  can  be  no  advantage 
taken  against  me  by  this  statute,  if  you  wrong  me  not.  Whereto  replied 
one  that  sat  under  the  judge.  All  this  will  not  serve  thy  turn,  for  the 
jury  must  find  it  treason.  Nay,  then,  sir,  said  I,  if  it  must  be,  let  it 
be;  God's  will  be  done.  Then  said  Justice  Gaudy,  Her  Majesty  and 
her  laws  are  merciful;  if  you  will  yet  conform  yourself,  and  say  here, 
before  the  jury  go  forth,  that  you  will  go  to  church,  we  will  proceed 
no  further.  My  lord,  said  I,  if  that  be  all  the  offence  I have  com- 
mitted,  as  I know  it  is,  and  if  there  be  no  other  way  but  going  to  church 
to  help  it,  I would  not  wish  your  lordship  to  think  I have  {as  I hope) 
risen  thus  many  steps  towards  heaven,  and  now  will  wilfully  let  my  foot 
slip  and  fall  into  the  bottomless  pit  of  hell.  I hope  in  Jesus  He  will 
strengthen  me  rather  to  suffer  a thousand  deaths,  if  I had  so  many  lives 
to  lose.  Let  your  law  proceed.  Then,  said  the  judge  to  the  jury. 
You  must  consider  of  it;  you  see  what  is  said;  you  cannot  but  find 
it  treason  by  the  law.  And  so  they  went  forth,  and  stood  not  long 
to  think  upon  the  matter,  but  came  again,  and  I was  called  and 
bidden  again  hold  up  my  hand.  They  bid  the  jury  look  on  the 
prisoner,  whether  he  is  guilty  or  no.  And  who  shall  speak  for  you  ? 
They  all  said.  The  foreman.  He  spoke  so  softly  that  I could  not 
hear  him.  I willed  him  to  speak  up  and  not  be  afraid.  Then  he 
said,  Guilty;  to  the  which  I said  with  a loud  voice,  Laus  tibi,  Domine  ! 
Rex  ceternce  glorice.  When  the  rest  were  arraigned,  and  judgment 
was  to  be  given,  I was  first  called;  and  Justice  Gaudy  said.  What 
canst  thou  say  for  thyself,  wherefore  thou  shouldst  not  have  judg- 
ment of  death  I answered.  If  that  which  before  I have  said  will 
not  serve,  I can  say  no  more.  Good  Rigby,  said  he,  think  not  I seek 
your  death.  Will  you  yet  go  to  church  ? No,  my  lord.  Why  then, 
said  he,  judgment  must  pass.  With  a good  will,  my  lord,  said  I. 
Then  he  pronounced  sentence,  as  you  know  the  manner  is,  which, 
when  he  had  ended,  I said,  Deo  gratias;  all  is  but  one  death,  and  a 
fleabite  in  comparison  of  that  which  it  pleased  my  sweet  Saviour  J esus 

241  Q 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1600 


to  suffer  for  my  salvation.  I humbly  thank  your  lordship  for  your 
great  pains,  and  I freely  forgive  your  lordship  and  the  poor  jury,  and 
all  other  persecutors  whatsoever.  Well  said,  saith  he;  indeed  you 
shew  your  charity;  and  then  gave  judgment  to  the  rest;  and  when  he 
had  done  he  called  us  together,  willing  us  to  send  for  a minister 
and  provide  for  death.  I desired  his  lordship.  To  spare  rny  presence, 
and  bestow  that  counsel  elsewhere;  for  I hope  I am  as  well  provided 
as  by  his  exhortation  I should  be.  If  you  be,  said  he,  it  is  the  better 
for  you;  God  speed  you  well  ! And  so  we  parted.  I pray  God 
forgive  them  all,  and  amend  them,  if  it  be  His  holy  will.  Amen.’ 

Thus  much  he  wrote  himself  in  prison,  and  sent  it  to  a dear 
friend  who  keepeth  safe  the  original,  saith  Dr.  Worthington;  for 
Judge  Gaudy  procured  him  a reprieve,  and  he  continued  in  prison 
till  the  next  assizes,  when,  on  Thursday,  the  19th  of  June,  Justice 
Kingsmel  now  sitting  upon  criminal  matters,  and  Justice  Gaudy 
upon  civil  only,  Mr.  Rigby  was  again  brought  to  the  bar,  and  asked 
by  the  judge  whether  he  would  yet  go  to  church  or  no.  He  ans- 
wered, / thank  God  I am  the  same  man  that  I was.  It  is  not  lawfid 
to  go  to  your  church.  I will  not  go  to  it.  Then  thou  must  die,  said 
the  judge,  for  longer  reprieve  thou  canst  not  have.  He  answered. 
My  lord,  that  is  the  thing  which  I desire  and  look  for;  but  I think 
myself  far  unworthy  to  die  for  so  good  a cause.  The  judge  perceiving 
he  had  no  irons  on  his  legs  sharply  rebuked  the  keeper,  who  there- 
upon brought  a strong  pair  of  shackles,  which  Mr.  Rigby  taking  into 
his  hands,  kneeling  down  and  making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  kissed 
them;  and  then  the  keeper’s  man  riveted  them  on  very  fast  on  both 
his  legs,  and  so  they  continued  all  that  day  and  the  night  following. 
The  next  day  he  was  brought  again  to  the  Sessions  House,  where, 
after  he  had  stood  awhile,  the  irons  fell  off  his  legs  upon  the  ground, 
at  which  he  smiled,  and  told  his  keeper.  His  shackles  were  fallen  off, 
and  bid  him  Rivet  them  on  faster,  which  he  did,  as  he  thought,  very 
fast;  but  within  a little  time,  they  fell  off  again;  and  then  he  called 
again  upon  his  keeper,  and  desired  him.  To  make  them  faster.  For 
I esteem  them,  said  he,  jewels  of  too  great  price  to  be  lost.  The  keeper’s 
man  that  had  put  them  on  twice  before,  being  much  amazed,  refused 
to  put  them  on  any  more,  so  that  the  keeper  ordered  another  of  his 
men  to  do  it.  Then  Mr.  Rigby,  remembering  that  a Catholic  maid 
called  Mercy  had  that  morning  told  him,  that  in  the  night  she  saw 
in  her  dreams  his  irons  fall  off  from  his  legs,  said  to  his  keeper.  Now 
the  maid's  dream  is  found  to  be  true.  What  the  judges  thought  on  the 
matter  we  know  not;  but  they  spoke  no  more  to  the  prisoner;  but 
after  much  arguing  among  themselves,  Judge  Kingsmel  concluded 

242 


JOHN  RIGBY 


1600] 

that  he  should  die;  upon  which  occasion  Judge  Gaudy  was  by  some 
seen  to  weep.  Mr.  Rigby  being  asked  what  he  thought  of  that 
falling  off  of  his  irons,  which  most  men  thought  to  be  miraculous, 
answered,  He  hoped  it  was  a token  that  the  hands  of  his  mortality 
should  shortly  he  loosed,  as  indeed  it  proved.  He  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  time  in  preparing  himself  by  religious  exercises  for  his  last 
end;  and  a friend  asking  him  in  what  dispositions  he  found  himself 
at  the  approach  of  death,  he  answered,  / thajik  our  Lord,  in  very 
great  comfort  and  consolation  of  mind. 

On  Saturday,  in  the  morning,  being  the  21st  oijune,  word  was 
brought  him  that  he  was  to  die  that  day.  He  answered  very  cheer- 
fully, Deo  gratias.  It  is  the  best  tidings  that  ever  was  brought  me  since 
I was  born.  The  minister  of  St.  George^ s coming  to  him  upon  this 
occasion,  and  offering  his  help,  Mr.  Rigby  courteously  thanked  him, 
but  told  him.  We  two,  sir,  are  opposite  in  religion,  and  therefore  I 
must  not  communicate  with  you  in  matters  of  faith.  I have  long  looked 
for  death.  I am  prepared,  fully  resolved,  and  most  ready  to  offer  up 
my  life  for  so  worthy  a cause.  Fare  you  well,  sir;  I pray  God  make 
you  a good  man.  Between  five  and  six  in  the  afternoon  he  was 
called  for  by  one  of  the  officers,  and  sweetly  taking  his  leave  of  the 
Catholics,  his  fellow  prisoners,  he  desired  they  would  help  him  with 
their  prayers  in  this  his  journey  towards  his  true  country.  Then 
going  down  into  the  yard  where  the  hurdle  waited  for  him,  he  knelt 
down  by  it,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  was  beginning  to  say 
some  prayers,  but  was  interrupted  by  Mr.  More,  the  Under- Sheriff’s 
deputy.  So  rising  up,  and  striking  his  hand  upon  the  horse,  he 
cheerfully  said.  Go  thy  ways;  this  is  the  joy  fullest  day  that  ever  I 
knew.  Then  signing  himself  again  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  he 
laid  himself  upon  the  hurdle,  showing  so  much  alacrity  in  his  smiling 
countenance  that  the  standers  by  asked  him  if  he  laughed  from  his 
heart.  Yes,  verily,  said  he,  from  my  heart;  and  hear  witness  with 
me,  all  good  people,  that  I am  now  forthwith  to  give  my  life  only  for  the 
Catholic  cause.  Mr.  More  told  him.  You  die  for  treason,  for  being 
reconciled  by  a Seminary  priest.  Yes,  said  he,  sir,  hut  neither  can 
that  he  treason,  nor  yet  do  I die  for  that  only;  for,  as  you  know,  the 
judge  oftentimes  offered  to  save  my  life  if  I would  go  to  church.  Then 
pulling  his  hat  down  over  his  eyes,  he  said.  In  the  name  of  our  Lord 
go  on,  and  so  settled  himself  to  his  devotions. 

The  place  designed  for  execution  was  St.  Thomases  Watering. 
On  his  way  thither,  he  was  met  by  the  Earl  of  Rutland  and  Captain 
Whitlock  on  horseback,  who,  coming  to  the  hurdle,  asked  him  what 
he  was,  of  what  age,  and  for  what  cause  he  was  to  die.  He  answered, 

243 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1600 

My  name  is  John  Rigby,  a poor  gentleman  of  the  house  of  Harrock, 
in  Lancashire ; my  age  about  thirty  years;  and  my  judgment  and  con- 
demnation to  this  death  is  only  and  merely  for  that  I answered  the 
judge  that  I was  reconciled,  and  for  that  I refused  to  go  to  church. 
The  captain  wished  him  to  do  as  the  Queen  would  have  him,  and 
conform;  and  turning  to  the  Sheriff’s  deputy,  conferred  with  him 
about  the  matter.  Then  riding  again  with  the  Earl  to  the  hurdle, 
and  causing  it  to  be  stopped  a little,  he  asked  Mr.  Rigby,  Are  you  a 
married  man  or  a bachelor  ? Sir,  said  he,  I am  a bachelor;  and  more 
than  that,  I am  a maid.  ■ That  is  much,  said  the  captain,  for  a man 
of  your  years;  you  must  have  strove  much  against  your  own  flesh. 
/ would  be  loath,  said  Mr.  Rigby,  to  speak  anything  contrary  to  the 
truth;  I am  indeed  a maid,  and  that  is  more  than  I needed  to  say.  The 
captain  concluded.  Then  I see  thou  hast  worthily  deserved  a virgin’s 
crown ; I pray  God  send  thee  the  kingdom  of  heaven : I desire  thee 
pray  for  me.  And  so  they  rid  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  stayed 
there  till  the  officers  were  about  to  drive  away  the  cart,  and  then 
posted  away,  much  admiring  his  courage  and  constancy.  The 
captain  often  related  these  particulars,  and  declared  that  he  had 
never  seen  his  fellow  for  modesty,  patience,  and  resolution  in  his 
religion. 

When  Mr.  Rigby  was  taken  off  the  hurdle  and  brought  to  the 
cart,  he  knelt  down  and  said  aloud  his  Pater,  Ave,  Credo,  and 
Confiteor,  in  the  last  of  which  he  was  interrupted  by  the  ruder  sort 
of  people,  crying  out  against  him  for  praying  to  saints.  When  the 
executioner  helped  him  up  into  the  cart  he  gave  him  an  angel  of 
gold,  saying.  Here,  take  this  in  token  that  I freely  forgive  thee  and  all 
others  that  have  been  accessory  to  my  death.  Then  viewing  the 
multitude,  which  was  very  great,  and  making  the  sign  of  the  cross 
with  a cheerful  countenance,  holding  his  hands  before  his  breast, 
he  spent  a little  time  in  silent  prayer.  When  the  rope  was  to  be  put 
about  his  neck  he  first  kissed  it,  and  then  began  to  speak  to  the 
people,  but  was  interrupted  by  More,  the  Sheriff’s  deputy,  bidding 
him  pray  for  the  Queen,  which  he  did  very  affectionately.  Then  the 
deputy  asked  him.  What  traitors  dost  thou  know  in  England?  God 
is  my  witness,  said  he,  I know  none.  What  ! saith  the  deputy  again, 
If  he  will  confess  nothing,  drive  away  the  cart — which  was  done  so 
suddenly  that  he  had  no  time  to  say  anything  more,  or  recommend 
his  soul  again  to  God,  as  he  was  about  to  do. 

The  deputy  shortly  after  commanded  the  hangman  to  cut  him 
down,  which  was  done  so  soon  that  he  stood  upright  on  his  feet  like 
to  a man  a little  amazed,  till  the  butchers  threw  him  down.  Then 

244 


i6oo]  THOMAS  SPROTT  AND  THOMAS  HUNT 


coming  perfectly  to  himself,  he  said  aloud  and  distinctly,  God  forgive 
you.  Jesus  receive  my  soul.  And  immediately  another  cruel  fellow 
standing  by,  who  was  no  officer,  but  a common  porter,  set  his  foot 
upon  Mr.  Rigby's  throat,  and  so  held  him  down  that  he  could  speak 
no  more.  Others  held  his  arms  and  legs  whilst  the  executioner  dis- 
membered and  bowelled  him.  And  when  he  felt  them  pulling  out  his 
heart,  he  was  yet  so  strong  that  he  thrust  the  men  from  him  who  held 
his  arms.  At  last  they  cut  off  his  head  and  quartered  him,  and 
disposed  of  his  head  and  quarters  in  several  places  in  and  about 
Southwark.  The  people,  going  away,  corhplained  very  much  of  the 
barbarity  of  the  execution;  and  generally  all  sorts  bewailed  his  death. 

His  execution  is  mentioned  by  Howes  upon  Stow,  in  his  Chronicle. 


THOMAS  SPROTT  and  THOMAS  HUNT, 

Priests.* 

Thomas  SPROTT  was  bom  in  the  parish  of  Skelsmergh,  near 
Keyidal,  in  Westmorland,  and  performed  his  higher  studies  in 
the  English  College  of  Doway  he  was  ordained  priest  in 

1596,  and  sent  the  same  year  upon  the  English  mission. 

Thomas  Hunt  was  born  in  Norfolk,  and  was  a secular  priest  of 
the  English  College  of  Seville,  who,  being  sent  upon  the  English 
mission,  and  there  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  was 
committed  prisoner  to  Wisheach  Castle,  from  whence  he,  with  five 
more,  made  their  escape  some  few  months  before  his  second  appre- 
hension and  execution — the  history  of  which  is  as  follows: — 

In  the  month  of  July,  1600,  search  being  made  in  and  about 
Lincoln  after  certain  malefactors  who  had  committed  a robbery,  the 
searchers  found,  at  the  Saracen's  Head,  in  Lincoln,  Mr.  Sprott  and 
Mr.  Hunt,  strangers  to  the  people  of  the  house,  and  close  up  in  their 
chambers,  whom  they — vehemently  suspecting  to  be  the  men  they 
were  seeking  after — took  up  upon  suspicion,  and  strictly  examined 
what  were  their  names,  their  places  of  abode,  what  business  they 
followed,  what  brought  them  thither,  what  acquaintance  they  had 
in  that  city  or  neighbourhood,  &c.  So  that,  to  be  rid  of  the  im- 
portunity of  these  questions,  and  of  the  suspicion  of  being  robbers 

* Ven.  Thomas  Sprott  and  Thomas  Hunt. — From  Dr.  Worthington’s 
Relation  of  Sixteen  Martyrs,  published  at  Douay  in  1601 ; the  Bishop  of 
Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  and  Raissius’s  Catalogue  of  the  Martyrs  of  Douay 
College;  see  also  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

245 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1600 


they  confessed,  That  they  were  Catholics^  who  had  come  thither  in 
hopes  of  living  there  more  quietly  for  a time  than  they  could  do  where 
they  were  more  k7iown.  The  officers  searched  their  mails,  and  found 
there  the  holy  oils  and  two  breviaries,  which  gave  suspicion*  that 
they  were  priests.  Whereupon  they  were  brought  before  the 
Mayor,  and  by  him  examined  upon  these  four  articles — 

ist^  Whether  they  had  been  at  the  church  within  these  ten  or 
twelve  years. 

zdlyy  If  the  Pope  should  invade  the  realm,  whether  they  would 
take  part  with  him  or  with  the  Queen. 

^dly,  Whether  they  did  take  the  Queen  to  be  supreme  governess 
of  the  Church  of  Eiigland. 

\thly^  Whether  they  were  priests  or  no. 

To  these  questions  they  both  returned  the  same  answers  in 
substance,  viz.,  to  the  first — That  they  were  brought  up  from  their 
infancy  in  the  Catholic  faith,  and  were  never  at  the  Protestant  Church, 
To  the  second — That  when  such  a case  shall  happen,  which  is  not 
likely,  they  will  answer  it.  To  the  third — That  the  Pope  is  supreme 
head  upo7i  earth  of  the  Catholic  Church  throughout  the  world.  To  the 
fourth  they  answered  as  before — That  they  were  Catholics;  and 
further  they  thought  themselves  7iot  bound  to  answer. 

Nevertheless,  upon  this  article  they  were  immediately  arraigned, 
it  being  the  time  of  the  Su7nmer  Assizes,  before  Judge  Glandvil  ; and 
an  indictment  was  drawn  up  against  them  that  they  were  Seminary 
priests,  and  consequently  traitors.  And  though  their  being  priests 
was  neither  proved  nor  confessed,  nor  any  witness  produced  to 
avouch  it,  the  judge  directed  the  jury  to  find  them  guilty,  which 
they  did — though,  as  it  seems,  with  great  repugnance  of  conscience, 
perfectly  compelled  to  it  by  the  sharp  words  of  the  judge,  who  was 
very  positive  in  the  matter,  and  told  them  they  must  needs  bring  in 
their  verdict  so.  Soon  after  the  judge  gave  sentence  of  death  accord- 
ing to  the  usual  form,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason;  which  the  servants 
of  God  joyfully  heard,  giving  God  thanks  for  so  great  a favour,  and 
pardoning  their  persecutors.  But  both  before  and  after  their  con- 
demnation they  were  attacked  by  some  Protestant  preachers  upon 
the  articles  of  their  religion,  whom  they  so  confuted  and  confounded, 
that  the  magistrates  commanded  the  ministers  to  hold  their  peace. 
These  made  use  of  their  own  far  stronger  arguments  of  hurdles, 
halters,  knives,  and  fire,  which  these  two  servants  of  God  courage- 
ously met  and  gloriously  conquered. 

They  were  executed  at  Lincoln  some  time  in  July,  1600. 

‘ Not  many  days  after,’  says  Dr.  Worthington,  in  his  relation 

246 


i6oo]  THOMAS  SPROTT  AND  THOMAS  HUNT 


printed  and  published  in  the  beginning  of  the  following  year,  p.  89, 
‘ Mr.  Glandvil,  their  judge,  received  also  his  own  judgment;  for, 
riding  abroad  for  his  pleasure  near  his  own  house  with  one  man, 
suddenly,  in  the  plain  field,  he  fell  from  his  horse  to  the  ground — 
the  horse  not  stumbling  at  all,  but  running  away  a great  pace.  The 
servant  stepped  quickly  to  his  master,  and  essaying  to  help  him  up, 
found  him  dead;  whereat,  being  much  astonished,  he  posted  as 
fast  as  he  could  to  the  next  village  crying.  That  his  master  was  dead. 
The  people,  in  haste  running  to  the  place,  found  it  so;  and  not 
knowing  who  else  could  be  charged  with  it,  they  presently  appre- 
hended the  same  servant  upon  suspicion  that  he  had  murdered  his 
master.  But  upon  viewing  the  corpse,  they  saw  evidently  that  no 
man  had  done  this  act;  for  they  found  part  of  his  brains  strangely 
coming  forth  both  at  his  nose  and  mouth,  not  having  any  other  hurt 
in  his  head,  but  towards  the  right  side,  behind,  a great  dimple  or 
hole,  wherein  a child  might  have  put  his  fist — yet  neither  his  skin 
nor  his  hat  broken  at  all,  nor  a hair  of  his  head  wanting,  to  any  man’s 
judgment.  They  found  likewise  his  right  shoulder  sore  scorched, 
like  burned  leather,  as  black  as  pitch;  and  from  thence  along  upon 
his  arm,  a great  gash,  as  if  it  had  been  made  with  a knife,  but  not 
deep ; and  in  the  calf  of  his  leg,  on  the  same  side,  they  found  another 
hole  about  an  inch  broad  and  three  inches  deep ; and  which  is  most 
strange,  not  so  much  as  a thread  of  his  hose  nor  of  his  other  apparel 
could  be  found  to  be  broken.  The  horse,  that  ran  away,  with  much 
ado  was  taken,  but  could  by  no  means  be  brought  near  the  place 
where  his  master  fell  down.’  So  far  the  printed  relation. 

The  execution  of  Mr.  Sprott  and  Mr.  Hunt  is  mentioned  by 
Howes  upon  Stow  in  his  Chronicle. 


ROBERT  NUTTER  and  EDWARD  THWING, 

Priests.^ 

Robert  nutter,  brother  to  Mr.  John  Nutter,  who  suffered 
in  1584,  was  born  in  Lancashire,  and  performed  his  higher 
studies  in  Doway  College,  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes,  where 
he  was  ordained  priest,  December  21,  1581,  with  Mr.  George  Haydock 

* Ven.  Robert  Nutter  and  Edward  Thwing,  or  Thweng. — From  Dr. 
Worthington’s  Relation  of  Sixteen  Martyrs,  printed  in  1601 ; and  Dr.  Champ- 
ney’s  Manuscript;  and  the  Douay  Diary;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Catholic 
Encyclopcedia;  Foley,  Records, v'\. ; Devas,  Dominican  Martyrs  of  Great  Britain. 

247 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6oo 

and  divers  others;  and  in  the  beginning  of  the  following  year  was 
sent  upon  the  English  mission.  Here  I find  him  prisoner  in  the 
Tower  in  February,  1583-4,  where  he  was  put  down  into  a dungeon 
for  seven-and-forty  days,  loaded  with  chains  for  the  greatest  part 
of  the  time,  and  twice  tortured;  and  in  November  following  was 
lodged  again  in  the  same  hole,  and  remained  there  for  two  months 
and  fourteen  days.  See  the  Journal  of  Things  transacted  in  the 
Tower  from  1580  to  1585,  published  with  Dr.  Saunders  and  Mr. 
Rishton's  History  of  the  Schism.  In  1585  he  was  sent  into  banish- 
ment with  many  other  priests,  ‘ who  being  brought  by  their  keepers 
from  their  several  prisons  to  the  Tower  Wharf,'  says  Dr.  Worthington 
(who  was  himself  one  of  the  number),  p.  91,  ‘ and  there  commanded 
to  enter  into  a ship  ready  provided  to  carry  them  into  banishment, 
declared  publicly  to  the  commissioners.  That  they  did  not  accept  of 
that  banishment  as  of  any  grace  or  mercy  at  all;  for  they  had  not  com- 
mitted any  fault,  neither  against  their  Queen  nor  country,  as  this 
pretended  mercy  falsely  supposed;  and,  therefore,  in  express  terms, 
required  rather  to  be  tried  and  to  answer  their  accusers  at  Westminster 
and  at  Tyburn,  than  to  be  thus  carried  against  their  wills  out  of  their 
native  country  from  their  friends  and  neighbours,  whom  they  were  to 
serve  according  to  their  priestly  functions, — affirming,  moreover.  That 
though  perforce  they  were  carried  away,  yet  they  would  assuredly 
return  to  the  same  work  as  soon  as  God  and  their  spiritual  superiors 
would  permit  them  so  to  do.' 

Mr.  Nutter,  for  his  part,  was  as  good  as  his  word ; and  after  having 
visited  his  old  mother  college  at  Rhemes,  and  made  some  short  stay 
there,  he  returned  upon  the  mission.  He  fell  again,  not  long  after, 
into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  and  was  committed  to  Wisbeach 
Castle,  where  I find  him  prisoner  in  1587.  Here  he  continued  till 
about-the  beginning  of  1600,  when,  with  Mr.  Hunt  and  four  others, 
he  found  means  to  escape.  Then  going  into  Lancashire  he  w^as  a 
third  time  apprehended,  and  in  the  Summer  Assizes,  1600,  brought 
upon  his  trial,  condemned,  barely  upon  account  of  his  priestly 
character,  and  executed  at  Lancaster,  July  26. 

Dr.  Champney  gives  him  this  short  eulogium — that  he  w^as  a 
man  of  a strong  body,  but  of  a stronger  soul,  wTo  rather  despised 
than  conquered  death,  and  went  before  his  companion,  [Mr. 
Thwing,]  to  the  gallows  wdth  as  much  cheerfulness  and  joy  as  if  he 
had  been  going  to  a feast,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  spectators. 

Edward  Thwing  was  born  of  an  ancient  family  at  Hurst,  near 
York.  He  was  first  an  alumnus  of  the  College  of  Rhemes,  from 
whence  he  was  sent  to  Rome  in  1587,  but  was  obliged  for  his  health 

248 


i6oo]  ROBERT  NUTTER  AND  EDWARD  THWING 


to  return  again  to  Rhemes.  Here  he  was  presented  to  holy  orders 
and  ordained  priest  at  Laon,  December  20,  1590,  being  at  that  time, 
as  appears  by  the  Doway  Diary,  master  of  the  Hebrew  and  Greek 
tongues,  and  professor  of  rhetoric  in  the  College.  He  was  sent  upon 
the  English  mission  from  Doway  in  1597,  after  the  College  was 
returned  to  that  University.  Dr.  Champney^  who  was  personally 
acquainted  with  him,  and  his  contemporary  at  the  College,  gives 
him  this  character — That  he  was  a man  of  admirable  meekness,  and 
of  no  less  piety,  religion,  patience,  and  mortification;  that  his 
patience  (amongst  the  rest  of  his  virtues,  which  rendered  him 
amiable  to  all)  was  very  remarkable  in  suffering  with  wonderful 
tranquillity  a most  painful  and  tedious  infirmity  from  an  ulcer  in 
the  knee,  which  he  had  to  struggle  with  for  a long  time  whilst  he 
was  at  Rhemes  and  Doway,  for  which  the  physicians  could  find  no 
remedy;  that,  after  his  return  to  England,  he  was  a most  diligent 
labourer  in  the  vineyard  of  his  Lord,  till  his  apprehension  and 
commitment  to  Lancaster  Castle;  from  whence  he  thus  wrote  to 
Dr.  Worthington,  at  that  time  President  of  Doway  College: — 

‘ Myself  am  now  a prisoner  for  Christ  in  Lancaster  Castle, 
expecting  nothing  but  execution  at  the  next  assizes.  I desire  you 
to  commend  me  to  the  devout  prayers  of  my  friends  with  you,  that 
by  their  help  I may  consummate  my  course  to  God’s  glory  and  the 
good  of  my  country.  I pray  God  prosper  you  and  all  yours  for  ever, 

‘ From  my  prison  and  Paradise,  this  last  of  May,  1600. 

‘ E.  Thwing.’ 

And  in  another  letter  a few  days  before  his  death,  he  thus  writes 
to  the  same : — 

‘ This  day  the  judges  come  to  Lancaster,  where  I am  in  expecta- 
tion of  a happy  death,  if  it  so  please  God  Almighty.  I pray  you 
commend  me  most  dearly  to  all  your  good  priests  and  scholars, 
whose  good  endeavours  God  always  prosper,  to  His  own  more 
glory.  Ego  autem  jam  delibor  et  tempus  resolutionis  mece  instat. 
Before  this  comes  unto  you  I shall,  if  God  makes  me  worthy,  con- 
clude an  unhappy  life  with  a most  happy  death.  Omnia  possum  in 
eo  qui  me  confortat. 

‘ From  Lancaster  Castle,  the  21st  of  July,  this  holy  year  1600. 
All  yours  in  Christ,  ‘ Edw.  Thwing.’ 

He  was  condemned  barely  on  account  of  his  priesthood,  and 
suffered  with  great  constancy,  at  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Nutter, 
viz.,  July  26,  1600. 


249 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1600 


THOMAS  PALASOR,  Priest.* 

Thomas  PALASOR,  or  PALLICER,  was  bom  at  Ellerton 
upon  Swale j in  the  parish  of  Boulton^  in  the  county  of  York^  and 
performed  his  studies  abroad,  partly  in  the  College  or  Seminary 
then  residing  at  Rhemes^  from  whence  he  was  sent  into  Spain  in 
1592,  and  partly  in  the  College  of  Valladolid,  where  he  was  made 
priest,  and  from  whence  he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission.  Dr. 
Worthington  gives  him  the  character  of  a virtuous  and  learned  priest. 
He  was  apprehended  in  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Norton  (a  gentleman 
of  the  family  of  the  Nortons  of  Norton-Coniers),  near  Raven's  Hall, 
in  the  parish  of  Laymsley.  Mr.  Norton  and  his  lady  were  both  also 
apprehended  at  the  same  time  for  harbouring  Mr.  Palasor,  and  with 
them  Mr.  John  Talbot,  another  Yorkshire  gentleman  (born  at 
Thornton  in  Street),  for  being  found  in  his  company,  and  for  aiding 
and  assisting  him.  They  were  all  brought  upon  their  trials  at 
Durham,  in  the  Su7nmer  Assizes,  and  all  condemned  to  die — Mr. 
Pallicer  for  being  a Seminary  priest,  and  returning  to  England 
contrary  to  the  statute  of  Elizabeth  27,  and  the  other  three  for 
relieving  and  assisting  him.  Another  lay  gentleman  was  condemned 
at  the  same  time,  and  for  the  same  cause ; but  he,  through  frailty,  con- 
sented to  go  to  church,  and  so  saved  his  life,  as  the  others  might  have 
done,  if  they  had  yielded  to  the  same  conditions,  which  they  generously 
refusing  to  do,  were  all  executed  at  Durham,  August  the  9th,  1600. 
Only  Mrs.  Norton,  being  supposed  to  be  with  child,  was  reprieved. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Cuthbert  Trollop,  in  a manuscript  relation  which 
I have  in  my  hands,  writes,  that  Mr.  Pallicer  and  his  companions, 
‘ being  in  prison,  were  like  to  be  poisoned  by  the  malice  of  the 
jailor’s  wife;  for  an  empoisoned  broth  was  prepared  for  them,  and 
first  brought  to  Mr.  Pallicer,  who  offering  to  taste  of  it,  the  bone  of 
mutton  in  the  dish  began  to  run  blood  in  form  of  crosses  and  of 
O’s  in  the  broth,  which  he  wondering  at,  abstained  from  eating  of  it. 
The  maid  who  brought  him  the  broth,  noting  this,  carried  it  back 
to  her  mistress;  she  casting  some  spice  over  it,  sent  the  broth  again 
by  the  same  maid  to  Mr.  Talbot  and  Mr.  Norton,  which  they  offering 
also  to  taste,  the  blood  in  like  sort  issued  forth  of  the  meat  as  before, 
which  caused  them  likewise  to  abstain.  The  servant  seeing  this 
again  was  touched  in  conscience,  and  came  upon  her  knees  to  Mr. 

* Ven.  Thomas  Palasor  or  Pallicer. — From  Dr.  Worthington’s  Relation 
of  Sixteen  Martyrs;  from  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue ; and  from 
a Dcuay  Manuscript;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  C.R.S.,  iv.;  Catholic 
Encyclopcedia. 


250 


i6oo] 


THOMAS  PALASOR 


Pallicer^  and  asked  him  forgiveness,  and  desired,  for  Jesus  Christ's 
sake,  that  he  would  make  her  one  of  his  faith,  and  instruct  her  what 
she  had  to  do  to  be  saved,  which  he  did,  resolving  her  in  all  points 
and  reconciling  her  to  the  Catholic  Church.  The  aforesaid  maid, 
whose  name  was  Mary  Day,  at  that  time  servant  to  the  jailor,  after- 
wards served  a Catholic  gentlewoman  called  Eleanor  Forcer^  who 
informed  me  of  this.’  So  far  Mr.  Trollop. 

‘ In  the  beginning  of  this  same  year,  1600,  viz.,  upon  the  19th 
of  January,'  says  Howes  in  his  Chronicle,  p.  789,  ‘ sixteen  priests 
and  four  laymen  were  removed  out  of  divers  prisons  in  and  about 
London,  and  sent  to  the  Castle  of  Wisbeach,  whereof  one  was  a Bishop 
of  Ireland  and  another  a Franciscan  of  the  Order  of  Capuchins,  who 
wore  his  friar’s  weed  all  the  way  he  went,’  &c. 

This  Capuchin  was  Father  Bennet  Canfield,  whose  name  in  the 
world  was  William  Fitch,  a gentleman,  born  at  Canfield,  in  Essex, 
and  brought  up  to  the  law  in  Gray's  Inji,  whose  wonderful  conversion 
to  the  Catholic  faith  and  call  to  that  religious  order,  of  which,  in 
his  time,  he  was  esteemed  one  of  the  brightest  lights,  together  with 
his  other  virtues,  may  be  seen  in  his  life,  translated  from  the  Frefich, 
and  published  in  our  language,  a7ino  1623.  After  three  years’  im- 
prisonment he  was  banished,  with  divers  other  priests,  and  at  length 
died  in  the  odour  of  sanctity  at  Roan,  anno  1611. 

This  year  also  the  Catholics,  prisoners  for  their  conscience  in 
York  Castle,  upwards  of  fifty  in  number,  were,  by  orders  of  the 
Lord  Burleigh,  then  President  of  the  North,  once  a week  dragged 
by  force  into  the  hall  of  the  castle,  and  there  forcibly  detained  to 
hear  Protestant  sermons  preached  by  the  Archbishop,  and  the  most 
eminent  of  the  clergy  of  that  city.  This  was  continued  for  near 
twelve  months.  The  behaviour  and  speeches  of  the  prisoners 
upon  these  occasions,  and  other  remarkable  passages  that  then 
happened,  are  set  down  at  large  in  a manuscript  of  about  forty 
chapters,  written  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  W.  Richmont.  The  issue  was, 
that  the  preachers  finding  their  eloquence  nothing  availed,  and  that 
the  prisoners  either  stopped  their  ears  or  contradicted  their  dis- 
courses, and  could  not  be  silenced  either  by  their  chains  or  dungeons, 
at  last  concluded,  after  fifty  sermons,  to  let  them  alone,  and  give  them 
no  further  molestation  in  this  kind. 

The  chief  of  these  prisoners  were  Mr.  George  Raines,  priest; 
William  Middleton,  of  Stockeld;  William  Stillington,  of  Kelfield; 
Richard  Danby,  of  Cave;  Richard  Fenton,  of  Burnwallis;  Thomas 

Gelstrop,  of  Burrowby,  esquires.  Michael  Jenison,  of ; James 

Rosse,  of  Igmanthorp;  William  Gascoign,  of  Thorp,  gentlemen. 

251 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6oi 


[ i6oi.  ] 

JOHN  PIBUSH,  Priest.* 

JOHN  PIBUSH  was  born  at  Thirsk^  in  Yorkshire ^ and  performed 
his  studies  abroad  in  the  English  College  then  residing  at  Rhemes, 
Here  he  was  made  priest  in  1587,  and  from  hence  he  was  sent 
upon  the  English  mission  in  1589.  After  some  time  he  was  appre- 
hended and  committed  to  Gloucester  Jail,  where  he  remained  till  some 
of  the  felons,  having  found  means  to  break  through  the  walls  and  so 
make  their  escape,  left  a free  passage  open,  through  which  Mr. 
Pibush  also,  and  the  other  prisoners,  thought  proper  to  walk  out. 
But,  as  he  was  very  indifferent  upon  the  matter,  he  took  no  care  to 
hide  himself,  but,  travelling  on  foot  on  the  high  road,  was  the  next 
day  again  apprehended,  and  then  was  carried  up  to  London.  Here 
he  was  brought  upon  his  trial  and  condemned,  merely  on  account 
of  his  priesthood,  but  suffered  not  till  seven  years  after,  during  which 
time  he  was  kept  prisoner  in  the  King's  Bench,  and  endured  very 
much  from  the  incommodity  and  unwholesomeness  of  the  place, 
and  the  multitude  of  the  prisoners  penned  up  there  together,  so  that 
his  constitution,  which  was  naturally  very  robust,  was  so  far  altered 
as  to  contract  a most  grievous  infirmity,  in  which  he  would  lie  some- 
times for  many  hours  without  sense  or  motion ; insomuch  that  when 
he  was  afterwards  executed,  his  lungs  were  found  so  consumed  that 
he  could  not  have  lived  much  longer.  But  one  of  his  chief  sufferings 
in  prison  was  the  continual  ill-usage  he  met  with,  for  a long  time, 
from  the  brutality  of  his  fellow  prisoners,  who,  not  contented  with 
loading  him  with  abuses,  reproaches,  and  injuries,  sometimes 
threatened  his  life,  more  particularly  when  he  would  be  admonishing 
and  rebuking  them  for  their  blasphemies  and  other  wickednesses. 
However,  at  length,  his  virtue  and  patience  so  far  prevailed  upon 
them  as  well  as  upon  the  jailor,  that  they  began  to  reverence  and 
love  him,  and  to  compassionate  his  sufferings;  insomuch  that  he  was 
permitted  to  make  himself  a sort  of  a separate  cell  in  the  common 
jail,  where,  by  the  help  of  some  Catholics  who  came  to  visit  him,  he 
sometimes  said  Mass,  to  the  unspeakable  comfort  of  his  soul.  His 
name  was  put  in  the  list  of  those  who,  in  the  beginning  of  the  last 
year,  were  to  be  sent  from  London  to  Wisheach  Castle;  but  it  seems 

* Ven.  John  Pibush. — From  Dr.  Worthington’s  Relation  of  Sixteen 
Martyrs  ; Chalcedon’s  Catalogue;  and  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript 
see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Acts  of  E.  M.;  Foley,  Records,  vii.;  Catholic 
Encyclopcedia . 


252 


MARK  BARKWORTH 


i6oi] 

God  was  determined  to  honour  him  with  a more  glorious  crown,  for 
the  Lord  Chief  Justice  Popham^  when  the  list  was  brought  to  him, 
struck  out  Mr.  PibusKs  name,  no  one  knew  why,  nor  wherefore. 

The  same  Lord  Chief  Justice,  on  the  17th  of  February  of  this 
year,  1601,  ordered  Mr.  Pibush,  who  had  been  condemned  about 
seven  years  before,  to  be  brought  to  the  bar,  when  nothing  less  was 
expected,  and  asked  him  what  he  had  to  say  for  himself  why  he 
should  not  suffer  death  according  to  sentence.  The  confessor 
answered  with  great  constancy  and  meekness.  That  he  had  never  in 
his  life  committed  anything  for  which  he  could  be  justly  put  to  death; 
that  he  had  been  condemned  barely  for  being  a Catholic  priest;  and  that 
he  was  willing  to  lay  down  many  lives ^ if  he  had  them ^ for  such  a cause. 
Upon  this  he  was  ordered  back  to  prison,  and  commanded  to  prepare 
for  death.  On  the  next  day,  being  the  i8th  of  February^  he  was 
drawn  to  St.  Thomases  Waterings  and  there  was  hanged,  bowelled, 
and  quartered.  He  suffered  with  a constancy  worthy  of  a martyr. 
His  execution  is  mentioned  by  Howes  upon  Stow,  in  his  Chronicle. 


MARK  BARKWORTH,  alias  LAMBERT, 
Priest,  O.S.B.* 

Mark  BARKWORTH  was  bom  in  Lincolnshire.  He  was 
brought  up'in  the  Protestant  religion  till  he  was  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  when,  going  abroad,  he  was  converted  to  the 
Catholic  faith,  and  grounded  in  solid  spirituality  at  Doway,  in 
Flanders,  by  one  Father  George,  a Flemish  Jesuit.  He  had  been,  as 
he  writes,  a little  before  his  martyrdom,  now  eight  years  in  the  school 
of  Christ,  and  for  the  two  first  was  under  the  instruction  and  dis- 
cipline of  Dr.  Barret,  President  of  the  English  College  then  residing 
at  Rhemes,  where  also  he  enjoyed  the  company  of  those  famous 
confessors — Dr.  Arrowsmith,  Mr.  Lancaster,  and  Mr.  Bradshaw, 
men,  as  he  says,  of  excellent  lives,  now  helping  him  in  heaven  by 
their  prayers.  From  thence  he  went  to  Spain,  where  he  finished 
his  studies,  and  was  made  priest  in  the  English  College  of  Valladolid.  ^ 
After  he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  he  quickly  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  persecutors,  and  after  many  different  examinations,  and 

* Ven.  Mark  Barkworth,  alias  Lambert. — From  Arnoldus  Raissius  in 
his  Catalogue  of  Douay  Martyrs;  and  from  Father  More’s  History  of  the 
English  Province  of  the  Society  of  Jesus;  see  also  Camm,  Life  of  Roberts  ; 
Catholic  Encyclopcedia;  Gillow;  D.N.B. 

253 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6oi 

letting  slip  several  opportunities  of  making  his  escape,  he  was 
brought  upon  his  trial  at  the  Old  Bailey.  The  clerk  bid  him  hold 
up  his  hand.  For  what  crime?  said  he.  For  the  crime  of  priesthood 
and  treason,  said  the  Lord  Chief  Justice.  Why,  said  Mr.  Barkworth, 
can  any  one  maintain  that  to  be  a priest  is  treason?  Was  not  our 
Saviour  a priest  according  to  the  order  of  Melchisedech  ? and  will 
any  one  say  that  He  was  a traitor?  Though  I am  of  opinion  were 
He  to  be  fudged  at  this  tribunal  He  would  meet  with  the  like  treatmeiit 
as  I look  for.  They  went  on:  Barkworth,  hold  up  thy  hand.  By 
whom  wilt  thou  be  tried?  By  God,  said  he,  and  by  the  apostles  and 
evangelists,  and  all  the  blessed  martyrs  and  saints  in  heaven.  Not  so, 
said  the  judge,  you  must  say.  By  God  and  my  country.  What!  said 
he,  you  mean,  my  lord,  these  poor  men,  pointing  to  the  jury;  I will 
never  let  my  blood  lie  at  their  door,  for  you  will  oblige  them  to  bring  in 
their  verdict  against  me,  right  or  wrong,  or  lay  so  heavy  a fine  upon 
them  in  the  Star  Chamber  that  they  will  scarcely  be  able  to  pay  it  in 
their  whole  lives.  The  judge  then  put  the  question  to  him.  Art  thou 
a priest,  yea  or  no?  I will  neither  say,  said  he,  that  I am  a priest,  or 
that  I am  not.  Well,  then,  said  the  judge,  I see  thou  art  a priest. 
If  you  can  prove  that,  said  Mr.  Barkworth,  I am  a dead  man;  your 
laws  stand  against  me,  and  I expect  no  favour  at  your  hands;  neither 
do  I fear  death,  trusting  in  the  grace  of  God.  Nay,  if  I had  ten  lives, 
I would  most  willingly  lay  them  all  down  for  Him  who  suffered  so  many 
torments  and  so  cruel  a death  for  my  sins.  Tell  me,  then,  said  the 
judge,  if  thou  wilt  not  confess  thyself  to  be  a priest,  what  art  thou? 
A Catholic,  said  he,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross;  and  were  I worthy 
to  be  a priest  I should  look  upon  myself  placed  in  a dignity  not  inferior 
to  that  of  angels;  for  priests  have  a power  given  them  of  remitting  and 
retaining  sins,  in  God's  name,  which  was  never  given  to  angels.  With 
that  all  the  company  laughed;  and  the  question  was  again  put  to 
him  as  before — By  whom  he  would  be  tried,  and  he  answ^ered  as 
before.  By  God  and  the  holy  apostles,  &c.,  and  not,  said  he,  by  these 
unlearned  7nen.  I was  brought  up  to  learning  from  a boy,  and  after 
taking  degrees  among  the  learned,  have  spent  in  studies  fully  seven 
years.  Let  learned  men  judge  in  my  cause,  and  not  such  as  are  un- 
learned. Will  you  then  be  tried,  said  they,  by  a jury  of  ministers? 
Hell-fire,  said  he,  will  try  them;  my  cause  is  not  to  be  trusted  to  them. 
You  would,  then,  said  the  judge,  be  tried  by  priests?  That  is  right, 
said  Mr,  Barkworth.  Call  in,  then,  said  the  judge,  a jury  of  them. 
Your  lordship,  said  he,  knows  that  a complete  jury  of  them  may  be 
found  in  Wisbeach  Castle.  With  this  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  with- 
drew; and  the  Recorder,  without  any  more  ceremony,  neither  taking 

254 


i6oi] 


MARK  BARKWORTH 


the  depo3ition  of  witnesses,  nor  having  the  confession  of  the  accused, 
nor  waiting  for  the  verdict  of  the  jury,  pronounced  sentence  upon  the 
prisoner  as  in  cases  of  high  treason;  which  as  soon  as  Mr.  Bark- 
worth  heard,  he  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  lifting  up  his  eyes  to  heaven, 
said.  Thanks  he  to  God. 

He  received  the  sentence  of  death,  says  Father  More,  with  a 
joyful  and  smiling  countenance,  and  making  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
began  a hymn  of  joy,  and  then  gave  thanks  to  the  judge.  After 
which,  addressing  his  discourse  to  the  standers  by,  he  exhorted 
them,  as  they  professed  themselves  Christians,  to  show  forth  by 
their  works  what  they  professed  in  their  words,  not  fearing  what 
the  world  can  do  against  them,  since,  in  effect,  to  die  for  the  cause 
of  justice  and  truth  is  a Christian’s  greatest  gain;  and  he  cannot 
even  wish  for  a greater  happiness  than  to  shed  his  blood  for  Him  who 
so  liberally  shed  His  blood  for  us  all.  He  was  sent  back  to  Newgate, 
and  walked  through  the  streets,  fettered  as  he  was,  with  that  air  of 
magnanimity  that  the  crowd  inquired  whether  he  was  not  one  of  the 
ringleaders  of  the  Earl  of  Essex’s  riot.  No,  said  Mr.  Barkworth, 
but  I am  a soldier  of  Christ,  who  am  to  die  for  His  faith. 

Mr.  Barkworth  is  commonly  challenged  by  the  Benedictine 
monks  for  one  of  theirs;  and  Father  B.  kF.,  a monk  of  that  venerable 
order,  in  his  manuscript  account  of  the  English  Congregation,  which 
I have  now  before  me,  writes  of  him  as  follows: — 

‘ As  to  those  who  entered  the  Spanish  Congregation  (though  he 
neither  lived  nor  was  clothed  in  any  monastery,  as  the  Rev.  Father 
Baker  affirms),  Mr.  Mark  Barkworth,  alias  Lambert,  challenges  the 
first  place. 

^ 1 St,  Because  he  was  a great  furtherer  and  concurrer  with  those 
who  engaged  amongst  the  Spanish  monks. 

‘ zdly.  Because  in  i6oi,  after  frequent  occasions  and  even  pro- 
vocations to  make  an  escape,  after  nine  several  examinations  before 
several  tribunals,  &c.,  being  condemned  for  his  faith,  to  make  the 
nation  remember  how  it  received  the  said  holy  faith,  and  to  manifest 
the  secrets  of  his  heart  and  intentions  in  regard  of  the  Order  of  St. 
Bennet,  he  chose  to  be  drawn  to  Tyburn  in  the  Benedictine  habit, 
which  by  some  means  he  had  procured  and  gotten,  and  had  his 
tonsure  accordingly  made,  &c.;’  by  which  it  appears  that  Mr. 
Barkworth  was  a Benedictine,  at  least  in  desire  if  not  in  effect. 

As  to  the  circumstances  of  his  death,  they  are  thus  related  by  the 
historians  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  upon  occasion  of  Father  Roger 
Filcock,  who  died  at  the  same  time  and  place.  Mr.  Barkworth  and 
Mr.  Filcock  were  both  drawn  together  upon  the  same  hurdle  from 

255 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6oi 


Newgate  to  Tyhtirn.  When  they  were  put  up  into  the  cart,  Mr. 
Barkworthy  with  a joyful  accent,  sung  those  words  of  the  royal 
prophet,  Hcec  dies  qiiam  fecit  DominuSy  exultemus;  and  Mr.  Filcock 
went  on  in  the  same  tone,  Et  Icetemur  in  ea.  Then  Mr.  Barkworth 
declared  how  ready  he  was  to  lay  down  even  a thousand  lives,  if  he 
had  them,  for  his  faith;  and  protested.  That  he  forgave  y with  all  his 
hearty  the  Queen  and  all  that  were  in  any  way  accessory  to  his  death y 
and  wished  to  have  them  with  him  in  eternal  glory.  Then  he  recom- 
mended himself  to  the  prayers  of  the  Catholics,  and  the  cart  was 
drawn  from  under  him.  Here  some  cruel  wretch,  fearing  lest  the 
weight  of  his  body  should  put  the  martyr  too  soon  out  of  his  pain, 
for  he  was  tall  and  bulky,  set  his  shoulders  under  him  to  bear  up  at 
least  some  part  of  the  weight,  so  that  he  was  cut  down  whilst  he  was 
yet  alive;  and  even  when  the  butcher  was  seeking  for  his  heart,  he 
pronounced  these  words,  O Gody  be  merciful  to  me. 

He  suffered  February  the  27th,  1601.  His  head  is  kept  by  the 
English  Benedictines  at  their  convent  at  Douay. 

Father  More  relates  of  Mr.  Barkworth  that  when  Mr.  Flemingy 
one  of  the  counsel  for  the  Queen,  told  him  at  the  bar.  That  he  was 
a priest y and  wore  upon  his  forehead  the  mark  of  the  beast y he  replied, 
‘ / am  a Christian y and  wear  on  my  forehead  the  sign  of  the  cross.  By 
this  sign  I am  confirmed  against  the  devil  and  heretics — God's  enemies. 
I fear  not  your  words  nor  your  threats.  I confess  and  adore  one  God. 
He  created  me  to  serve  Himy  and  serve  Him  I cannot  in  any  other  but 
in  the  Catholic  faith.  This  faith  I profess.  With  the  heart  men 
believe  unto  justice,  but  with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto 
salvation.  For  this  faith  I now  desire  to  die  more  than  I ever  desired 
to  live.  No  death  can  be  more  precious  than  that  which  is  undergone 
for  this  faith y which  faith  Christ  taught y and  a hundred  thousand 
martyrs  have  sealed  with  their  blood.' 


ROGER  FILCOCK,  Priest,  S.J  * 

Roger  filcock  was  a native  of  Sandwichy  in  Kent.  He 
performed  his  studies  abroad,  partly  in  the  College  of  Doway  or 
Rhemes y and  partly  in  that  of  Valladolid  in  Spain y where,  after 
having  given  great  examples  of  virtue,  to  the  edification  of  all  that 
knew  him,  he  was  advanced  to  holy  orders  and  made  priest.  He  had 

* Ven.  Roger  Filcock. — From  the  Douay  Records;  and  from  the  his- 
torians of  the  Society  of  Jesus;  see  also  Foley,  Records,  i.;  Gillow;  D.N  B. 

256 


i6oi] 


ROGER  FILCOCK 


for  some  time  a strong  inclination  to  enter  into  the  Society  of  Jesus; 
but  his  admission  was  deferred  until  some  trial  had  been  made  of 
him  upon  the  English  mission,  to  which  he  was  sent  in  1598;  where, 
after  having  been  sufficiently  recommended  by  two  years’  labours 
in  the  midst  of  dangers,  Father  Garnet^  the  Superior  of  the  English 
Jesuits,  consented  to  receive  him  into  the  Society  and  to  send  him 
over  into  Flanders^  there  to  make  his  noviceship.  But  this  was 
prevented  by  his  being  apprehended  and  committed  to  Newgate^  from 
whence  he  was  brought  out  to  his  trial  on  the  23  d of  February  ^ 1600-1 . 
And  though  he  neither  confessed  nor  denied  his  being  a priest,  and 
no  evidence  appeared  against  him;  yet  he  was  brought  in  guilty,  and 
had  sentence  to  die,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason.  His  fellow  confessor, 
Mr.  Barkworth^  who  was  condemned  a few  hours  before  him,  writes 
thus  of  Father  Filcock^  in  a letter  indited  a little  while  before  his 
death : — 

‘ The  holy  confessor  of  Christy  Mr.  Arthur^''  (this  was  the  name 
under  which  Father  Filcock  screened  himself  upon  the  mission),  ‘ was 
always  one  of  my  chiefest  and  dearest  friends,  as  well  formerly  when 
he  was  at  liberty  as  now  in  prison.  A man  exceedingly  humble,  and 
of  extraordinary  patience,  piety,  and  charity.  My  mind  tells  me 
that  we  shall  die  together,  who  have  so  long  lived  together.’  So  Mr. 
Barkworth.  And  so  it  happened,  for  they  were  both,  as  we  have 
seen,  drawn  together  to  Tyburn ^ February  27,  where  Mr.  Bark- 
worth  was  first  butchered  before  the  eyes  of  Father  Filcock;  who, 
so  far  from  being  discouraged  or  terrified  with  that  scene  of  blood, 
took  occasion  from  thence  of  more  heartily  aspiring  after  the  like 
felicity,  crying  out  with  the  apostle,  I desire  to  be  dissolved  and  to 
be  with  Christ.  His  desire  was  not  long  deferred;  when,  after  a 
short  prayer,  he  cheerfully  yielded  himself  up  to  the  executioner, 
and  the  cart  being  drawn  away,  he  was  hanged  and  then  cut  down, 
dismembered,  bowelled,  and  quartered. 


ANN  LINE,  Gentlewoman.'^ 

SHE  was  a widow  gentlewoman,  of  an  infirm  constitution  of 
body,  troubled  with  almost  continual  headaches,  and  withal 
inclining  to  dropsy,  and  so  ill  every  spring  and  fall  that  her 
friends  at  each  of  these  seasons  feared  she  would  be  carried  off  by 

* Ven.  Anne  Line. — From  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript  History;  see  also 
Lives  of  E.  M.;  Life  of  Gerard;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

257 


R 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6oi 


death;  but  her  soul  was  strong  and  vigorous,  and  ever  tending  by 
spiritual  exercises  to  Christian  perfection.  Her  devotion  was  un- 
feigned; she  received  the  Blessed  Sacrament  at  least  once  a week, 
and  always  with  abundance  of  tears.  Her  conversation  was  edifying, 
willingly  discoursing  on  spiritual  subjects,  and  not  on  worldly 
vanities ; and  what  was  particularly  remarkable  in  her  was  the  desire 
she  had  of  ending  her  days  by  martyrdom;  on  which  account  she 
bore  a holy  envy  to  priests  and  others,  who  seemed  to  be  in  a fairer 
way  to  that  happy  end  than  she,  or  any  other  of  her  sex,  were;  of 
which  very  few  had  suffered  in  this  reign.  However  she  told  her 
confessor,  some  years  before  her  death.  That  Mr.  Thomson,  [Blake- 
burn,]  a former  confessor  of  herSy  who  ended  his  days  by  martyrdom 
in  1586,  had  promised  her  thaty  if  God  should  make  him  worthy  of  that 
glorious  endy  he  would  pray  for  her  that  she  might  obtain  the  like 
happiness.  She  also  related  to  her  confessor  a vision  which  she  had 
seen  of  our  Lord  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  bearing  His  cross  and 
inviting  her  to  follow  Him;  which  seemed  to  promise  her  this 
martyrdom  to  which  she  aspired,  and  which  she  at  last  obtained  in 
the  manner  following: — 

On  Candlemas  Dayy  1601,  the  pursuivants,  having  some  intelli- 
gence, or  suspecting  that  Mrs.  Line  entertained  a priest,  beset  her 
house  at  the  very  time  that  Mass  was  actually  beginning.  However, 
as  the  door  was  strongly  barred  and  fastened,  they  were  forced  to 
wait  some  time  before  they  could  come  in ; and  in  the  mean  time  the 
priest,  [Mr.  Pagey]  had  leisure  to  unvest  himself  and  make  his 
escape.  After  they  broke  in  they  searched  every  corner  of  the 
house,  and  seized  upon  everything  that  they  imagined  to  savour  of 
popery,  but  could  find  no  priest.  However,  they  hurried  away 
Mrs.  Line  to  prison,  and  with  her  Mrs.  Gage  (daughter  to  Baron 
Copley) y whom  they  found  in  the  house.  Mrs.  Gagey  by  the  interest 
of  a certain  nobleman,  was  after  some  time  set  at  liberty;  but  Mrs. 
Line  was  brought  upon  her  trial  at  the  Old  Bailey  before  the  Lord 
Chief  Justice  Popham — a bitter  enemy  of  the  Catholics.  She  was 
carried  to  her  trial  in  a chair,  being  at  that  time  so  weak  and  ill  that 
she  could  not  walk.  The  evidence  against  her  was  very  slender, 
which  was  the  testimony  of  one  Harriot y who  deposed  that  he  saw 
a man  in  her  house  dressed  in  white,  who,  as  he  would  have  it,  was 
certainly  a priest.  However,  any  proof  it  seems  was  strong  enough 
with  Mr.  Popham  against  a Papist;  and  the  jury,  by  him  directed, 
brought  in  Mrs.  Line  guilty  of  the  indictment,  viz.y  of  having  har- 
boured or  entertained  a Seminary  priest.  According  to  which 
verdict  the  judge  pronounced  sentence  of  death  upon  the  prisoner, 

2 £(8 


i6oi] 


THURSTAN  HUNT,  ETC. 


and  sent  her  back  to  Newgate  to  prepare  herself  for  execution.  Here 
she  acknowledged  that,  the  day  before  her  condemnation,  God  had 
given  her  a foresight  of  this  happiness.  When  reading  her  hours  in 
her  primer  she  perceived  a light  and  delightful  brightness  upon  and 
round  her  books,  which  she  interpreted  to  be  a sign  of  her  future 
triumph,  though  she  would  not  speak  of  it  till  after  she  was  con- 
demned. When  the  keeper  acquainted  her  with  the  dead- warrant 
being  signed,  and  when  afterwards  she  was  carried  out  to  execution, 
she  shewed  not  the  least  commotion  or  change  in  her  countenance. 
At  Tyburn^  when  she  was  just  ready  to  die,  she  declared  to  the 
standers  by,  with  a loud  voice,  ‘ / am  sentenced  to  die  for  harbouring 
a Catholic  priest,  and  so  far  I am  from  repentmg  for  having  so  done, 
that  I wish,  with  all  my  soul,  that  where  I have  entertained  one,  I 
could  have  entertained  a thousand.'  She  suffered  before  the  two 
priests;  and  Mr.  Barkworth,  whose  combat  came  on  the  next,  em- 
braced her  dead  body  whilst  it  was  yet  hanging,  saying,  ‘ O blessed 
Mrs.  Line,  who  hast  now  happily  received  thy  reward!  Thou  art 
gone  before  us,  but  we  shall  quickly  follow  thee  to  bliss,  if  it  please  the 
Almighty.' 

She  was  executed  February  27,  1601. 


THURSTAN  HUNT  and  ROBERT 
MIDDLETON,  Priests,  and  NICHOLAS 
TICHBURN,  Layman.* 

Mr.  THURSTAN  HUNT  was  a gentleman  by  birth,  born  at 
Carleton  Hall,  near  Leeds,  in  Yorkshire,  and  brought  up  in 
Doway  College,  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes,  where  he  was 
ordained  priest  by  the  Cardinal  de  Guise,  April  20,  1584,  and  sent 
from  Rhemes  upon  the  English  mission  in  1585.  His  labours  seem 
to  have  been  chiefly  in  Lancashire,  where,  attempting  with  some 
others  to  rescue  a priest  whom  the  officers  were  carrying  to  prison, 
he  himself  was  apprehended,  and  being  found  to  be  a priest,  was 
sent  up  to  London,  together  with  Mr.  Robert  Middleton  (a  gentleman 
of  the  same  character,  who  had  fallen  into  their  hands  about  the  same 
time),  who  was  a native  of  York  and  a priest  of  the  College  of  Seville, 
in  Spain.  They  were  quickly  sent  back  to  be  tried  and  executed  in 
Lancashire,  where  they  had  chiefly  bestowed  their  missionary  labours. 

* Ven.  Thurstan  Hunt  and  Robert  Middleton. — From  Dr.  Champney’s 
Manuscripts;  and  from  the  Douay  Diaries  and  Catalogues;  see  also  Lives 
of  E.  M.;  C.R.S.  v.;  Gillow,  Catholic  Encyclopcedia;  Blacfan,  Annates. 

259 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6oi 


Here  they  were  sentenced  to  die,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  merely 
on  account  of  their  priesthood;  and  here  they  suffered,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  sentence,  at  Lancaster,  some  time  in  March  i6oi. 

This  year  I find  also  two  other  Catholics  put  to  death  by  the 
penal  statutes,  for  rescuing  a priest  out  of  the  hands  of  an  officer. 
These  were  Nicholas  Tichhurn,  gentleman,  born  at  Hartley,  in 
Hampshire,  and  Thomas  Hackshot,  layman,  born  at  Muresley,  in 
Buckinghamshire.  Dr.  Champney,  who  only  makes  mention  of  the 
latter  in  his  manuscript  history,  relates  the  story  in  this  manner: — 
Mr.  Hackshot,  a stout  young  man,  understanding  that  Mr.  lliomas 
Tichburn,  priest,  prisoner  on  account  of  his  character,  was  upon 
some  occasion  to  be  conducted  by  one  only  keeper  or  officer  through 
a certain  street,  planted  himself  there,  waiting  for  their  coming, 
and  knocking  the  keeper  down,  gave  the  priest  opportunity  to  escape. 
However,  he  himself  made  not  such  haste  away,  but  the  officer,  who 
had  been  stunned  with  the  blow,  coming  to  himself  and  crying  aloud. 
Stop  the  traitor  ! stop  the  traitor  ! caused  him  to  be  apprehended  and 
dragged  to  the  prison  from  whence  he  was  conducting  the  priest; 
where  he  was  cast  into  the  dungeon  and  afflicted  with  divers  torments, 
which  he  endured  with  great  courage  and  fortitude,  till  at  length 
he  was  brought  upon  his  trial  and  condemned  to  die. 

He  suffered  with  constancy  at  Tyburn,  August  24,  1601 ; and 
with  him  Mr.  Nicholas  Tichburn,  for  being  aiding  and  assisting 
in  the  rescuing  of  his  kinsman. 


[ 1602.  ] 

JAMES  HARRISON,  Priest  * 

This  gentleman,  who  by  some  is  confounded  with  Matthias 
Harrison  (of  whom  we  have  spoken  in  1599),  and  by  others  is 
called  Matthew  Harrison,  alias  Hayes,  in  the  Records  and 

Catalogues  is  called  James,  and  is  said  to  have  been  a native  of  the 
Diocese  of  Lichfield,  ordained  at  Rhemes  in  1583,  and  sent  from 
thence  upon  the  English  mission  in  1584.  He  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  persecutors  a little  before  the  Lent  Assizes,  1601-2,  and  being 
brought  upon  his  trial  was  sentenced  to  die,  as  in  cases  of  high 

* Ven.  James  Harrison. — From  the  Catalogue  of  Arnoldus  Raissius; 
Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript,  etc. ; see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Catholic 
Encyclopcedia. 


260 


JAMES  DUCKETT 


l602j 

treason,  barely  on  account  of  exercising  his  priestly  functions  in 
England.  Raissius  relates  that,  being  told  by  his  keeper  the  night 
before  execution  that  he  was  to  suffer  the  next  day,  which  it  seems 
was  an  unexpected  piece  of  news  (for  the  judges  had  left  the  town 
without  determining  any  thing  of  the  time  of  his  suffering),  he  shewed 
not  the  least  sign  of  being  troubled  at  the  message;  but,  with  a 
cheerful  countenance,  set  himself  down  to  supper,  saying.  Let  m 
eat  and  drinky  for  to-morrow  we  shall  die.  He  drank  up  the  cup  of 
his  Lord  the  next  day,  says  RaissiuSy  with  great  constancy  and  fervour, 
being  executed  at  Yorky  March  22,  1602.  His  head,  says  the  same 
author,  is  religiously  kept  by  the  English  Franciscans  at  Doway. 

With  Mr.  Harrison  was  hanged  Mr.  Anthony  Batticy  or,  as  others 
call  him,  BateSy  a lay  gentleman  of  YorkshirCy  for  having  entertained 
the  said  Mr.  Harrison  in  his  house,  knowing  him  to  be  a priest. 


JAMES  DUCKETT,  Layman.=^ 

JAMES  DUCKETT  was  a younger  son  of  Mr.  Duckett  of  Gil- 
f or  trigs  y in  the  parish  of  Skelsmerghy  in  Westmoreland.  He  had 
the  name  of  James  given  him  in  baptism  from  his  godfather, 
James  Leyburny  Esq.,  Lord  of  Skelsmerghy  who  was  drawn,  hanged, 
and  quartered  at  Lancaster y March  22,  1583,  for  denying  the  Queen’s 
supremacy;  yet  it  seems  he  was  brought  up  a Protestant,  and  after 
some  years  passed  in  the  schools,  was  bound  apprentice  in  London. 
Here,  after  some  time,  a countryman  of  his,  one  Peter  MausoUy  put  a 
book  in  his  hands,  entitled.  The  Foundation  of  the  Catholic  Religion y 
which  he  diligently  perused,  and  by  the  reading  of  it  was  brought 
to  stagger  very  much  in  his  opinion;  insomuch  that  he,  who  before 
was  so  zealous  in  his  way,  that  he  would  have  heard  two  or  three 
sermons  a day,  began  now  to  withdraw  himself  from  their  sermons 
and  service,  and  to  be  more  and  more  convinced  of  the  falsehood 
of  his  former  belief.  This  change  was  soon  perceived  by  those 
with  whom  he  lived,  who  finding  also  the  book  which  had  occasioned 
this  alteration,  carried  it  to  Mr.  Goodakery  the  minister  of  St. 
Edmunds y in  Lombard  Street y who  sent  for  Mr.  James y and  examined 
him  why  he  went  no  more  to  church.  He  answered.  He  neither  did 

* Ven.  James  Duckett. — From  a Manuscript  sent  me  from  Doua 
College,  written  by  Father  Duckett,  Prior  to  the  English  Carthusians  at 
Newport,  son  of  this  same  Mr.  James  Duckett;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M. 

261 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1602 


nor  would  go  more  to  churchy  till  he  had  better  satisfaction  in  their 
religion  than  he  could  give  him.  Upon  this  answer,  he  was  committed 
to  Bridewelf  from  whence,  after  some  time,  he  was  set  free  by  his 
master’s  means;  but  not  long  after  he  was  again  questioned  for  not 
going  to  church,  and  was  then  sent  to  the  Compter. . His  master 
procured  his  liberty  once  more,  but  was  afraid  of  keeping  him  any 
longer,  lest  himself  should  incur  any  danger  thereby;  so  Mr.  Duckett 
was  forced  to  compound  and  buy  out  the  remainder  of  his  time. 

Being  now  his  own  master,  he  sought  the  means  of  being  in- 
structed and  received  into  the  Catholic  Church;  and  within  two 
months,  to  his  great  comfort,  he  was  reconciled  by  Mr.  Weeks,  a 
venerable  priest,  prisoner  in  the  Gatehouse.  After  which  he  lived 
two  or  three  years  a single  life,  with  great  zeal  and  fervour  in  religion ; 
and  then  took  a wife,  a good  Catholic  widow,  with  whom  he  lived 
twelve  years  in  wedlock,  dealing  mostly  in  books,  with  which  he 
furnished  Catholics,  as  well  for  their  own  comfort  and  instruction, 
as  for  the  assistance  of  their  neighbours’  souls.  This  exposed  him 
to  many  dangers  and  persecutions,  and  he  was  often  apprehended 
and  cast  into  prison,  both  in  town  and  country,  and  kept  sometimes 
for  a long  while  together  in  gaol ; insomuch  that  of  twelve  years  he 
lived  a married  man,  he  passed  nine  of  them  in  prisons.  His  last 
apprehension,  which  brought  him  to  his  happy  end,  and  the  manner 
of  his  trial  and  death,  is  thus  related  by  his  son: — 

‘ Peter  Bullock,  a bookbinder,  after  he  had  been  condemned  a 
twelvemonth,  in  hope,  as  many  imagined,  of  obtaining  his  pardon, 
informed  Lord  Chief  Justice  Popham  that  James  Duckett  had  had 
twenty-five  of  [Father  Southwell’s]  Supplications  to  the  Queen, 
and  had  published  them.  Upon  this  his  house  was  searched  at  mid- 
night, but  no  such  book  found,  nor  sign  thereof;  yet  they  found  the 
whole  impression  of  Mount  Calvary  and  some  other  Catholic  books. 
However,  he  was  apprehended  and  carried  to  Newgate,  it  being  the 
4th  of  March.  At  the  next  Sessions  he  was  called  to  the  bar,  and 
Mr.  Watkinson,  a virtuous  and  worthy  priest,  who  newly  was  come 
into  England  and  taken,  was  also  brought  in.  James  Duckett  per- 
ceiving him  to  look  pale,  and  thinking  it  might  be  through  fear, 
which  indeed  was  only  his  sickness,  began  in  his  best  manner  to 
encourage  him,  which  Popham  understanding  (Mr.  Watkinson  being 
first  arraigned),  calls  out,  Duckett,  now  speak  for  thyself.  Then 
evidence  being  called  in,  the  same  Peter  Bullock  accused  him  that 
he  had  some  of  Father  Southwell's  Supplications  to  the  Queen,  which 
he  denied,  having  had  none  of  them.  Bullock  also  avouched  that 
he  had  bound  for  him  divers  Catholic  books,  and,  amongst  the  rest, 

262 


JAMES  DUCKETT 


1602] 

Bristowe^s  Motives^  which  he  acknowledged.  The  jury  being  called, 
and  hearing  what  was  alleged  against  him  by  one  only  witness,  went 
out,  and  having  consulted,  returned  again  and  found  him  not  guilty. 
Judge  Popham^  who  was  bloodily  bent  against  him,  stood  up  and 
bid  them  consider  well  of  what  they  did;  for  that  Duckett  had  had 
Bristowe's  Motives  bound  for  him.  Upon  whose  words  they  went 
out  again,  and  soon  returning,  declared  him  guilty  of  felony.  The 
jury’s  verdict  being  given,  sentence  of  death  was  pronounced  against 
him,  as  also  against  the  three  priests,  Mr.  Page,  Mr.  Tichburn,  and 
Mr.  Watkinson. 

‘ On  Monday  morning,  the  day  designed  for  his  death,  his  wife 
came  to  speak  to  him,  which  she  could  not  without  tears.  He  bid 
her  be  of  good  comfort,  and  said.  His  death  was  no  more  to  him  than 
to  drink  off  the  caudle  which  stood  there  ready  for  him.  If  I were 
made,  said  he,  the  Queen's  secretary  or  treasurer  you  would  not  weep. 
Do  but  keep  yourself  God's  servant,  and  in  the  unity  of  God's  Church, 
and  I shall  be  able  to  do  you  more  good,  being  now  to  go  to  the  King 
of  kings.  As  you  love  me,  do  not  grudge  that  the  good  men  {the  three 
priests)  are  reprieved,  and  not  I;  for  I take  it  for  a great  favour  from 
Almighty  God  that  I am  placed  amongst  the  thieves,  as  He  himself, 
my  Lord  and  Master,  was.  As  he  was  carried  towards  the  place  of 
execution,  in  the  way  his  wife  called  for  a pint  of  wine  to  drink  to 
him.  He  drank,  and  desired  her  to  drink  to  Peter  Bullock,  and 
freely  to  forgive  him;  for  he,  after  all  his  hopes,  was,  in  the  self- 
same cart,  carried  also  to  execution.  Being  come  to  the  place,  and 
both  he  and  Peter  standing  up  in  the  cart,  Peter,  saith  he,  the  cause 
of  my  coming  hither,  God  and  thyself  knowest,  for  which  I,  from  my 
heart,  forgive  thee,  and  that  the  world  and  all  here  may  witness  that 
I die  in  charity  with  thee,  he  kissed  him,  both  having  the  ropes 
about  their  necks.  Then  he  said  to  him.  Thy  life  and  mine  are  not 
long.  Wilt  thou  promise  me  one  thing?  If  thou  wilt,  speak:  wilt  thou 
die,  as  I die,  a Catholic?  Bullock  replied.  He  would  die  as  a Christian 
should  do.  And  so  the  cart  was  drawn  from  under  them.’ 

Mr.  Duckett  suffered  at  Tyburn,  April  19,  1601,  and  he  is  men- 
tioned by  Mr.  Howes  upon  Stow,  in  his  Chronicle.  Dr.  Champney,  in 
his  manuscript  history  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  which  he 
concludes  with  this  year,  adds,  that  Kiv.John  Colins,  another  Catholic, 
after  a long  imprisonment,  suffered  death  for  the  same  cause,  though 
he  knows  not  whether  it  was  at  the  same  time  or  no.  As  to  the  three 
priests  who  were  condemned  with  Mr.  Duckett,  they  were  reprieved, 
indeed,  at  the  intercession  of  the  Freiich  ambassador;  but  it  was  for 
a very  short  time:  for,  ‘ on  the  20th  of  April,'  says  Howes,  in  his 

263 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1602 


Chronicle,  ‘ Thomas  Tichhiirn^  Robert  Watkinson^  and  James  (he 
should  have  said  Francis)  Page,  Seminary  priests,  were  drawn  to 
Tyburn,  and  there  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered,  for  coming  into 
the  kingdom  contrary  to  the  statute  of  the  27th  of  Elizabeth.^ 


THOMAS  TICHBURN  and  ROBERT 
WATKINSON,  Priests.* 

Thomas  TICHBURN  was  bom  of  an  ancient  family  at 
Hartley,  in  Hampshire.  His  education  abroad  was  first  in  the 
College  at  Rhemes,  and  afterwards  in  that  of  to  which  he 

was  sent  from  Rhemes,  September  2,  1587.  At  Rome  he  w^as  made 
priest,  and  from  thence  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission.  Here 
he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  adversaries  of  his  faith,  and  suffered 
bands  and  prisons  for  some  years,  till,  as  we  have  seen  above,  he  was 
rescued  by  that  bold  youth  who  lost  his  own  life  upon  that  account. 
It  was  not  long  before  he  was  again  apprehended  by  the  means  of 
one  Atkinson,  a fallen  priest,  who  meeting  him  in  the  streets,  and 
knowing  him,  ceased  not  to  cry  out,  A priest!  a priest! — stop  the 
priest!  till  he  was  seized  upon;  though  Mr.  Tichburn,  to  stop  his 
mouth  and  carry  off  the  matter,  told  him,  which  was  very  true.  That 
he  was  no  more  a priest  than  himself.  Thus  he  was  again  committed 
to  prison,  and  soon  after  arraigned,  condemned,  and  executed  merely 
on  account  of  his  priesthood.  He  was  far  gone  in  a hectic  fever,  and 
naturally  could  have  lived  but  a very  short  time  longer ; so  that  his 
apprehension  and  condemnation  at  this  time  was  a more  particular 
favour  of  Divine  providence,  which  had  chosen  for  him  this  more 
glorious  and  happy  death. 

He  suffered  at  Tyburn,  April  20,  1601. 

Robert  Watkinson  was  born  at  Hemingborough,  in  Yorkshire,  and 
had  his  education  abroad,  partly  in  the  College  of  Doway,  and  partly 
in  that  of  Rome.  He  went  through  his  course  of  philosophy  in  the 
latter,  but  was  obliged,  for  his  health,  to  return  to  Doway  to  study 
his  divinity.  But  the  change  of  air  made  no  great  alteration  in  the 
state  of  his  health;  so  that  his  superiors  thought  it  best  to  present 
him  to  holy  orders,  and  send  him  over  into  England.  He  was 

* Ven.  Thomas  Tichburn  and  Robert  Watkinson. — From  the  Douay 
Diary;  Dr.  Champney’s  Manuscript;  and  the  Catalogues  of  Chalcedon 
and  Raissius;  see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

264 


i6o2]  THOS.  TICHBURN  AND  ROBT.  WATKINSON 

ordained  priest  at  Arras ^ March  25,  1602,  and  on  the  3d  of  April 
following  began  his  journey  to  England,  Whilst  he  was  at  London^ 
under  the  care  of  a physician,  he  was  betrayed  by  ontjohn  Fawether, 
a false  brother,  apprehended,  arraigned,  and  condemned  on  the 
17th  of  April,  and  executed  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month.  He 
suffered  with  great  constancy  at  Tyburn,  in  the  company  of  Mr. 
Tichhurn  and  Mr.  Page. 

There  is  a very  remarkable  story  concerning  this  Mr.  Watkinson 
in  the  Doway  Diary,  which  is,  that  the  day  before  he  was  appre- 
hended, as  he  was  walking  in  London  streets  with  another  Catholic, 
he  met  a stranger,  who  appeared  to  be  a venerable  old  man,  who 
saluted  him  with  these  words — Jesus  bless  you,  sir;  you  seem  to  be  sick 
and  troubled  with  many  infirmities;  but  be  of  good  cheer,  for  within 
these  four  days  you  shall  be  cured  of  all,  which  happened  accordingly ; 
for  the  next  day  he  was  apprehended,  tried  and  condemned,  which 
was  on  Saturday,  and  on  the  Tuesday  following  he  received  his  crown. 
The  same  diary  adds  that,  Mr.  Watkinson  having  found  means  to 
celebrate  Mass  in  prison  the  morning  before  he  went  out  to  execution, 
they  that  were  present,  “ and  in  particular,”  says  Dr.  Champney, 
“ Mr.  Henry  Owen,  a prisoner  for  his  conscience,  who  then  served 
at  his  Mass,”  perceived  about  his  head,  sometimes  on  the  one  side, 
sometimes  on  the  other,  a most  bright  light,  like  a ray  of  glory,  which 
from  the  Consecration  till  after  the  Communion,  rested  directly  over 
his  head,  and  then  disappeared. 


FRANCIS  PAGE,  Priest,  SJ.^ 

He  was  born,  according  to  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon's  Catalogue, 
of  a gentleman’s  family  at  Harrow  on  the  Hill,  in  the  county  of 
Middlesex,  or,  as  some  others  say,  at  Antwerp,  which  it  seems 
he  pleaded  at  his  trial,  but  was  not  regarded.  He  was  brought  up  in 
the  Protestant  religion,  and  to  the  study  of  the  law,  and  was  for  some 
time  clerk  to  a noted  lawyer  in  town.  Here  he  fell  in  love  with  a 
young  gentlewoman,  a Catholic,  and  partly  upon  her  account,  partly 
by  the  persuasion  of  a Catholic  companion,  was  induced  to  make 
a more  serious  inquiry  into  matters  of  religion.  His  friend  brought 
him  to  Father  Gerard  Thomson,  his  own  confessor,  who  gave  him 

* Ven.  Francis  Page. — From  the  Douay  Diary,  and  from  Father  More’s 
History  of  the  English  Province  of  the  Society  of  Jesus ; see  also  Lives  of  E.  M.; 
Foley,  Records,  vii. 

265 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1602 

full  satisfaction  in  his  doubts,  and  reconciled  him  to  the  Church. 
But  this  was  not  all.  Mr.  Page  not  only  became  a Catholic,  but  by 
degrees  was  quite  weaned  from  earthly  affections,  and  his  heart  was 
set  upon  better  things.  So  that  Father  Gerard,  being  not  long  after 
apprehended,  and  committed  close  prisoner  to  the  Tower,  Mr.  Page, 
renouncing  the  advantageous  match  of  which  he  had  so  near  a 
prospect,  resolved  upon  a more  perfect  state  of  life,  and  going  over 
to  Doway,  there  entered  himself  an  alumnus  in  the  English  College 
of  the  secular  clergy.  And  after  having  employed  some  time  in  this 
Seminary  of  martyrs,  in  the  study  of  divinity  and  in  the  practice 
of  all  Christian  virtues,  he  was  by  his  superiors  presented  to  holy 
orders  and  ordained  priest,  and  not  long  after  was  sent  upon  the 
English  Toi^^Aon,  June  10,  1600. 

He  had  not  been  long  in  England,  when  he  narrowly  escaped  the 
pursuivants’  hands,  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Line,  when — he  being  at  the 
altar  in  his  vestments — on  Candlemas  Day,  they  broke  into  the  house ; 
as  we  have  seen  in  the  account  of  that  holy  widow.  However,  as  his 
time  was  not  yet  come,  he  made  a shift  to  unvest  himself  before 
they  could  come  into  the  chamber  where  he  was,  and  to  step  aside 
to  a private  place,  where  they  could  not  find  him.  After  this  escape, 
he  diligently  applied  himself  to  his  missionary  functions,  till  he  was 
apprehended  in  the  following  manner : — Going  out  one  night  to  the 
duties  of  his  calling,  he  perceived  a woman  coming  after  him  whom 
he  knew,  who  had  for  some  time  professed  herself  a Catholic,  but 
now  made  it  her  business,  for  the  sake  of  a little  lucre,  to  betray  and 
take  up  priests.  The  sight  of  this  woman  made  him  mend  his  pace ; 
but  she  knowing  him  made  no  less  haste  after  him,  calling  out,  Mr. 
Page,  I want  to  speak  to  you.  He  would  not  seem  to  hear  her,  but 
stepped  into  the  first  open  house,  and  shutting  the  door  after  him, 
desired  the  master  of  the  house,  who  was  a Protestant,  to  let  him  out 
by  a back-door;  which  he  was  going  to  do,  when  this  wicked  woman 
coming  up,  knocked  violently  at  the  door,  crying  out,  A traitor  ! a 
traitor  ! a Seminary  priest ! and  raised  a mob  about  the  door ; so  that 
the  man  of  the  house,  being  afraid  of  the  consequences,  would  not 
suffer  Mr.  Page  to  go  further,  but  delivered  him  up  into  the  hands 
of  the  constables.  He  was  carried  before  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
Popham,  a cruel  enemy  of  the  Catholics — the  same  as  before  con- 
demned Mrs.  Line — wFo,  understanding  that  this  was  the  priest 
who  had  escaped  from  that  widow’s  house,  after  having  examined 
him,  sent  him  to  Newgate,  where  he  was  put  down  into  Limbo. 
And  at  the  next  Sessions,  which  came  on  within  a few  days,  he  was 
brought  to  the  bar,  together  with  Mr.  Tichhurn  and  Mr.  Watkinson, 

266 


FRANCIS  PAGE 


1602] 

and  with  them  condemned,  barely  upon  account  of  his  priesthood, 
by  the  same  Lord  Chief  Justice  Pophatn. 

There  was  at  the  same  time  in  Newgate  one  Mr.  Henry  Floyd,  a 
priest,  who,  when  Mr.  Page  was  brought  back  to  prison  after  his 
condemnation,  falling  upon  his  knees,  testified  the  greatness  of  his 
grief  by  the  tears  which  plentifully  flowed  from  him.  Mr.  Page, 
lifting  him  up,  spoke  to  him  in  this  manner:  What  is  the  meaning 
of  this,  sir?  Do  you  weep  at  my  condition,  which  is  most  happy? 
You  ought  rather  to  rejoice  and  congratulate  with  me  for  so  happy  a 
lot,  which  opens  to  me  a way  to  eternal  bliss.  And  so  great  was  the 
joy  that  Mr.  Page  found  in  himself  at  the  approach  of  his  martyrdom 
that,  after  having  made  a general  confession  of  his  whole  life  to  the 
same  Mr.  Floyd,  and  assisted  at  his  Mass,  he  was  in  a doubt  whether 
he  should  venture  to  celebrate  Mass  himself,  for  fear  that  he  should 
not  be  able  to  contain  himself,  during  the  Sacred  Mysteries,  from 
discovering  the  extraordinary  motions  of  his  heart,  by  such  outward 
gestures  and  words,  as  would  be  taken  notice  of,  and  be  heard  by 
the  other  prisoners  and  by  the  keepers. 

The  day  before  execution,  the  keeper  desired  Mr.  Floyd  to 
acquaint  Mr.  Page  that  he  was  to  die  on  the  morrow,  adding  that, 
for  his  own  part,  he  could  not  endure  to  be  the  bearer  of  such  tidings. 
Mr.  Page  received  this  message  as  coming  from  heaven ; and  having 
obtained  leave  of  the  keeper  to  stay  that  day  and  night  with  Mr. 
Floyd,  and  having  celebrated  with  him  the  Tremendous  Mysteries 
with  wonderful  sentiments  of  joy  and  devotion,  he  declared  to  this 
holy  man  some  part  of  the  favours  which  God  was  pleased  to  shew  him 
that  night,  which  had  filled  his  soul  with  such  wonderful  lights  and 
so  high  a knowledge  of  the  Divine  greatness,  as  he  could  never  have 
obtained  by  books  or  study ; so  that  he  thought  nothing  could  ever 
more  separate  him  from  the  love  of  so  great  a Lord.  But  that  he 
might  experimentally  know  that  these  extraordinary  sentiments  of 
devotion  are  a gratuitous  gift  of  God,  which  He  gives  and  takes  away 
when  He  pleases,  and  that  he  might  have  some  experience  also  of 
the  great  anguish  and  agony  of  Mount  Olivet,  as  well  as  of  the 
sweets  of  Mount  Thahor,  he  was  all  on  a sudden  deprived  of  these 
extraordinary  gusts  and  of  all  manner  of  sensible  devotions,  and, 
like  his  Saviour  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane,  became  sad  and 
sorrowful,  even  unto  death;  so  that  in  this  extremity  of  fear,  grief, 
and  anguish,  he  earnestly  desired  Mr.  Floyd's  prayers,  shewing  by 
the  paleness  of  his  countenance  and  other  outward  signs  the  inward 
conflicts  of  his  soul.  This  storm  continued  till  the  Sheriff  sent  to 
him  to  prepare  himself  for  execution,  for  that  the  hour  was  now 

267 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1602 


drawing  on;  which  message  in  a moment  restored  a calm  to  his 
soul,  and  filled  him  with  a new  joy;  so  that  he  went  out  to  meet 
death  with  as  much  cheerfulness,  as  if  he  was  going  to  a feast. 

When  he  came  forth  to  the  hurdle  which  was  prepared  for  him, 
seeing  a vast  crowd  of  people,  who  were  come  thither  to  accompany 
him  to  Tyburn y he  took  that  occasion  to  declare  to  them,  with  a loud 
voice,  the  sanctity  of  the  Catholic  faith,  and  the  necessity  of  holding 
this  faith  in  order  to  eternal  salvation.  Then  he  laid  himself  down 
upon  the  hurdle,  and  whilst  he  was  tied  down  upon  it,  as  well  as 
during  the  whole  way  to  Tyburn^  he  employed  his  soul  in  prayer. 
When  he  was  taken  off  the  hurdle  and  put  into  the  cart,  a minister 
offered  to  trouble  him  with  some  questions  about  religion,  but  the 
confessor  of  Christ  would  not  hearken  to  him.  But  after  having 
made  a profession  of  his  faith,  he  declared  he  was  most  willing  to 
die  for  so  good  a cause,  viz.^  for  his  faith  and  priesthood,  and  for 
aiding  and  assisting,  by  his  priestly  functions,  the  souls  of  his 
neighbours.  He  also,  upon  that  occasion,  'declared  the  Promise^ 
or  Vow  that  he  had  lately  made  to  enter  into  the  Society  of  Jesus ^ as 
Father  Moor  expresses  it;  or.  That  he  was  a novice  of  that  Society^ 
as  Tannerus  words  it.  And  at  the  pronouncing  of  that  holy  name 
of  Jesus  the  cart  was  drawn  away ; and  he  hanged  till  he  expired.  He 
was  afterwards  cut  down,  bowelled,  and  quartered. 

He  suffered  April  20,  1602. 


[ 1603.  ] 

In  the  beginning  of  this  year  one  bishop  of  Ireland,  four  fathers 
of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  sixteen  other  priests,  and  four  Catholic  lay- 
men, prisoners  in  Framlingham  Castle,  were  transported  into  per- 
petual banishment.  The  names  of  the  four  Jesuits  were,  Christopher 
Holiwood,  Roger  Floyd,  Edward  Coffin,  and  Ralph  Brickley.  The 
sixteen  priests  of  the  secular  clergy  were  Lewis  Barlow,  the  first 
missioner  from  the  Seminaries,  Edward  Hughes,  Christopher  Driland, 
Leonard  Hide,  Robert  Woodraff,  William  Chaddock,  Thomas  Haber  ley, 
William  Clarjenet,  Francis  Robinson,  Thomas  Thursley  (these  ten 
went  to  Doway  to  visit  their  old  mother-house,  and  made  some  stay 

* Sponsionem  professus  qua  se  nuper  Societati  Jesu  devoverat. 
(Moms,  Historia  Societ.  Provincice  Anglicajice .)  Se  Societatis  Jesu  novitium 
palam  professus.  Historia  Mar tyrum  Societatis.  Prague,  1675.) 

268 


WILLIAM  RICHARDSON 


1603] 

there),  Thomas  Bramston,  John  Bolton ^ N.  Tillotson,  John  Gray, 
Robert  Barns^  and  N.  K7iight. 

This  same  year  also  were  banished,  Father  William  Weston ^ S.J., 
after  many  years’  imprisonment;  Father  John  Roberts,  O.S.B., 
Father  Andrew  Bayly,  O.S.D.,  Father  Bennet  Canfield,  O.Cap., 
Mr.  Anthony  Wright,  and  Mr.  James  West,  priests. 


WILLIAM  RICHARDSON,  alias  ANDERSON, 

Priest. 

This  gentleman  was  the  last  that  suffered  death,  on  account  of 
his  priestly  character,  in  this  reign.  Of  whom  thus  writes  the 
Protestant  historian  Howes  upon  Stow: — ‘ William  Anderson,  a 
Seminary  priest,  was  drawn  to  Tyburn  upon  the  17th  of  February, 
and  there  hanged,  bowelled,  and  quartered  for  being  found  in 
England,  contrary  to  the  statute  of  the  27th  of  Elizabeth.''  He  was 
born  at  Vales,  in  Yorkshire;  had  his  education  abroad,  first  in  Doway 
College,  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes,  from  whence  he  was  sent 
into  Spain  in  1592,  and  then  in  the  Colleges  of  Valladolid  and  Seville, 
in  the  latter  of  which  he  was  made  priest.  Other  particulars  of  his 
apprehension,  trial,  and  death  I have  not  found. 

Five  weeks  after  Mr.  Richardson's  death,  the  Queen  herself  was 
called  to  the  bar,  to  take  her  trial  before  the  Great  Judge.  She  died 
on  the  24th  of  March,  after  having  reigned  forty- four  years,  four 
months,  and  seven  days. 


269 


PART  II 

1603-1684 


MEMOIRS 

MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 

PART  II,  1603-1684. 


AS  soon  as  Queen  Elizabeth  was  dead,  James ^ the  sixth  of  that 
name,  King  of  Scotland,  was  proclaimed  King  of  England, 
under  whom  the  Catholics  hoped  for  better  times.  And  in 
effect,  not  long  after  his  accession  to  the  throne,  several  recusants 
of  the  best  rank  were  by  order  of  His  Majesty  sent  for  to  Hampton 
Court,  and  were  there  told  (by  his  special  direction  to  some  of  the 
Lords  of  the  Council)  that  henceforth  he  was  resolved  to  exonerate  the 
Catholics  of  England  of  the  usual  fine  or  payment  of  £20  a month 
for  recusancy;  which  favour  they  should  so  long  enjoy  as  their 
behaviour  towards  the  King  and  State  was  without  contempt ; and 
when  the  Catholics  humbly  desired  to  know  whether  their  recusancy 
would  not  be  interpreted  contempt,  they  were  assured  it  would  not, 
and  were  ordered  to  signify  as  much  to  all  of  that  profession.  See 
a small  tract  called  The  Lay  Catholics'  Petition  for  Priests,  etc.,  chap.  i. 

As  to  the  priests,  also,  many  of  them  who  were  in  confinement 
experienced  His  Majesty’s  clemency,  by  being  allowed  to  sue  forth 
their  pardons,  paying  a small  fine  to  the  then  Lord  Chancellor:  so 
that  when  the  King,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  England,  was  told  of 
one  Mr.  Freeman,  put  to  death  at  Warwick  for  taking  orders  in  the 
Church  of  Rome  and  remaining  in  England  contrary  to  the  statute, 
he  said  to  those  about  him  with  some  surprise,  Alas  ! poor  man,  had 
he  not  four  nobles  to  purchase  his  pardon  ? Some  people  looked  upon 
this  as  a jest  upon  a certain  great  minister  of  State;  but  it  was  no 
jesting  matter  for  the  priest,  who  was  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered 
according  to  sentence.  See  Protestants'  Plea  for  Priests  and  Papists, 
p.  54.  Of  this  Mr.  Freeman  I have  found  no  farther  particulars, 
nor  any  mention  of  him  in  any  of  our  Catalogues,  unless  he  be  the 

273  s 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1604 


same  as  ^Ir.John  Sugar,  priest,  who  suffered  at  Warwick,  July  16, 
1604,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter. 

But  it  was  not  long  before  the  Catholics  were  made  sensible 
that  however  the  persecution  might  in  some  measure  be  abated,  it 
was  not  to  cease.  For  upon  the  22d  of  February,  1603-4,  King 
‘ sent  forth  a proclamation,  strictly  commanding  all  priests  to 
depart  the  realm  before  the  19th  of  March,  upon  pain  of  having 
the  laws  executed  against  them  without  the  least  favour  or  mercy; 
and  at  the  same  time  giving  orders  to  the  deputy  lieutenants, 
justices  of  the  peace,  and  other  magistrates,  to  be  vigilant  in  their 
several  posts,  and  to  use  great  diligence  for  the  discovering  and 
apprehending  of  all  such  as,  contrary  to  the  aforesaid  proclamation, 
should  presume  to  remain  in  the  kingdom  after  the  said  19th  of 
March.  And  as  to  those  priests  who  at  that  time  were  already  in 
prison,  his  Majesty,  in  the  same  proclamation,  signifies  that  he  hath 
given  orders  for  their  being  shipped  off  at  some  convenient  port,  and 
for  ever  banished  the  kingdom.’  See  Howe's  Chronicle,  p.  834. 

Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  September,  we  find  twenty-one 
priests  and  three  laymen  taken  out  of  divers  prisons,  by  a warrant 
from  the  Lords  of  the  Council,  and  put  on  board  a ship  to  be  trans- 
ported into  perpetual  banishment;  notwithstanding  that  many  of 
them  had  his  Majesty’s  pardon  to  shew,  since  which  they  had  not 
been  convicted  of  any  new  offence  punishable  by  the  laws  of  the 
land  with  perpetual  banishment  (as  they  tell  the  Lords  of  the 
Council  in  their  letter  from  the  seaside,  dated  September  24,  1604). 
And  not  a few  of  them  had  voluntarily  delivered  themselves  up 
pursuant  to  a proclamation  set  forth  by  the  late  Queen,  not  long 
before  her  death,  giving  assurance  of  pardon  to  all  such  priests  as 
should  deliver  themselves  up  to  the  civil  magistrate,  and  at  the 
same  time  give  proofs  of  their  allegiance  to  her  Majesty,  both  which 
conditions  these  men  had  punctually  fulfilled;  and  therefore  they 
thought  themselves  now  hardly  used,  as  they  signified  in  the  fore- 
said  letter,  a copy  of  which  I have  now  by  me,  in  the  Manuscript 
Collections  relating  to  the  Sujferings  of  the  English  Catholics,  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Knaresborough,  whose  labours  have  been  of  no  small  service 
to  me,  especially  with  regard  to  this  and  the  following  reign. 

But  the  severities  exercised  against  Catholics  did  not  stop  here ; 
for  all  the  sanguinary  laws  enacted  by  Queen  Elizabeth  were  from 
time  to  time  put  in  execution  by  this  King,  during  the  greatest 
part  at  least  of  his  reign,  as  we  shall  see  anon.  The  first,  whose 
name  occurs  in  our  Catalogues,  who  suffered  death  upon  penal 
statutes,  was — 


274 


1604] 


JOHN  SUGAR 


JOHN  SUGAR,  Priest  * 

JOHN  SUGAR  was  born  at  Womhorne,  in  Staffordshire,  of  a 
noted  family  in  those  parts.  He  made  a good  proficiency  in  his 
grammar  studies  at  home  in  his  own  country,  and  then  was  sent 
to  Oxford  to  Merton  College,  where  he  went  through  his  course  of 
philosophy.  And  now  he  was  upon  the  point  of  receiving  his 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts;  but  there  was  an  oath  first  to  be  taken 
of  the  Queen’s  supremacy,  which  he  boggled  at;  and  upon  this 
quitted  the  University.  Yet  I do  not  find  that  he  embraced  forth- 
with the  Catholic  religion.  On  the  contrary,  we  are  told  that  for 
some  time  after  he  exercised  the  office  of  a minister  at  Cank,  in  his 
own  countr}%  and  there  held  forth  against  the  Pope  and  the  Catholic 
faith.  But  the  Father  of  Mercies  did  not  suffer  him  to  continue  long 
in  this  way,  but  by  His  heavenly  light  opened  the  eyes  of  his  soul 
to  see  the  beauty  of  truth,  and  inflamed  his  heart  with  the  love  of  it; 
insomuch  that  he  became  a true  convert  and  a hearty  penitent,  and 
forsaking  all  his  worldly  hopes,  went  abroad  to  Doway,  to  the  English 
College,  where,  after  two  years  spent  in  the  study  of  divinity,  he  was 
made  priest;  and  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1601  to 
labour  there  in  seeking  after  the  lost  sheep. 

‘ After  his  coming  into  England,'*  says  my  old  manuscript,  ‘ he 
travelled  afoot  very  much  in  Warwickshire,  Staffordshire,  and  Wor- 
cestershire, to  serve,  help,  and  comfort  the  meaner  and  poorer  sort 
of  Catholics  with  the  sacraments  of  the  holy  Catholic  Church.  He 
was  in  his  life  chaste  and  innocent,  in  conversation  humble  and  mild, 
in  helping  the  poor  and  distressed  pitiful  and  charitable,  in  his  diet 
very  spare  and  temperate,  and  in  prayer  fervent  and  continual. 

‘ In  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of  King  James  in  England,  Mr. 
Burgoyne,  a Justice  in  the  county  of  Warwick,  on  the  8th  day  of 
July,  being  Relic  Sunday,  sent  a warrant  to  search  the  house  of  a 
Catholic  dwelling  in  Romington,  for  the  apprehension  of  a Seminary 
priest.  And  the  searchers  finding  none  there,  went  to  search  in 
the  same  town  the  house  of  Robei't,  Henry,  and  Ambrose  Grissold 
(or  Greswold),  three  unmarried  brethren.  Catholics,  for  many  years 
living  and  keeping  house  together.  And  in  searching  thereof,  a 
constable  called  Richard  Smith,  and  one  Clement  Grissold,  nephew 

* Ven.  John  Sugar,  or  Suker. — From  Arnoldus  Raissius  in  his  Catalogue 
of  the  Douay  Martyrs,  printed  in  1630;  and  from  an  old  Manuscript  relation 
of  his  martyrdom  sent  me  from  Warwickshire;  see  also  Camm,  Forgotten 
Shrines. 


275 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1604 


to  the  three  aforesaid  brethren,  apprehended  on  the  highway  Mr. 
Sugar  for  a Seminary  priest,  as  he  was  going  with  a Catholic  serving- 
man,  nephew  to  the  aforesaid  three  brethren,  and  cousin  to  the  said 
Clement;  who  with  the  constable  and  one  John  Williams  brought 
both  him  and  Mr.  Sugar  to  Mr.  Burgoyne  the  Justice,  who  examined 
them  and  sent  them  to  prison  at  Warwick;  where  they  lay  together 
a whole  year,  and  suffered  imprisonment. 

‘ And  at  the  assizes  holden  at  Warwick  the  13th  and  14th  of 
July,  in  the  second  year  of  King  James  his  reign  in  England,  Mr.  Sugar 
was  arraigned,  and  by  Judge  Kingsmill  condemned  to  be  hanged, 
drawn,  and  quartered  for  being  a Seminary  priest.  In  the  morning 
when  he  was  to  suffer  death,  he  said  to  his  friends  that  came  to  visit 
him.  Be  ye  all  merry,  for  we  have  not  occasion  of  sorrow  hut  of  joy; 
for  although  I shall  have  a sharp  dinner,  yet  I trust  in  Jesus  Christ 
I shall  have  a most  sweet  supper.  He  also  desired  God  to  forgive 
the  Judge  and  all  his  apprehenders  and  persecutors.  As  he  was 
drawn  on  the  hurdle  to  the  place  of  his  martyrdom,  he  gave  money 
to  fifty  poor  folks,  and  prayed  very  devoutly.  An  English  minister 
at  the  gallows  asked  him  how  he  did  believe.  His  answer  was,  I 
believe  as  my  mother  the  Catholic  Church  doth.  Then  he  demanded 
of  the  minister  who  it  was  that  first  converted  our  country,  when  it 
was  called  Britain,  to  the  Catholic  religion:  to  whom  the  minister 
answered,  I never  heard  this  question  asked  before:  but  who  con- 
verted it,  say  you  ? Mr.  Sugar  told  him  that  it  was  the  successor 
of  St.  Peter  the  apostle,  viz..  Pope  Eleutherius,  who  sent  Damianus 
and  Fugatius,  two  learned  and  godly  men,  by  whom  Lucius,  King  of 
Britain,  and  his  people  received  the  true  Christian  Catholic  faith  and 
religion.  But  this  new  religion,  said  he,  crept  into  this  country  in  the 
time  of  King  Henry  VHI. 

‘ After  this  he  was  a good  while  on  his  knees,  and  prayed:  and 
that  being  done,  he  was  stripped  to  his  shirt ; and  going  up  the  ladder 
he  said,  I thank  God  I can  climb  pretty  well  to-day.  As  he  stood  upon 
the  ladder,  he  very  cheerfully  said  to  the  people,  Be  it  knowii  unto 
you,  good  people,  that  I come  hither  to  die  for  my  conscience.  The 
Under- Sheriff  answered.  Thou  diest  not  for  thy  conscience,  but  for 
treason.  To  which  he  replied.  You  do  me  wrong;  there  is  none  can 
touch  me  for  treason,  it  is  for  conscience  I die.  Then  a boy  of  about 
eighteen  years  of  age  put  the  rope  about  his  neck.  The  martyr 
blessed  the  rope  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  saying,  I came  into  the 
world  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  with  the  sign  of  the  cross  I go  out 
of  it  again.  How  dost  thou  prove  that?  said  the  Under- Sheriff ; 
for  thou  wast  not  born  with  the  sign  of  the  cross.  I make  account, 

276 


1604] 


JOHN  SUGAR 


said  Mr.  Sugar ^ that  I was  not  in  this  world  as  a Christian  till  I was 
signed  with  the  sign  of  the  cross  in  baptism ; for  then  I first  received 
my  spiritual  birth.  Afterwards  the  Under- Sheriff  willed  him  to  pray 
for  the  King,  to  whom  he  said,  / never  denied  to  pray  for  him;  and 
thereupon  he  prayed  thus:  God  bless  the  King^  the  Queen,  the  young 
Prince,  and  all  the  Council;  God  forgive  the  Judge,  the  Justice  Mr. 
Burgoyne,  and  all  that  did  apprehend  me;  and  you  too  (looking  on  the 
Sheriff),  as  I would  that  God  should  forgive  me.  Then  the  hangman 
said,  I pray  you,  good  father,  forgive  me  too.  I forgive  thee,  hoy, 
with  all  my  heart,  said  he.  Then  looking  on  the  people  with  a 
cheerful  countenance,  he  said  to  them.  Good  people,  I die  willingly, 
for  I shall  get  a place  of  joy;  and  I beseech  Jesus  to  receive  my  soul,  and 
I beseech  all  the  company  of  angels,  martyrs,  and  saints  to  accompany  my 
soul  to  that  blessed  place.  I desire  to  he  dissolved  and  to  he  with  Christ, 
and  I beseech  God  that  all  that  are  present  may  be  partakers  of  that  joy 
to  which  I am  going.  Then  he  desired  our  blessed  Saviour  to  receive 
his  soul,  saying,  Jesus,  Jesus,  receive  my  soul;  unto  which  the  people 
answered,  Amen,  Amen.  Lastly,  being  asked  if  he  was  ready,  viz., 
to  die,  he  said,  I am  ready  in  Jesus.  Thereupon  he  was  turned  off 
the  ladder,  and  was  cut  down  before  he  was  fully  dead;  then  was 
opened;  his  bowels  were  burnt,  his  head  was  cut  off,  his  body  was 
quartered,  and  his  quarters  were  set  up  on  the  gates  of  Warwick. 
Thus  he,  having  willingly,  cheerfully,  and  constantly  suffered  death 
for  his  priestly  function,  and  for  the  profession  of  the  Catholic  religion 
of  Christ,  hath  thereby  obtained  a crown  of  eternal  glory  in  heaven; 
for  our  Lord  saith  {Apoc.  ii.).  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I will 
give  thee  the  crown  of  life.' 

He  suffered  16,  1604. 


ROBERT  GRISSOLD,  or  GRESWOLD, 
Layman.* 

Robert  GRISSOLD,  who  was  bom  at  Romington  in  War- 
wickshire, and  was  servant  to  Air.  Sheldo7i,  of  Broadway,  in 
Worcestershire,  was,’  says  my  manuscript,  ‘ simple  and  upright 
in  his  actions;  unlearned,  but  enlightened  with  the  Holy  Ghost; 
feared  God,  hated  sin,  led  a single  life  and  chaste;  was  kind  to  his 

* Ven.  Robert  Grissold,  or  Greswold. — From  an  ancient  Manuscript 
relation  of  his  martyrdom,  of  which  I have  a copy  sent  me  out  of  Warwick- 
shire; see  also  Camm,  Forgotten  Shrines. 

277 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1604 


friends,  mild  in  conversation,  devout  in  prayer,  bold  and  constant 
in  professing  the  Catholic  religion,  and  heartily  loved  and  reverenced 
Catholic  priests.  When  his  cousin,  Clement  Grissold  apprehended 
him  going  upon  the  way  with  Mr.  Sugar,  he  said  to  him.  Cousin,  if 
you  will  go  your  way  you  may.  I will  not,  answered  he,  except  I 
may  have  my  friend  with  me.  Then  the  constable,  Richard  Smith, 
or  his  cousin,  said.  That  you  shall  not,  for  he  is  a stranger,  and  I 
will  carry  him  before  Mr.  Burgoyne.  Then,  said  he,  I will  go 
with  him  to  Mr.  Burgoyne;  for  he  knoweth  me  very  well,  and  I hope 
he  will  do  my  friend  no  wrong,  when  he  heareth  me  speak.  There- 
upon he  went  with  Mr.  Sugar  (who  was  then  called  Mr.  Cox)  to  the 
Justice,  Mr.  Burgoyne,  who,  after  examination,  sent  them  both  to  the 
prison  of  Warwick,  where  Robert  Grissold  had  occasion  offered  him 
to  get  away;  yet  for  the  love  of  Mr.  Sugar,  and  zeal  for  martyrdom, 
he  would  not,  but  there,  with  Mr.  Sugar,  remained  a whole  year,  and 
with  him  suffered  imprisonment,  and  afterwards  death. 

‘ In  the  second  year  of  King  James  in  England,  and  upon  the 
14th  day  oijuly,  at  the  assizes  holden  at  Warwick,  he,  being  arraigned, 
was  asked  by  the  Judge  Kingsmill  if  he  would  go  to  church  } to 
whom  he  answered,  I will  not,  my  lord.  Then  thou  shalt  be  hanged, 
quoth  the  Judge.  I beseech  you,  my  Lord,  let  me  have  justice,  and 
let  the  country  know  wherefore  I die.  Thou  shalt  have  justice,  I 
warrant  thee,  said  the  Judge,  and  the  country  shall  know  that  thou 
diest  for  felony.  Wherein,  quoth  he,  have  I committed  felony  } 
Thou  hast  committed  felony,  saith  the  judge,  in  being  in  the  com- 
pany, in  assisting,  and  relieving  a Seminary  priest,  that  is,  a traitor. 
I have  not  therein  committed  felony,  answered  he.  Then  a Justice 
of  Peace  said  to  him,  Grissold,  Grissold,  go  to  church,  or  else,  God 
judge  me,  thou  shalt  be  hanged.  Then  God’s  will  be  done,  quoth  he. 
After  that  the  Judge  asked  him  again  if  he  would  go  to  church  } I 
have  answered  you,  my  Lord,  enough  for  that  matter — I will  not. 
Then  thou  shalt  be  hanged,  said  the  Judge.  I crave  no  favour  of 
you,  my  Lord,  in  this  action,  answered  he.  What,  said  the  Judge 
in  a great  rage,  dost  thou  crave  no  favour  at  my  hands  } No,  my 
Lord,  said  he,  I crave  no  favour  at  your  hands  in  this  action.  There- 
upon the  Judge  afterwards  condemned  him  to  be  hanged  for  accom- 
panying, assisting,  and  relieving  a Seminary  priest,  and  while  he 
pronounced  judgment  against  him,  he  faltered  in  his  speech  and 
trembled  with  his  hands.  The  next  day  after  the  Judge  had  con- 
demned him,  he  sent  to  him  in  his  chamber,  where  he  proffered  him 
life,  if  he  would  promise  him  to  go  to  church;  which  he  utterly 
refused. 


278 


1604] 


ROBERT  GRISSOLD 


‘ In  the  morning,  before  he  suffered  death,  he  continued  an  hour 
in  prayer,  and  requested  of  all  the  Catholics  to  say  a Pater  and  Ave 
for  him  in  the  honour  of  God  and  of  St.  Catherine  his  patroness, 
that  by  the  intercession  of  that  blessed  virgin  and  martyr  he  might 
obtain  of  God  courage  and  fortitude  to  suffer  death.  And  seeing  a 
Catholic  woman  in  the  prison  weeping  for  his  death,  he  said  to  her. 
Good  woman,  why  do  you  weep?  Here  is  no  place  of  weeping  hut  of 
rejoicing,  for  you  must  come  into  the  Bridegroom^ s chamber  not  with 
tears,  hut  with  rejoicing.  The  woman  answered,  I hoped  you  should 
have  had  your  life.  I do  not  want  it  now,  said  he,  for  I should  be 
loth  to  lose  this  opportunity  offered  me  to  die;  but  yet,  God’s  will 
be  done.  Then  a Catholic  maid  said.  It  is  well  said,  friend  Robert, 
for  it  is  nothing  to  suffer  death  for  so  good  a cause.  Whereupon  he 
said  to  the  Catholics  there  present.  Look  that  ye  all  continue  to  the 
end. 

‘ As  he  was  going  on  foot  to  the  gallows,  one  willed  him  to  go  a 
fair  way,  and  not  to  follow  through  the  mire  Mr.  Sugar,  who  was 
drawn  on  the  sledge  before  him,  to  whom  he  made  answer:  I have 
not  thus  far  followed  him  to  leave  him  now  for  a little  mire.  And  so 
through  the  mire  he  went  after  him.  When  he  came  to  the  place 
of  his  martyrdom,  for  a good  while  he  prayed  very  devoutly  on  his 
knees ; and  although  he  was  by  nature  so  timorous  and  weak  that  he 
once  swooned  at  the  sight  of  his  thumb  being  only  pricked  with  an 
awl,  yet  at  the  gallows  he  was,  by  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  so 
much  strengthened,  that  at  the  sight  of  Mr.  Sugar's  bleeding  body, 
when  quartered,  he  was  no  way  terrified,  but,  on  the  contrary,  was 
so  stout  and  courageous,  that  when  a Catholic  woman  stepped 
between  him  and  Mr.  Sugar's  dead  body  whilst  it  was  in  quartering, 
lest  the  sight  should  terrify  him,  he  took  her  by  the  arm,  saying. 
Stand  away,  for  I thank  God  the  sight  doth  nothing  terrify  me. 

‘ Afterwards  the  Under- Sheriff  said  to  him,  Grissold,  thou  dost 
thyself  wrong,  for  thou  art  guilty  of  thy  own  death.  No,  quoth  he, 
sir,  you  do  me  wrong  in  keeping  me  so  long  alive  after  Mr.  Sugar, 
for  I should  have  suffered  with  him,  and  I only  desire  to  be  with  him. 
Then  seeing  the  halter  with  which  he  was  to  be  hanged  lying  on  the 
ground,  he  was  exceeding  glad,  and  giving  God  thanks,  he  went  and 
dipped  it  in  Mr.  Sugar's  blood;  and  going  up  the  ladder  he  said  to 
the  people.  Bear  witness,  good  people,  that  I die  here  not  for  theft, 
nor  for  felony,  but  for  my  conscience.  Then  he  freely  forgave  all 
his  persecutors,  and  the  hangman,  and  devoutly  said  his  Confiteor, 
often  calling  upon  the  name  of  Jesus.  Lastly,  he  commended  his 
soul  into  the  hands  of  Almighty  God;  and  so  being  turned  off  the 

279 


Memoirs  of  missionary  priests  [1604 


ladder,  he  hanged  until  he  was  quite  dead.  His  dead  body,  by  the 
Under-Sheriff’s  permission,  was  buried  near  the  gallows.  And  thus 
this  blessed  martyr  for  the  short  transitory  pain  of  death,  which  he 
willingly  suffered  for  a work  of  charity,  and  for  the  professing  the 
Catholic  religion,  hath  gotten  everlasting  joy  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.  So  far  the  author  of  the  manuscript  relation  of  his  death, 
who  seems  to  have  been  an  eyewitness  of  his  and  Mr.  Sugar^s 
sufferings,  or  at  least  to  have  had  his  information  from  eyewitnesses. 

He  suffered  Jw/jv  i6,  1604. 


LAURENCE  BAILY,  Layman  * 

Laurence  BAILY  was  a Catholic  layman,  wRo  was  appre- 
hended in  Lancashire,  for  having  been  aiding  and  assisting  to 
a priest,  who  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  pursuivants,  and 
had  made  his  escape  from  them.  For  this  supposed  offence  he  was 
cast  into  prison,  where,  as  we  are  told  by  Molanus  in  his  Catalogue, 
p.  77,  he  suffered  much  with  great  patience  and  constancy;  and 
being  brought  upon  his  trial,  was  condemned  to  die  as  in  case  of 
felony,  by  the  statute  of  the  27th  of  Elizabeth.  He  was  executed  at 
Lancaster,  Dr.  Worthington  says  sometime  in  August;  but  Molanus 
says  it  was  on  the  i6th  of  September  1604. 


[ 1605. ] 

THOMAS  WELBOURN,  JOHN  FULTHERING, 
and  WILLIAM  BROWN,  Laymen.f 

Thomas  WELBOURN  was  a schoolmaster,  a native  of  Kiten- 
bushel,  in  Yorkshire;  and  John  Fulthering  was  a layman  of  the 
same  county,  who  being  zealous  Catholics,  and  industrious  in 
exhorting  some  of  their  neighbours  to  embrace  the  Catholic  faith, 
were  upon  that  account  arraigned  and  condemned  to  suffer  as  in 

* Ven.  Laurence  Baily.  — From  Dr.  Worthington’s  Catalogue  of 
Martyrs,  published  in  1614;  see  also  Gillow. 

f Ven.  Thomas  Welbourne,  John  Fulthering,  and  William  Brown. — 
From  the  Catalogues  of  English  Martyrs;  see  also  Foley,  Records,  iii. 

280 


THOMAS  WELBOURN,  ETC. 


1605] 

cases  of  high  treason;  as  was  also  William  Brown ^ another  zealous 
Catholic  layman,  a native  of  Northamptonshire y convicted  of  the 
same  offence.  They  all  were  executed  according  to  sentence;  Mr. 
Welbourn  diiid  M.r . Fulthering  at  Yorky  the  ist  of  August,  1605;  Mr. 
Brown  at  Ripon,  the  5th  of  September,  the  same  year. 

This  year  on  the  5th  of  November  was  discovered  that  horrid  plot, 
commonly  called  Gunpowder  Treason;  by  which  Catesby  and  some 
few  others,  his  accomplices,  designed  to  have  blown  up  the  Parlia- 
ment House,  which,  though  it  were  indeed  a most  wicked  and 
detestable  enterprise  for  which  the  conspirators  were  justly  pun- 
ished, is  most  unjustly  urged  against  Catholics  in  general.  For  why 
should  the  wickedness  of  a handful  of  men,  whose  doings  were  both 
then  and  ever  since  abhorred  by  the  whole  body  of  Catholics,  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  be  laid  to  the  charge  of  such  as  had  no  more 
hand  in  the  guilt  than  the  apostles  had  in  the  treason  of  Judas  ? 

’Tis  more  than  probable  that  this  was  originally  a ministerial 
plot,  set  on  foot  by  Cecil,  then  Secretary  of  State.  ‘ Some  have  been 
of  opinion,’  says  the  author  of  the  Political  Grammar,  lately  published 
(p.  46),  ‘ that  the  Gunpowder  Plot  in  the  reign  of  James  I.  was  of 
the  same  alloy  [a  ministerial  plot] ; and  the  awkward  manner  in 
which  the  letter  was  sent  to  Lord  Mounteagle  the  night  before  the 
execution  seems  to  confirm  it,  but  much  more  the  papers  of  the  then 
minister,  which  have  but  lately  appeared,  by  which  the  whole  affair 
is  brought  to  light.  For  it  is  evident  by  those  papers  that  the 
minister  was  acquainted  with  the  conspirators’  journal  from  the 
beginning,  so  that  he  might  have  easily  stifled  the  design  in  its 
infancy ; but  that  would  not  quadrate  with  his  principal  design,  which 
was  to  divert  King  James  from  making  any  approaches  towards 
popery,  to  which  he  seemed  to  be  inclinable  in  the  minister’s  opinion, 
by  engaging  some  papists  in  a desperate  and  horrid  plot  to  destroy 
both  King  and  Parliament.  This  was  the  original  of  that  affair, 
which  has  filled  the  kingdom  with  astonishment  for  above  a whole 
century.’  So  far  this  author,  who  is  not  the  only  one,  nor  the  first 
by  a great  many,  who  has  been  of  this  opinion,  since  Mr.  Osborn 
has  informed  the  world  long  ago  (p.  34),  that  this  plot  was,  as  he 
terms  it,  a neat  device  of  the  Secretary;  and  King  James  the  First 
himself  was  so  sensible  of  it,  that  he  used  to  call  the  5th  of  November 
CeciVs  Holiday. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1606 


[ 1606.  ] 

This  year  no  less  than  forty-seven  priests  were  from  different 
piisons  sent  into  perpetual  banishment:  their  names  are  recorded 
in  the  Doway  Diary  as  follows: — 


PRIESTS  BANISHED  IN  l6o6. 


Thomas  Bramston. 
Philip  Woodward. 
Abraham  Sutton. 
William  Singleton. 
Silvester  Norrice,  D.D. 
Richard  Grisold. 
Thomas  Burscough. 
Nicholas  Jees. 

Ralph  Buckland. 
George  Stransham. 
Francis  Stafferton. 
Francis  Forster. 
Anthony  Rouse. 

John  Roberts. 

Henry  Chaterton. 
Simon  Potinger. 


Thomas  Flint. 
Humfrey  Meridale. 
William  Clarjenet. 
Thomas  Hodson. 
Thomas  Thoresby. 
William  Arton. 
Christopher  Lass  els. 
Charles  Newport. 
Richard  Newport. 
John  Lloyd. 

Robert  Bastard. 
Edward  Dawson. 
Robert  Walsh,  Hibern. 
John  Hall. 

Hugh  Whitall. 

John  Starkey. 


John  Copley. 

Fulk  Nevile. 

John  Siclemore. 
George  Gervase. 
Thomas  Garnet. 
James  Blundel. 
Thomas  Laithwait. 
Thomas  Stanney. 
Robert  Bradshaw. 
Thomas  Green. 
Thomas  Butler. 
Edward  Collier. 

N.  Pierson. 

Andrew  White. 

N.  Nightingal. 


And  with  them  were  banished  two  others  not  yet  priests,  viz., 
William  Alabaster  and  Hugh  Bowens.  The  same  diary  takes  notice, 
December  23,  that  Thomas  Bramston,  the  first  named  in  this  catalogue, 
died  at  Doway  College,  aged  sixty-six,  after  having  been  twenty  years 
a prisoner  in  Wisbeach  Castle  for  his  faith,  and  twice  banished. 


HENRY  GARNET,  Priest,  SJ  * 

Henry  garnet  was  bom  in  the  year  1554,  as  some  say  in 
Derbyshire,  or  as  others  will  have  it  at  Nottingham,  where  his 
father,  Mr.  Brian  Garnet,  was  a schoolmaster.  He  had  his 
first  education  in  the  college  of  William  of  Wickham,  in  Winchester , 
where  he  was  looked  upon  as  the  most  hopeful  youth  in  the  house ; 

* While  the  causes  of  Father  Oldcorne  and  of  the  two  lay-brother 
serv'ants  Nicholas  Owen  and  Ralph  Ashley  have  been  admitted  for  beatifi- 
cation, so  that  they  are  Venerables;  the  cause  of  Father  Henry  Garnet  has 
been  postponed.  The  reason  is  that  when  the  cases  were  first  discussed 
at  Rome,  the  Promotor  Fidei  took  objection  to  the  story  above  recited,  and 

282 


i6o6] 


HENRY  GARNET 


and  was  to  have  been  sent  from  thence  to  New  College^  Oxford  ; 
but  disliking  the  Protestant  religion,  he  chose  rather  to  be  reconciled 
to  the  Catholic  Church,  and  travelled  abroad  first  into  Spain ^ and 
from  thence  to  Rome.  He  there  entered  into  the  Society  of  Jesiis^ 
anno  1571.  After  he  had  finished  his  noviceship,  he  applied  himself 
close  to  his  studies,  and  having  the  advantage  of  the  best  masters, 
both  in  divine  and  human  sciences,  such  as  Bellarmine,  Suarez^ 
PereriiiSy  Clavius,  &c.,  he  became  a great  proficient  in  all  kind  of 
learning,  yet  so  as  not  to  neglect  the  better  part,  by  a serious  atten- 
tion to  the  science  of  the  saints,  the  study  of  Christian  and  religious 
perfection.  He  was  for  some  time  professor  of  the  Hebrew 
language  in  the  Roman  college  of  the  Society,  and  then  publicly 
taught  metaphysics.  He  also  supplied  for  a while  the  place  of  the 
celebrated  Clavius  in  the  school  of  mathematics;  till  in  the  year  1586, 
having  long  aspired  after  the  English  mission,  he  was  sent  with 
Father  Robert  Southwell  to  labour  in  this  vineyard. 

Two  years  after  his  arrival  in  England,  Father  William  Weston, 
the  superior  of  the  English  Jesuits,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
persecutors,  and  being  committed  to  prison.  Father  Garnet  was 
pitched  upon  as  the  most  proper  to  succeed  in  that  superiority. 
And  from  that  time  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  Gunpowder  Plot,  so 


in  particular  to  the  words  “ there  is  but  one  man  upon  earth,  who  can  prove 
that  I had  (knowledge  of  the  plot).”  The  words  might  not  be  a breach  of 
the  seal,  but  they  did  not  seem  consistent  with  the  heroic  virtue  necessary 
for  the  beatification  of  a martyr  for  the  seal  of  confession.  So  while  he  did 
not  vote  directly  against  Garnet’s  admission,  he  held  himself  as  neutral 
in  its  regard.  The  advocate  of  the  martyr  was  unable  to  clear  up 
this  doubt,  and  so  the  Sacred  Congregation,  following  the  Promotor’s 
verdict,  would  not  pass  Garnet  to  go  on  for  beatification,  though  not  deciding 
positively  against  him. 

But  though  the  story  told  by  Challoner  was  contemporary  in  date,  the 
opening  of  the  Record  Office  has  shown  that,  as  regards  the  words  now 
under  discussion,  it  is  not  authentic.  The  original  reports  of  the 
listeners  are  extant,  signed  by  themselves;  and  they  are  supported  by  an 
independent  report  by  Father  Oldcorne,  who  was  called  upon  to  set  down 
what  he  remembered  of  his  conferences  with  Garnet.  The  reports  are  all 
printed  in  Foley’s  Records,  iv.,  pp.  148  to  153  and  228  to  232.  But  neither 
the  words  to  which  objection  was  taken,  nor  any  of  like  significance  can  be 
there  found.  Critically  considered,  therefore,  the  objection  loses  its  force; 
and  we  may  hope  that  when  Garnet’s  cause  can  be  again  re-opened,  a 
favourable  view  will  be  taken  of  his  claim  to  martyrdom.  (The  words 
“ No  living  man  could  touch  him  but  one  ” are  found  in  Father  John 
Gerard’s  early  Narrative  of  the  Gunpowder  Plot,  published  in  1871  by 
Father  John  Morris  in  his  Condition  of  Catholics  under  James  I.  Gerard 
wrote  in  1606). — Editor. 


283 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1606 


behaved  himself  in  that  post  as  to  be  very  much  esteemed  and  loved 
by  all  those  whom  he  had  to  deal  with. 

In  the  year  1603,  Queen  Elizabeth  being  called  out  of  this  world, 
King  James  1.  succeeded  in  the  kingdom.  This  prince  had  given 
great  hopes,  and  even  promises  to  the  Catholics  before  his  coming 
to  the  crown,  that  he  would  put  a stop  to  their  sufferings,  and  grant 
them  some  toleration  at  least  of  their  religion.  But  they  quickly 
found  he  was  not  disposed  to  make  good  these  promises ; and  that 
instead  of  repealing  or  qualifying  any  of  the  penal  statutes  of  Queen 
Elizabeth^  he  gave  way  to  new  laws  and  additional  severities,  enacted 
against  all  professors  of  the  ancient  religion.  The  generality  of  the 
Catholics  of  the  nation,  though  much  disappointed  in  their  hopes, 
submitted  their  shoulders  to  this  new  cross  after  so  many  others 
they  had  endured,  and  disposed  themselves  to  bear  it  with  Christian 
patience.  But  some  few  there  were  (and  indeed  very  few,  for  I 
can  find  but  thirteen  or  fourteen  in  all,  including  such  as  were 
any  ways  conscious),  men  unworthy  of  the  name  of  Catholics,  who, 
being  exasperated  by  their  disappointment,  were  by  degrees  en- 
tangled by  the  artifices  of  Satan,  and  a Machiavellian  politician,  his 
instrument  (designing  thereby  the  ruin  of  the  Catholic  religion  in 
'England)^  in  a most  detestable  conspiracy  to  blow  up  the  Parliament 
House ; which  design  was  to  have  been  executed  at  the  first  meeting 
of  the  Parliament  on  the  5th  of  November^  1605 ; but  was  discovered 
by  a letter  sent  ten  days  before  to  the  Lord  Mounteagle^  a Catholic 
peer,  and  by  him  communicated  to  the  King  and  Council. 

As  to  the  religion  of  the  conspirators,  if  they  had  any,  they  are 
generally  supposed  to  have  been  Catholics;  though  the  author  of 
the  Protestants'  Plea,  published  in  1621,  says,  ‘ They  were  a few 
wicked  and  desperately  minded  men,  whom  many  Protestants 
termed  Papists  ; although  the  true  priests  and  Catholics  of  England 
knew  them  not  to  be  such;  nor  can  any  Protestant,  says  he,  truly 
say  that  any  one  of  them  was  such  a one,  as  their  laws  and  pro- 
ceedings against  us  name  Papists,  Popish  recusants,  or  the  like;’ 
and  he  adds,  ‘ All  these  were  young,  except  Percy,  and  if  any  of 
them  were  Catholics,  or  so  died,  they  were  known  Protestants  not 
long  before,  and  never  frequenters  of  Catholic  sacraments  with  any 
priests,  as  I could  learn.’  So  far  this  author. 

Catesby,  the  chief  of  the  conspirators,  whether  of  his  own  accord 
or  at  the  instigation  of  a certain  minister  of  State,  supposed  to  have 
had  a great  hand  in  the  whole  contrivance  of  this  plot,  and  to  have 
been  particularly  solicitous  to  draw  the  Jesuits  into  some  share  in 
the  odium  of  it,  laid  open  the  design  in  confession  to  Father  Green- 

284 


HENRY  GARNET 


1606] 

way  or  Greenwell,  alias  Tesmond^  a Jesuit.  The  confessor  repre- 
sented to  him  the  wickedness  of  the  project,  but  could  not  prevail 
upon  him  to  desist.  However,  Cateshy  consented  that  Father 
Greenway  should  communicate  the  case  under  the  seal  of  confession 
to  Father  Garnet;  and  if  the  matter  should  otherwise  come  to 
light,  he  gave  leave  that  both  the  one  and  the  other  might  then 
make  use  of  the  knowledge  which  he  thus  imparted  to  them,  and 
not  else.  Father  Garnet  was  struck  with  horror  at  the  proposal, 
and  as  he  could  not  discover  it,  laboured  at  least  to  divert  the  design ; 
and  he  so  far  prevailed,  that  Cateshy  promised  he  would  attempt 
nothing  without  the  knowledge  and  consent  of  the  Holy  See,  which 
Father  Garnet  knew  he  would  never  obtain.  But  the  wretch  still 
went  on  in  his  design,  till  the  plot  was  discovered;  and  then  taking 
arms  with  Percy  and  the  two  Wrights , attended  with  some  servants 
and  a few  others,  being  pursued  by  the  High  Sheriff  of  Warwick- 
shire ^ he  took  shelter  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Humphrey  Littleton y near 
Stourhridgey  and  being  there  attacked  by  the  Sheriff  of  Worcester- 
shirey  he  was  there  slain  with  the  other  three  in  the  conflict ; the  rest 
of  the  conspirators  were  taken,  and  were  all  executed,  excepting 
Mr.  Treshamy  who  died  in  the  Tower. 

Amongst  those  who  were  engaged  in  this  plot  was  one  Bates y 
a servant  of  Cateshy.  This  man,  in  hopes  of  saving  his  own  life, 
insinuated  (probably  at  the  instigation  of  a certain  great  man)  that 
the  JesuitSy  and  in  particular.  Father  Greenway  and  Father  Garnety 
had  some  knowledge  of  the  conspiracy;  of  which  unjust  insinuation 
he  afterwards  repented  himself.  Upon  this  a proclamation  was 
issued  out  (two  months  after  the  discovery  of  the  plot)  for  the  appre- 
hending of  these  two  fathers,  together  with  Father  Gerardy  of  whom 
also  they  had  conceived  some  suspicion.  Greenway  and  Gerard 
fled  beyond  the  seas:  Father  Garnet,  who  was  then  with  Father 
Oldcorne  at  Henlip,  the  seat  of  Mr.  Ahington,  in  Worcestershire,  was 
soon  after  betrayed  by  Mr.  Littleton,  who  being  then  a prisoner  for 
having  harboured  some  of  the  conspirators,  in  hopes  of  saving  his 
own  life,  discovered  where  the  father  was  hid.  Upon  which,  after 
many  days’  search,  both  Father  Garnet  and  Father  Oldcorne  were 
apprehended,  with  their  servants,  John  Owen  and  Ralph  Ashley, 
and  were  carried  to  Worcester,  and  from  thence  by  an  order  of  the 
Council  sent  for  up  to  London,  and  there  committed  first  to  the 
Gatehouse  and  then  to  the  Tower. 

Father  Garnet  was  examined  no  less  than  twenty-three  different 
times,  so  intent  some  people  were  to  bring  him  in,  if  possible,  guilty 
of  some  share  in  the  plot;  yet  with  all  these  examinations  no  suffi- 

285 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1606 


cient  matter  could  be  discovered  to  condemn  him,  nor  could  any 
witnesses  be  found  to  appear  against  him.  At  length  Cecil,  Earl 
of  Salisbury,  who  knew  more  of  the  whole  affair  perhaps  than  any 
man  living,  contrived  to  lodge  Father  Oldcorne  in  a chamber  adjoin-' 
ing  to  Father  Garnet,  where  they  might  through  a chink  converse 
together,  and  be  overheard  by  two  men  whom  he  had  placed  in 
ambuscade  for  that  purpose.  This  stratagem  succeeded  according 
to  his  wish.  Father  Garnet  was  privately  informed  by  his  keeper 
(under  pretence  of  kindness)  that  Father  Oldcorne  might  be  spoke 
with  through  that  chink;  and  he  gladly  embraced  that  opportunity 
of  making  his  confession,  and  conversing  with  his  friend,  little 
suspecting  the  snare  that  was  laid  for  him.  Upon  this  occasion, 
being  asked  by  Father  Oldcorne  whether  he  was  still  examined 
about  the  Plot  } He  answered.  They  have  no  proof  that  I ever  had 
any  knowledge  at  all  of  the  matter  ; and  there  is  but  one  man  upon 
earth  (meaning  Father  Greenway)  who  can  prove  that  I had.^  These 
words  were  heard  by  the  two  spies,  and  were  immediately  carried 
to  the  Council.  Upon  this  Father  Garnet  was  again  examined,  and 
put  upon  the  rack;  where,  when  the  whole  story  was  related  to  him. 
and  what  he  had  been  heard  to  say,  he  acknowledged  he  had  been 
told  of  the  plot  by  Father  Greenway,  but  it  was  under  the  inviolable 
seal  of  confession;  and  that  he  had  both  recommended  to  Father 
Greenway  and  had  used  himself  his  best  endeavours  to  divert  the 
design.  Upon  this  his  confession,  as  they  called  it.  Sir  Edward 
Coke,  the  Attorney- General,  was  ordered  to  draw  up  an  indictment 
of  high  treason  against  him;  and  he  was  brought  to  his  trial  at 
Guildhall,  March  the  28th,  before  the  King’s  delegates;  His  Majesty 
himself  and  many  of  the  nobility  being  present.  His  enemies,  to 
disgrace  him,  had  published  many  falsehoods  of  him;  and  amongst 
the  rest,  that  having  been  kept  watching  for  six  whole  days  and 
nights  (a  new  kind  of  torment  !)  he  had  lost  his  senses : but  this  and 
other  calumnies  were  dissipated  by  his  public  appearance  and 
comportment  at  his  trial.  The  Attorney- General  held  forth  for 
several  hours  in  his  accusation,  bringing  in  all  the  odious  topics  he 
could  against  the  Jesuits  in  general,  to  prejudice  the  jury  against 
the  prisoner,  and  laying  to  their  charge  all  the  plots  and  conspiracies 
of  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign,  but  in  particular  charging  home  upon 
Father  Garnet  the  guilt  of  the  late  conspiracy.  The  father  made  a 
regular  and  excellent  defence,  both  of  his  own  innocence  and  of  his 
Society,  with  that  presence  of  mind  and  that  graceful  modesty,  that 
many  of  the  auditors,  who  came  thither  violently  prepossessed  against 

* See  note,  p.  282. 

286 


i6o6] 


HENRY  GARNET 


him,  were  now  convinced  of  his  innocence;  his  very  countenance, 
which  was  particularly  venerable,  pleading  strongly  in  his  behalf. 
However,  the  Protestant  jury,  either  not  believing  his  plea  that  he 
had  no  knowledge  of  the  plot  but  by  confession,  or  rather  not 
regarding  that  inviolable  secrecy  which  the  Catholic  Church  enjoins 
to  confessors,  brought  in  their  verdict  guilty  ; and  he  received 
sentence  of  death  in  the  usual  form  as  in  cases  of  high  treason. 

He  remained  prisoner  in  the  Tower  after  sentence  for  about  five 
weeks,  and  then  was  ordered  for  execution  on  the  3rd  of  May,  1606, 
He  was  drawn  on  a sledge  from  the  Tower  to  St.  PauVs  Churchyard, 
where  a scaffold  and  gibbet  was  erected  for  the  purpose,  and  an 
innumerable  multitude  of  people  was  assembled.  As  he  was  drawn 
through  the  streets  his  hands  and  eyes  were  lifted  up  towards  heaven, 
where  his  heart  was  fixed.  After  he  was  taken  off  the  sledge,  and 
had  recovered  himself  of  the  dizziness  caused  by  the  jogging  of  that 
incommodious  vehicle,  he  ascended  the  scaffold  and  saluted  the 
crowd  with  a smiling  countenance.  It  was  observed  that  the  mob 
which  had  uttered  many  reviling  speeches  against  him,  calling  him 
by  a thousand  opprobrious  names  before  he  came  to  the  place,  was 
now  struck  dumb  at  his  venerable  aspect,  which  both  spoke  his 
innocence  and  commanded  reverence.  Some  of  the  ministers  that 
were  there  offered  to  persuade  him  to  conform  in  matters  of  religion 
(as,  amongst  other  calumnies,  it  had  been  given  out  that  he  would), 
but  he  declared  he  would  die  in  the  Catholic  faith,  out  of  which 
there  was  no  salvation. 

It  being  the  day  of  the  Invention,  or  Finding  of  the  Cross,  Father 
Garnet  took  occasion  from  thence  to  speak  to  the  people  concerning 
this  cross  which  he  was  to  take  up  that  day,  declaring  withal  his 
innocence  as  to  the  conspiracy,  and  his  having  no  knowledge  of  it 
but  by  confession;  that  as  to  his  part  he  had  always  detested  such 
treasonable  practices,  and  that  he  knew  them  to  be  contrary"  to  the 
sentiments  of  the  Bishop  of  Rome  ; and  he  begged  of  all  Catholics 
never  to  think  of  any  such  attempts,  which  were  entirely  inconsistent 
with  their  religion,  to  fiy  the  conversation  of  uneasy  and  turbulent 
spirits,  and  to  possess  their  souls  in  patience.  Here  Sir  Henry 
Montague,  the  Recorder  of  London,  told  him  he  was  certainly  privy 
to  the  design  out  of  confession.  ‘ Mr.  Cateshy,'  said  he,  ‘ told  you 
of  it  in  private — we  have  it  under  your  hand.’  Whatever  is  under 
my  hand,  said  Father  Garnet,  I will  not  deny  ; hut  indeed  you  have 
not  this  under  my  hand.  Mr.  Catesby  only  acquainted  me  in  general 
terms  that  something  might  be  done  or  was  adoing  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Catholic  cause,  without  specifying  what  it  was  ; and  this  is  all  I had 

287 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1606 


from  him  as  I hope  for  salvation.  ‘ Then,’  said  the  Recorder,  ‘do 
you  ask  the  King’s  pardon  for  concealing  the  treason  ?’  I do,  said 
Father  Garnet,  thus  far  and  no  more,  in  that  I did  not  reveal  the 
suspicions  I had  of  Mr.  Catesby’s  behaviour,  though  at  the  same  time 
I dissuaded  him  from  all  treasonable  attempts.  And  I do  solemnly 
assure  you  had  that  wicked  stratagem  succeeded,  I should  always  have 
detested  both  the  fact  and  the  persons  engaged  in  it. 

After  this  he  was  brought  to  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  where  the 
Recorder  attacked  him  again  upon  the  score  of  Mr.  Catesby,  pretend- 
ing that  they  had  it  under  his  hand  that  he  had  discoursed  with  him 
in  particular  concerning  the  Gunpowder  design,  which  Father 
Garnet  denying,  a gentleman  there  pretended  to  call  for  the  paper, 
but  it  could  not  be  found ; at  which  the  Father  smiling  said,  / believe 
it  never  will  be  found.  Then  being  stripped  to  his  shirt,  he  kneeled 
down  and  prayed  a while  in  silence  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  then 
going  up  some  steps  he  prayed  aloud  for  the  King,  the  Queen, 
the  Prince,  and  all  the  Council,  and  begged  the  blessing  of  God  for 
all  the  spectators,  that  God  might  make  them  all  Roman  Catholics, 
as  the  only  way  to  secure  their  eternal  welfare,  declaring  that  for  his 
own  part  he  died  a Catholic,  and  desired  all  such  to  pray  for  him 
and  with  him.  Then,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  he  said, 
Adoramus  te  Christe,  &c.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  we  bless 
Thee  ; because  by  Thy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed  the  world.  This  sign 
of  the  cross  shall  be  seen  in  heaven  when  the  Lord  shall  come  to  judgment. 
Allelujah.  Then  saluting  the  Blessed  Virgin  with  a short  hymn, 
crossing  his  hands  before  his  breast,  and  recommending  his  de- 
parting soul  into  the  hands  of  his  Creator,  he  was  flung  off  the 
ladder.  The  executioner  three  several  times  attempted  to  cut  the 
rope  before  he  was  dead,  that  he  might  be  butchered  alive  according 
to  sentence.  But  the  people  as  often  cried  out.  Hold,  hold,  hold  ; 
so  much  were  they  moved  by  his  behaviour  to  judge  more  favour- 
ably of  him  than  they  had  done,  and  to  compassionate  his  case. 
And  when  his  head  was  shewn  by  the  executioner,  instead  of  huzzas, 
usual  on  the  like  occasions,  the  people  went  off  in  silence. 

Father  Garnet  suffered  in  the  fifty-first  year  of  his  age,  and  the 
thirtieth  after  his  entering  into  the  Society.  His  head  was  fixed 
on  London  Bridge,  and  it  was  much  remarked  that  his  countenance, 
which  was  always  venerable,  retained  for  above  twenty  days  the  same 
lively  colour  which  it  had  during  life,  which  drew  all  London  to  the 
spectacle,  and  was  interpreted  as  a testimony  of  his  innocence,  as 
was  also  an  image  of  him  wonderfully  formed  on  the  ear  of  a straw, 
on  which  a drop  of  his  blood  had  fallen. 

288 


i6o6]  EDWARD  OLDCORNE  AND  COMPANIONS 


EDWARD  OLDCORNE,  Priest,  SJ.,  NICHOLAS 
OWEN,  and  RALPH  ASHLEY,  Laybrothers, 

SJ.^ 

Edward  OLDCORNE,  known  upon  the  mission  by  the 
name  of  Hally  was  born  in  Yorkshire.  He  performed  his 
studies  abroad,  partly  in  the  College  then  residing  at  Rhemes y 
and  partly  in  that  of  Romey  where  he  remained  above  six  years,  and 
then  was  made  priest  and  sent  upon  the  mission.  Before  he  left 
Rome  he  obtained  of  Father  Claudius  AquavivUy  General  of  the 
JesuitSy  to  be  admitted  into  their  Society,  who  being  fully  satisfied 
with  the  testimonials  of  his  virtuous  life  and  conversation  in  the 
College,  was  willing  to  dispense  with  the  usual  probation,  and 
instead  of  a regular  noviceship  to  appoint  him  this  laborious  and 
dangerous  mission.  He  came  over  into  England  in  the  company 
of  Father  John  Gerardy  lately  admitted  in  like  manner  into  the 
Society  in  the  year  1588,  and  was  sent  by  Father  Garnet y his  superior, 
into  Worcestershire y where  he  laboured  for  about  seventeen  years 
with  admirable  zeal  and  success  in  the  conversion  of  souls.  The 
place  of  his  residence  was  Henlipy  the  seat  of  Mr.  Abington.  This 
gentleman’s  sister,  Mrs.  Dorothy  Abington y having  been  brought  up 
in  Queen  Elizabeth's  court,  was  an  earnest  Protestanty  and  violently 
prejudiced  against  Catholics,  and  especially  against  priests.  Father 
Oldcorne  endeavoured  to  reclaim  her  from  her  errors  and  reconcile 
her  to  the  Catholic  religion,  but  in  vain;  his  arguments  from  Scrip- 
ture and  tradition,  however  strong  in  themselves,  did  not  remove 
her  prejudices,  and  she  seemed  obstinately  resolved  not  to  give  ear 
to  his  remonstrances.  He  was  determined,  therefore,  to  try  an- 
other expedient  to  cast  out  this  deaf  and  dumb  devif  which  was 
fasting  and  prayeTy  and  this  quickly  succeeded.  The  Protestant 
lady  flung  herself  at  his  feet  bathed  in  her  tears,  and  desired  to  be 
received  into  the  Catholic  Church,  which  was  done  accordingly, 
to  her  great  satisfaction. 

Great  were  the  labours  of  this  zealous  missioner  in  Worcestershire y 
and  the  neighbouring  countries,  and  many  the  dangers  he  was  ex- 
posed to,  from  which  sometimes  he  was  delivered  by  a very  extra- 

* Ven.  Edward  Oldcorne,  Nicholas  Owen,  and  Ralph  Ashley. — From 
Father  More’s  History  of  the  English  Province  S.jf.;  Father  Bartoli,  Inghil- 
terrOy  etc,;  see  also  Morris,  Life  of  Gerard  ; TroubleSy  i.,  ii.,  iii.;  Foley, 
Records,  iv. 


289 


T 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1606 


ordinary,  not  to  say  miraculous,  providence.  His  labours,  added 
to  his  other  mortifications  and  austerities,  impaired  his  health  so 
far  that  a vein  breaking  in  his  breast  he  had  like  to  have  died 
through  loss  of  blood;  and  though  he  escaped  death,  such  a weak- 
ness was  left  with  him,  especially  at  the  return  of  the  season  of  the 
year,  that  he  was  scarce  able  to  stand;  he  was  also  afflicted  with  a 
cancerous  ulcer  in  his  mouth,  for  which  he  could  find  no  cure. 
Upon  this  he  resolved  on  a pilgrimage  to  St.  Winef ride's  Well,  to 
obtain  of  God  the  recovery  of  his  health  and  strength,  by  the  inter- 
cession of  that  holy  virgin  and  martyr;  when,  behold  ! in  his  way 
thither,  lodging  at  a Catholic  house,  he  was  told  by  the  priest  of  the 
family  of  a stone  which  had  been  taken  out  of  the  aforesaid  well, 
and  kept  in  that  house.  Father  Oldcorne,  after  Mass,  applied  this 
stone  to  his  mouth,  devoutly  recommending  himself  to  the  prayer 
of  St.  Winefride,  and  in  half  an  hour  was  perfectly  cured  of  his 
cancer,  and  proceeding  on  his  journey,  and  bathing  himself  in  the 
well,  recovered  also  his  health  and  strength.  These  particulars 
Father  John  Gerard  declared  he  had  both  from  Father  Oldcorne 
himself,  and  from  the  priest  of  the  family  where  he  was  cured  of  the 
cancer. 

After  the  discovery  of  the  Powder  Plot,  Father  Garnet,  as  we 
have  seen  already,  being  sought  after,  and  found  at  Henlip,  in  the 
same  hole  with  Father  Oldcorne,  the  latter  was  also  apprehended 
and  carried  first  to  Worcester,  and  then  to  London,  where  he  was 
five  several  times  racked  in  the  Tower,  and  once  with  the  utmost 
severity  for  five  or  six  hours  together,  and  yet  neither  by  his  own 
confession,  nor  by  any  other  sufficient  testimony,  could  it  appear 
that  he  had  any  manner  of  knowledge  of  the  conspiracy.  He  was 
sent  down  again  to  Worcester,  to  be  there  tried  in  the  Lenten  assizes. 
The  things  alleged  against  him,  besides  his  being  a priest  and  a 
Jesuit,  were,  first,  that  he  had  invited  to  Henlip,  and  there  harboured 
and  concealed  his  superior,  Father  Garnet,  who  had  been  proclaimed 
a traitor.  Secondly,  that  he  had  approved  of  the  Gunpowder 
Treason,  at  least  after  its  discovery,  and  had  defended  the  contrivers 
of  that  villany.  To  the  first  he  answered,  that  he  had  indeed  invited 
Father  Garnet  to  Henlip,  but  it  was  a month  or  six  weeks  before  the 
proclamation  was  issued  out  against  him,  and  if  he  did  not  after- 
wards discover  and  betray  him,  he  did  not  conceive  any  crime  in 
that.  To  the  second  he  replied,  that  he  had  no  manner  of  know- 
ledge of  the  plot,  till  it  was  made  public  to  all  the  world,  and  that 
he  had  neither  approved  nor  defended  it.  However  he  was  brought 
in  guilty  by  the  jury,  and  received  sentence  of  death  as  in  cases  of 

290 


i6o6]  EDWARD  OLDCORNE  AND  COMPANIONS 


high  treason,  and  was  accordingly  executed  at  Worcester^  April  7, 
1606,  being  Monday  in  Passion  week.  He  had  the  comfort  of 
reconciling  to  God  and  His  Church  one  of  the  felons  that  were 
executed  with  him,  who  died  with  great  marks  of  faith  and  repen- 
tance. Littleton  also  was  executed  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the 
hearing  of  thousands  of  people,  publicly  asked  pardon  of  God,  and 
Father  Oldcorne^  for  having  wrongfully  accused  him  of  the  conspiracy. 

Father  Oldcorne  at  his  death  recommended  himself  in  his  private 
devotions  to  Almighty  God,  begged  the  intercession  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  and  the  Saints  his  patrons;  prayed  aloud  for  the  King  and 
all  the  royal  family,  for  his  accuser,  whom  he  said  he  heartily  par- 
doned ; for  the  judge,  jury,  and  all  in  any  way  concerned  in  his  death ; 
protesting  to  the  last  his  innocence  as  to  the  plot,  and  so  was  turned 
off  the  ladder,  but  quickly  cut  down  and  butchered  alive,  anno  cetatis 
forty-five,  Societatis  eighteen.  His  head  and  quarters  were  set  up 
on  poles  in  different  parts  of  that  city;  his  heart  and  bowels  were 
cast  into  the  fire,  which  continued  sending  forth  a lively  flame  for 
sixteen  days,  notwithstanding  the  rains  that  fell  during  that  time, 
which  was  looked  upon  as  a prodigy,  and  a testimony  of  his  inno- 
cence. 

Ralph  Ashley  was  executed  at  the  same  time  for  no  other  crime 
but  being  servant  to  Father  Oldcorne,  and  therefore,  as  it  was 
supposed,  an  abettor  of  his  pretended  treasons. 

[About  the  same  time  Nicholas  Owen,  commonly  called  Little 
John,  a lay-brother  of  the  Society,  and  servant  to  Father  Henry 
Garnet,  was  so  cruelly  racked  in  prison,  that  he  died  soon  after  he 
was  taken  off  the  torture.] 


[ 1607.  ] 

ROBERT  DRURY,  Priest  * 

Robert  DRURYwas  bom  of  a gentleman’s  family  in  Buck- 
inghamshire. He  performed  his  studies  abroad,  partly  in  the 
college  then  residing  at  Rhemes,  where  he  went  through  his 
course  of  philosophy,  and  partly  at  Valladolid  in  Spain,  to  which 

* Ven.  Robert  Drury. — From  the  Douay  Diary;  the  Bishop  of  Chal- 
cedon’s  Catalogue,  etc.;  see  also  Morris,  Life  of  Gerard  ; Blackfan,  Annates  ; 
La  Boderie,  Ambassades,  ii.;  Harl.  Misc.,  iii.;  Lingard,  ix. 

291 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1607 


place  he  was  sent  from  Rhemes  with  several  others,  in  1590,  to  the 
college  lately  founded  in  that  city  by  King  Philip  of  Spain  for  the 
education  of  the  English  clergy.  Here  he  finished  his  studies,  and 
was  made  priest;  and  from  hence  he  was  sent  upon  the  English 
mission  in  the  year  1593.  His  missionary  labours  seem  to  have  been 
chiefly  in  and  about  London,  where  his  learning  and  virtue  made  him 
considered  amongst  his  brethren. 

In  the  year  1601,  Queen  Elizabeth  set  forth  a proclamation, 
November  7,  in  which  she  was  pleased  to  promise  some  favour  to  such 
of  the  clergy  as  should  give  sufficient  assurance  of  their  allegiance 
to  her  as  their  lawful  Queen.  Upon  this,  some  of  the  leading  men 
amongst  them  (one  of  whom  was  Mr.  Drury)  met,  and  drew  up  a 
declaration,  or  profession  of  their  allegiance,  wherein  they  declared, 
1st,  That  they  acknowledged  Queen  Elizabeth  for  their  true  and 
lawful  sovereign,  with  as  full  power  and  authority  as  any  of  her 
predecessors,  zdly.  That  they  were  most  willing  to  obey  her  at  all 
times,  and  in  all  cases,  as  far  as  any  Christian  priests,  either  in  this 
or  any  other  Christian  kingdom,  are  bound  by  the  Divine  law  and 
the  Christian  religion  to  obey  their  temporal  prince ; to  be  obedient 
also  to  her  laws  and  magistrates  in  all  civil  causes;  and  to  pray  to 
God  to  give  her  a happy  and  quiet  reign,  and  after  this  life  eternal 
bliss.  They  declared  their  abhorrence  of  all  plots  and  con- 

spiracies against  the  Queen  and  State,  and  their  readiness  to  defend, 
and  to  persuade  all  Catholics,  as  much  as  in  them  lay,  to  defend  Her 
Majesty’s  person,  state,  kingdom,  and  dominions  against  all  invasions 
or  hostile  attempts,  made  by  whomsoever  or  upon  what  pretext 
soever,  notwithstanding  any  excommunication  denounced,  or  to  be 
denounced  against  Her  Majesty,  &c.  They  declared  nevertheless, 
that  they  acknowledged  and  confessed  the  Bishop  of  Rome  to  be  the 
successor  to  St.  Peter,  with  no  less  ample  authority  and  spiritual 
jurisdiction  over  all  Christians  than  that  Apostle  had,  and  that  they 
would  be  obedient  to  his  Holiness  in  all  things,  as  far  as  they  were 
bound  by  the  Divine  law;  which  they  doubted  not  might  rightly 
stand  with  that  allegiance  which  they  had  professed  to  their  tem- 
poral Princess ; for  as  they  were  most  ready  to  pour  forth  their  blood 
for  the  defence  of  Her  Majesty  and  their  country,  so  were  they 
resolved  to  part  with  their  lives  rather  than  violate  the  lawful  authority 
of  the  Catholic  Church  of  Christ.  This  declaration  was  given  up 
to  the  Lords  of  the  Council  by  direction,  signed  by  thirteen  of  the 
most  eminent  men  of  the  secular  clergy,  viz.,  William  Bishop,  Dr.  of 
Sorbon,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Chalcedon;  John  Colleton,  John  Mush, 
Robert  Charnock,  John  Bosville,  Anthony  Hebburn,  Roger  Cad- 

292 


i6o7] 


ROBERT  DRURY 


wallador^  Robert  Drury ^ Anthony  Champney^  Dr.  of  Sorhon,  John 
Jackson y Francis  Barnahy^  Oswald  Needham,  and  Richard  Button. 
This  declaration  is  said  to  have  given  satisfaction  to  the  Queen  and 
her  council,  though  I don’t  find  that  it  put  a stop  to  the  persecution, 
unless  perhaps  with  regard  to  the  subscribers  in  particular,  none  of 
whom  were  any  farther  prosecuted  during  the  remainder  of  that 
reign.  But  what  was  judged  satisfactory  in  point  of  allegiance  by 
Queen  Elizabeth  and  her  council,  was  not,  it  seems,  deemed  so  in 
the  following  reign  of  'King  James  the  First.  For  now  a new  Oath 
of  Allegiance  was  imposed  upon  Catholics,  by  which  they  were  to 
abjure  and  detest  as  damnable  and  heretical,  a doctrine  relating  to 
the  Pope’s  power;  which  neither  the  Word  of  God,  nor  the  Church 
of  God  had  condemned  for  such.  This  oath,  which  is  said  to  have 
been  contrived  by  Sir  Christopher  Perkins,  a fallen  Jesuit,  and  worded 
on  purpose  in  such  a manner  that  the  Catholics  might  be  divided  in 
their  opinions  about  the  lawfulness  of  it,  was  taken  by  some  of  the 
missioners,  but  refused  by  the  far  greater  number,  and  prohibited 
by  two  several  breves  addressed  by  Pope  Paul  the  Fifth  to  the 
Catholics  of  England. 

About  the  time  of  the  imposing  of  this  new  oath,  Mr.  Drury  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  and  was  brought  to  his  trial  for 
being  a priest,  and  remaining  in  this  realm  contrary  to  the  statute 
of  Elizabeth  27.  For  this  supposed  treason  (for  no  other  was 
objected  to  him)  he  was  condemned  to  die.  ’Tis  true  he  might  have 
saved  his  life,  if  he  would  have  complied  with  the  new  oath;  but  he 
chose  rather  to  die  than  to  act  against  his  conscience;  not  that  he 
suffered  death  for  refusing  the  oath,  or  that  this  refusal  was  by  the 
laws  punishable  with  death,  but  that  being  upon  another  account, 
viz.,  for  his  priesthood,  sentenced  to  die,  he  had  his  life  offered  him 
if  he  would  have  taken  that  oath ; which  was  the  case  also  of  several 
other  priests,  who  suffered  during  this  reign,  who  refused  to  save 
their  lives  by  taking  an  oath  which  they  judged  to  contain  a false- 
hood. 

Mr.  Drury  suffered  with  great  constancy  at  Tyburn,  February  26, 
1606-7,  cetatis  thirty-nine,  Missionis  fourteen. 


293 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1608 


[ 1608.  ] 

MATTHEW  {alias  Major)  FEATHERS,  Priest.^ 


Mr.  FLATHERS  was  born  at  Weston  in  Yorkshire^  and 
educated  in  the  English  College  or  Seminary  of  Doway.  I 
find  by  the  records  of  the  college,  that  he  was  presented  to  the 
holy  order  of  priesthood,  and  ordained  at  Arras,  March  25,  1606, 
and  that  he  was  sent  with  proper  faculties  upon  the  English  mission 
in  the  company  of  Mr.  Thomas  Somers,  on  the  last  day  oijune  of  the 
same  year.  It  seems  he  fell  very  soon  into  the  hands  of  the  adver- 
saries of  his  faith  and  character ; for  I have  seen  his  name  in  a Cata- 
logue of  priests  banished  this  same  year  1606.  However  he  quickly- 
returned  to  the  work  of  his  Lord ; and  after  labouring  some  time  in 
Yorkshire,  his  native  country,  he  was  again  apprehended,  and  pro- 
secuted at  York  for  his  priestly  character.  For  this,  and  for  his 
functions  only  (no  other  treason  being  so  much  as  objected  to  him) 
he  was  condemned  to  be  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered.  He 
refused  to  save  his  life  by  taking  the  new  oath  of  allegiance,  as  it 
was  called;  and  being  drawn  to  the  common  place  of  execution, 
without  Mickle  Bar  (a  gate  of  York  so  called),  he  was  butchered  in  a 
most  barbarous  manner;  for  he  was  no  sooner  turned  off  the  ladder, 
but  immediately  cut  down;  and  rising  upon  his  feet,  attempted  to 
walk,  as  one  half  stunned;  but  one  of  the  Sheriff’s  men  quickly 
stopt  his  journey,  by  giving  him  a desperate  cut  on  the  head  with 
his  halberd;  another  violently  flung  him  down,  and  held  him  fast 
whilst  the  executioner  ripped  up  his  breast,  pulled  out  his  heart, 
and  so  completed  the  butchery. 

He  suffered  at  York,  March  21,  1607-8. 


GEORGE  GERVASE,  Priest,  O.S.B.f 

EORGE  GERVASE  or  JARVIS  was  born  at  Boseham  in 


Sussex.  His  father  was  a gentleman  of  a noted  family  in  that 


county;  his  mother  was  of  the  ancient  family  of  the  Shelleys. 
He  was  left  an  orphan  when  he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  and  not  long 

* Ven.  Matthew  (or  Major)  Flathers. — From  the  Douay  Diary,  and  the 
printed  Catalogues  of  Dr.  Worthington  and  Arnoldus  Raissius;  see  also 
Troubles,  iii. 

t Ven.  George  Gervase. — From  the  Douay  Diary,  Dr.  Worthington, 
in  his  Catalogue,  and  Raissius;  see  also  Foley,  Records,  vi.;  Camm,  Life  of 
Roberts  ; Snow,  Necrology. 


294 


GEORGE  GERVASE 


1608] 

after  was  kidnapped  by  a pirate,  and  carried  away  to  the  Indies  with 
two  others  of  his  brethren;  where  he  continued  for  about  twelve 
years,  and  quite  lost  his  religion ; at  length  he  found  means  to  return 
into  England.  His  eldest  brother  Henry,  a Catholic,  was  at  this 
time  abroad  in  Flanders,  probably  for  the  security  of  his  conscience, 
and  that  he  might  there  enjoy  the  free  exercise  of  his  religion.  Mr. 
George  soon  after  his  return  went  over  to  make  him  a visit,  and  by 
his  religious  example,  and  the  conversation  of  a learned  Catholic 
divine,  was  reconciled  to  the  Catholic  faith,  and  soon  after  became 
a student  in  the  English  Seminary  at  Doway. 

Here  he  employed  about  eight  years  in  the  study  of  virtue  and 
learning;  and  being  judged  by  his  superiors  duly  qualified  for  the 
sacred  functions,  he  was  presented  to  holy  orders,  and  passing 
through  the  usual  degrees,  was  ordained  priest  in  1603,  and  was  sent 
upon  the  English  mission,  August  26,  1604.  Here  he  laboured  with 
great  benefit  to  the  souls  of  his  neighbours  for  about  tw^o  years; 
and  then  being  apprehended,  was  with  many  other  priests  sent 
from  prison  into  banishment  in  June,  1606.  In  his  banishment  he 
called  at  Doway,  and  after  a short  refreshment  there  he  made  a 
journey  of  devotion  to  Rome  to  visit  the  tombs  of  the  Apostles.  He 
petitioned,  whilst  he  was  at  Rome,  to  be  admitted  amongst  the 
Jesuits;  but  this  not  succeeding,  he  returned  to  Doway,  and  there 
stayed  some  months  at  his  mother  college.  His  brother  designed 
to  have  kept  him  in  Flanders;  and  had  provided  for  him  a comfort- 
able subsistence  in  the  city  of  where  he  might  live  remote  from 
the  dangers  that  visibly  threatened  him,  if  he  ventured  to  return  to 
England;  but  as  Mr.  Gervase  was  under  an  engagement  to  serve 
the  mission,  and  his  heart  and  affections  were  there,  he  was  not  to 
be  kept  from  it,  either  by  the  importunity  of  his  friends,  or  the  fears 
of  dangers. 

So  to  England  he  returned,  and  landed  safe  there;  but  was  soon 
after  apprehended  and  committed  to  prison.  Here  the  new  oath  of 
allegiance  was  tendered  to  him,  which  he  refused.  After  a few  weeks 
he  was  brought  upon  his  trial,  and  was  condemned  to  be  hanged, 
bowelled,  and  quartered,  barely  on  account  of  his  being  a priest, 
and  having  exercised  his  priestly  functions  in  England;  which 
sentence  was  accordingly  executed  upon  him  at  Tyburn,  April  ii, 
1608;  where  he  suffered  with  the  faith,  devotion,  and  courage  of  the 
primitive  martyrs.  At  the  place  of  execution  he  prayed  in  secret 
to  himself,  upon  which  some  that  were  there  desired  him  to  pray 
aloud,  that  the  people  might  join  in  prayer  with  him;  to  whom  he  is 
said  to  have  made  answer,  / want  not  the  prayers  of  heretics;  hut  if 

295 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1608 


thei'e  he  any  Catholics  here,  I earnestly  beg  that  they  would  pray  to 
God  for  me.  He  suffered  in  the  37th  year  of  his  age ; and  is  said  a 
little  before  his  death  to  have  privately  received  the  habit  of  Saint 
Bennet,  at  the  hands  of  Father  Bradshaw. 

Mr.  Gervase^s  execution  is  naentioned  by  Howes  upon  Stow  in  his 
Chronicle,  and  by  Mr.  Salmon  in  his  History,  who  calls  him  Sir 
George  Jarvis. 


THOMAS  GARNET,  Priest,  SJ.=^ 

Thomas  garnet  was  the  son  of  Richard  Garnet,  a constant 
professor  and  great  sufferer  for  the  Catholic  faith,  and  nephew 
or  near  kinsman  to  Father  Henry  Garnet,  who  suffered  in  St. 
PauVs  Churchyard,  May  3,  1606.  After  a pious  education  at  home 
under  the  care  of  his  father,  who  from  his  very  birth  had  vowed  and 
dedicated  him  to  God  and  His  Church,  he  was  sent  abroad  when  he 
was  sixteen  or  seventeen  years  of  age,  to  the  Seminary  just  then 
erected  at  St.  OmePs  under  the  care  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Society 
of  Jesus;  and  having  there  finished  his  humanity,  he  passed  in  the 
year  1595  into  Spain  to  the  English  College  of  Valladolid,  where  he 
learned  philosophy  and  divinity  and  was  made  priest.  He  was  sent 
upon  the  mission  in  the  company  of  Mr.  Mark  Barkworth,  of  whose 
glorious  exit  we  have  treated  in  the  first  part  of  these  Memoirs,  and 
laboured  with  zeal  in  the  vineyard  of  his  Lord  for  about  six  years, 
being  remarkably  industrious  in  endeavouring  to  bring  the  souls  that 
were  under  his  care  to  a thorough  sense  of  solid  piety,  and  to  ground 
them  strongly  in  virtue. 

Having  been  a long  time  desirous  of  entering  into  the  Society  of 
Jesus,  he  was  admitted  by  Father  Henry  Garnet  his  kinsman,  then 
superior  of  the  English  Jesuits;  but  before  he  could  go  beyond  the 
seas  to  make  his  noviceship,  he  was  apprehended  and  committed 
prisoner  to  the  Gatehouse,  and  from  thence  was  translated  to  the 
Tower.  His  being  a kinsman  of  Father  Garnet's,  and  having 
received  a letter  from  him,  was  the  occasion  of  his  being  strictly 
examined  by  Secretary  Cecil  (not  without  severe  threats  of  the  rack) 
concerning  the  Gunpowder  Plot,  then  lately  discovered;  but  as 
they  could  not  find  any  manner  of  grounds  for  a suspicion  of  his 
being  any  way  conscious  of  that  execrable  conspiracy,  these  threats 

* Ven.  Thomas  Garnet. — From  Father  Bartoli’s  History  of  the  English 
Jesuits,  and  Father  More’s  History  of  the  English  Province;  see  also  Foley, 
Records,  ii. 


296 


i6o8] 


THOMAS  GARNET 


proceeded  no  farther  than  the  keeping  him  for  eight  or  nine  months 
in  a close  confinement,  where  with  lying  on  the  bare  ground,  and 
that  in  the  severest  season  of  the  winter,  he  contracted  rheumatic 
pains  and  a kind  of  a sciatica^  which  stuck  by  him  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life. 

From  prison  he  was,  with  many  other  priests,  sent  into  banish- 
ment in  1606,  and  then  repaired  to  Louvain^  where  at  that  time  the 
English  Jesuits  had  lately  procured  an  establishment  for  a novitiate. 
Here  he  remained  some  months,  giving  great  edification  to  his 
fellow  novices,  and  then  was  sent  back  upon  the  mission,  where, 
being  betrayed  by  one  Rouse^  an  apostate  priest,  he  fell  again  into  the 
hands  of  the  pursuivants.  At  this  second  apprehension  he  was 
brought  before  Thomas  Ravis^  Bishop  of  London^  by  whom  and  by 
Sir  William  Wade  he  was  several  times  examined.  In  his  examina- 
tion he  neither  owned  nor  denied  himself  to  be  a priest,  but 
refused  to  take  the  new  oath ; adding  that  he  was  of  opinion  if  any 
Catholics  had  taken  it,  they  did  it  out  of  fear,  which  he  hoped  would 
never  prevail  with  him  to  act  anything  against  his  conscience. 

He  was  committed  to  Newgate^  and  not  long  after  brought  upon 
his  trial  at  the  Old  Bailey  upon  an  indictment  of  high  treason,  for 
having  been  made  priest  by  authority  derived  from  Rome,  and 
remaining  in  England  contrary  to  the  statute  of  Elizabeth  27.  Three 
witnesses  appeared  against  him,  who  deposed  that  whilst  he  was 
prisoner  in  the  Tower,  he  had  written  in  several  places  Thomas 
Garnet,  Priest.  Upon  this  slender  evidence  he  was  found  guilty 
by  his  jury,  and  received  the  sentence  of  death  with  great  joy; 
apprehending  nothing  so  much  as,  lest  by  the  interest  of  friends  or 
by  any  other  means  he  should  be  deprived  of  that  crown  which  he 
had  now  so  near  a prospect  of,  as  he  often  professed  with  tears  to 
those  who  had  access  to  him.  And  when  some  suggested  to  him 
how  he  might  have  an  opportunity  of  making  his  escape,  he  would 
not  make  use  of  it,  choosing  rather  to  obey  a voice  within,  which 
said  to  him.  Noli  fugere.  Don’t  run  away. 

When  he  was  called  forth  to  the  hurdle,  he  obeyed  the  summons 
with  a remarkable  courage  and  cheerfulness,  and  laid  himself  down 
more  like  one  that  was  going  to  his  marriage-feast  than  to  suffer  a 
cruel  and  ignominious  death.  There  was  a great  concourse  of 
people,  and  many  of  the  nobility  and  gentry  at  the  place  of  execution 
— amongst  the  rest  the  Earl  of  Exeter,  one  of  the  Privy  Council,  who 
endeavoured  to  persuade  the  confessor  to  save  his  life  by  taking  the 
oath,  alleging  that  several  priests  had  taken  it,  and  that  many  more 
looked  upon  it  as  a disputable  matter,  in  which  faith  was  not  con- 

297 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1608 


cerned : why  therefore  should  he  be  so  stiff,  and  not  rather  embrace 
the  offer  of  the  King’s  clemency,  by  conforming  as  others  had  done  ? 
Father  Thomas  replied,  My  lord,  if  the  case  be  so  doubtful  and  dis- 
putable, how  can  I in  conscience  swear  to  what  is  doubtful  as  if  it 
were  certain?  No,  I will  not  take  the  oath,  though  I might  have  a 
thousand  lives. 

Upon  his  being  ordered  to  get  up  into  the  cart,  he  cheerfully 
complied,  and  kissed  the  gallows  as  the  happy  instrument  which  was 
to  send  him  to  heaven.  He  there  professed  that  he  was  a priest, 
and  a member  of  the  Society  oi  Jesus,  though  the  least  and  most  un- 
worthy; that  he  had  not  indeed  acknowledged  this  at  his  trial,  not 
out  of  any  fear  of  death,  but  that  he  might  not  be  his  own  accuser, 
or  put  his  judges  under  a necessity  of  condemning  him  against  their 
conscience ; that  he  had  spent  the  nine  years  of  his  missionary  labours 
in  assisting  and  comforting  the  persecuted  Catholics,  and  in  bringing 
back  the  sheep  that  were  gone  astray  to  the  fold  of  Christ;  but  as 
for  any  treasonable  designs  against  the  King  or  kingdom,  he  had 
never  entertained  any,  nor  ever  been  conscious  to  any.  A minister 
that  was  there  asked  him  if  there  was  no  equivocation  in  what  he 
said.  The  confessor  replied.  No,  sir;  for  if  I had  been  minded  to  use 
equivocations,  I might  have  taken  the  oath  and  saved  my  life;  which 
oath  I did  not  decline  out  of  any  unwillingness  to  profess  my  alle- 
giance to  the  King,  which  I offered  to  do,  and  for  that  end  produced 
at  my  trial  a form  of  an  oath  of  allegiaiice  drawn  up  according  to 
what  was  looked  upon  as  satisfactory  in  the  days  of  our  forefathers , 
to  which  I was  willing  to  swear;  but  this  new  oath  is  so  worded  as  to 
contain  things  quite  foreign  to  allegiance,  to  which  in  my  opinion 
no  Catholic  can  with  a safe  conscience  swear. 

Then  crossing  his  hands  before  his  breast,  and  lifting  up  his 
eyes  to  heaven,  he  said  he  looked  upon  this  as  the  most  happy  day 
of  his  life,  and  himself  most  happy  in  being  to  die  in  so  good  a 
cause:  and  heartily  prayed  to  God,  that  He  would  turn  away  His 
wrath  from  this  nation,  and  not  lay  his  death  to  their  charge:  and  in 
particular  that  He  would  forgive  all  those  who  had  any  ways  con- 
curred to  his  condemnation,  and  that  he  might  one  day  see  them 
happy  with  him  in  heaven.  After  which  he  recited  the  Lord’s 
Prayer,  the  Hail  Mary,  and  the  Creed.  Then  having  begun  the 
hymn  Veni  Creator,  when  he  came  to  those  words,  sei'mone  ditans 
guttura,  the  cart  was  drawn  away,  and  he  was  left  hanging,  till  he 
had  given  up  his  pious  soul  into  the  hands  of  his  Creator.  For  the 
people  that  was  present,  and  my  Lord  Exeter  in  particular,  would 
not  permit  the  rope  to  be  cut,  till  he  was  quite  dead. 

298 


i6io] 


ROGER  CADWALLADOR 


He  suffered  at  Tyhurn^  June  23,  1608,  anno  cetatis  thirty- 
four.  His  execution  is  mentioned  by  Howes  upon  StoWy  Colliery 
Salmon  y &c. 

The  year  1609  passed  without  the  shedding  of  any  Catholic 
blood  for  religious  matters:  a thing  the  more  to  be  remarked,  because 
the  like  had  not  happened  since  the  year  1580. 


[ 1610.  ] 

In  February y 1610,  I find  in  B.  W.’s  manuscript  concerning  the 
English  Benedictine  congregation,  that  F.  Sigehert  Buckley y the  last 
surviving  monk  of  the  Abbey  of  Westminster y departed  this  life  in 
the  ninety-third  year  of  his  age;  after  having  endured  forty  years’ 
persecution  for  the  Catholic  faith,  always  shut  up  in  one  prison  or 
another. 


ROGER  CADWALLADOR,  Priest.=^ 

This  gentleman,  who  was  commonly  known  upon  the  mission 
by  the  name  of  Rogers y was  born  at  Stretton  near  Sugeres  (or 
Sugwas)  in  Herefordshire.  His  father  was  a yeoman,  a man  of 
substance,  and  Roger  was  his  eldest  son  and  heir;  but  yet  he  could 
by  no  means  be  brought  to  follow  the  world,  but  even  from  a boy 
was  very  assiduous  in  serving  God,  and  learning  his  book,  wherein 
he  surpassed  most  of  his  schoolfellows.  His  desire  of  improving 
himself  in  religion  and  study  carried  him  beyond  the  seas,  where  he 
entered  himself  a student  in  Doway  College y at  that  time  residing  at 
Rhemes.  Of  this  college  he  was  an  Alumnus y and  having  made  great 
progress  in  learning  and  virtue,  he  received  there  most  of  his  orders. 
For  I find  him  in  the  Doway  Diary  ordained  sub-deacon  at  RhemeSy 
September  21,  1591,  and  deacon,  February  24,  1592.  In  the  August 
following  he  was  sent  into  Spain y to  the  college  lately  erected  at 
Valladolid y where  he  finished  his  studies,  and  was  made  priest;  and 
from  thence  returned  home  to  labour  in  the  vineyard  of  his  Lord 
about  the  year  1594. 

He  is  taken  notice  of  by  Dr.  Pits  for  his  rare  genius  for  learning, 

* Ven.  Roger  Cadwallador. — From  two  Manuscript  relations  sent  me 
from  Douay,  gathered  partly  out  of  his  own  letters,  partly  from  the  testimony 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Stevens,  a neighbouring  Missioner,  and  other  un- 
exceptionable witnesses.  Item,  from  the  Douay  Diary;  and  from  Dr.  Pits, 
De  Scriptoribus  Britannice;  see  also  Gillow ; D.N.B. 

299 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 


and  great  knowledge  in  the  Greek  tongue,  out  of  which  he  translated 
Theodor efs  Philotheus^  or  the  Lives  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Syrian 
Deserts,  which  work  of  his  is  extant  in  print.  He  had  also  a great 
talent  for  controversy.  His  labours  in  England  were  employed  in 
his  own  country  of  Herefordshire^  where  he  deservedly  gained  the 
character  of  a pious,  prudent,  and  zealous  missioner:  and  God  was 
pleased  to  bless  his  labours  with  great  success,  in  winning  over  many 
souls  to  Christ  and  His  Church;  especially  among  the  poorer  sort, 
for  whose  comfort  and  spiritual  assistance  he  spared  no  pains,  night 
nor  day;  usually  performing  his  journeys  on  foot.  And  this  apos- 
tolical kind  of  life  he  continued  for  about  sixteen  years. 

‘ This  venerable  priest,’  says  my  manuscript  relation  of  his  suffer- 
ings, ‘ was  apprehended  on  Easter  day,  i6io,  [at  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Winefride  Scroope,  widow],  within  eight  miles  of  Hereford^  by 
James  Prichard ^ the  Under  Sheriff  of  that  county;  and  brought  first 
to  the  High  Sheriff,  and  then  to  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  [Robert 
Bennet]^  who  having  long  thirsted  after  his  innocent  blood,  seemed 
extraordinarily  glad  of  his  apprehension. 

‘ In  his  examination  before  the  Bishop,  being  asked  what  he  was, 
he  answered  that  this  was  not  a fit  interrogation : alleging  that  a man 
should  by  right  rather  be  examined  as  to  what  he  had  done  or  com- 
mitted; and  in  that  also  he  craved  the  favour  which  all  just  laws 
allow,  that  they  would  not  go  about  to  wrest  matters  from  himself 
against  himself,  having  not  so  much  as  one  accuser  to  charge  him 
with  any  thing.  This  answer  not  serving  his  turn,  and  the  Bishop 
still  continuing  to  beg  him  upon  his  conscience  to  confess  whether 
he  was  a priest,  he  acknowledged  (without  more  ado)  both  his  priest- 
hood and  his  right  name.  Adding,  that  he  presumed  his  being  a 
priest  would  make  nothing  against  him;  especially  in  the  presence 
of  a Bishop,  whom  it  did  greatly  concern  to  maintain  and  defend 
the  dignity  of  priesthood.  For,  my  Lord,  said  he,  either  you  must 
yield  yourself  properly  to  be  a priest,  or  I can  safely  prove  that  you 
are  no  Bishop.  Which  he  offered  to  make  good,  if  they  would  bring 
him  books,  plentifully  citing  contents  out  of  the  Fathers  fit  for  his 
purpose.  But  the  books  they  would  not  bring  to  decide  the  con- 
tention. Only  the  Bishop  seemed  much  to  insist  upon  this  one 
point,  that  Christ  was  the  only  sacrificing  priest  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment^ in  that  proper  signification  of  the  name,  priest,  which  is  not 
common  to  all  Christians;  so  to  free  himself  from  being  a priest. 
Which  made  the  blessed  martyr  return  him  this  witty  answer : Make 
that  good,  I pray  you,  my  Lord,  for  so  you  will  prove  that  I am  no 
more  a priest  than  other  men,  and  consequently  no  traitor  or  offender 

300 


i6io]  ROGER^CADWALLADOR 

against  your  law.  To  which  the  Bishop  being  able  to  make  no  solid 
reply;  one  Holkins^  that  was  sent  to  cover  the  Bishop’s  disgrace, 
spoke  to  this  effect. — I assure  you,  my  Lord,  it  is  strange  to  see  the 
alacrity  and  courage  of  those  kind  of  men;  I heard  His  Majesty 
with  his  own  mouth  say  in  this  present  Parliament,  that  the  number 
and  courage  of  this  kind  of  men  is  so  great,  that  if  I should  (quoth 
he)  put  them  to  death  as  often  as  they  fall  into  my  hands,  I believe 
I should  never  have  done. 

‘ Then  was  the  disputation  turned  into  a scoffing  at  his  not  shaving 
his  head  and  beard, and  at  his  going  like  a layman  in  attire;  although 
his  dress  were  not  so  light,  or  any  way  so  fantastical  as  might  give 
any  just  cause  of  offence ; yet  they  spared  not  to  make  sport  with  a 
little  silk  point,  which  tied  his  hose  about  his  knee.  Lastly,  the 
Bishop  being  angry  to  see  his  answers  so  little  regarded  (the  good 
man  ever  smiling  to  see  them  so  forward),  thought  it  best  to  use  the 
force  of  his  authority,  where  his  arguments  seemed  feeble.  Where- 
upon asking  whether  he  would  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  he 
refusing  it,  he  committed  him  to  prison,  giving  his  keeper  strict 
orders  to  look  narrowly  to  him,  thundering  out  threats  against  him 
in  case  he  should  escape. 

‘ The  charge  was  not  more  strictly  given  by  the  Bishop  than  put  in 
execution  by  the  keeper,  who  loaded  him  with  irons  both  night  and 
day.  At  first  he  made  him  wear  a great  bolt,  besides  the  heaviest 
shackles  the  prison  could  afford;  and  when  after  a while,  by  reason 
of  his  sickness  (as  it  may  seem)  it  was  thought  fit  to  ease  him  of  his 
bolt,  yet  they  would  never  take  away  his  shackles,  but  added  now 
and  then  another  pair.  Insomuch,  that  when  he  was  to  be  removed 
from  Hereford  gaol  to  Leominster^  though  he  was  forced  to  go  all  the 
way  on  foot,  feeble  and  weak  as  he  was  with  bad  usage  and  sickness 
together,  yet  could  he  not  obtain  to  be  free  from  shackles  in  his 
journey;  but  it  was  thought  a sufficient  favour  that  a boy  was  per- 
mitted to  go  by  his  side,  to  bear  up  by  a string  the  weight  of  some 
iron-links  which  were  wired  to  the  shackles. 

‘ Besides  this,  when  he  was  condemned  to  die,  which  was  some 
months  before  his  martyrdom,  he  was  chained  every  night  to  the 
bed-post  with  an  iron  chain.  Yea,  one  day  the  keeper  led  him  into 
an  obscure  and  loathsome  place  and  left  him  there  chained  to  a post 
where  he  had  no  place  to  sit  or  ease  himself,  and  no  more  liberty  to 
walk  than  the  length  of  the  chain  allowed  him,  which  was  but  two 
yards  at  most ; where  he  continued  till  the  keeper’s  wife,  moved  with 
compassion,  came  in  her  husband’s  absence  to  let  him  loose. 

‘ In  his  sickness  the  keeper  and  his  wife  had  no  care  to  afford 

301 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 


him  any  comfort,  but  rather  were  vigilant  to  bar  him  of  all  solace 
that  Catholics  did  offer;  insomuch  that  when  his  brother’s  wife 
came  to  bring  him  some  small  thing,  she  could  not  have  access,  but 
was  reviled  by  the  keeper’s  wife  with  many  opprobrious  words,  as 
his  concubine,  among  other  bad  terms,  protesting  she  would  fling 
what  was  provided  out  into  the  streets,  rather  than  the  sick  priest 
should  have  it.  Yea,  instead  of  human  comfort,  they  daily  heaped 
upon  him  grievances,  sometimes  giving  out  that  he  had  yielded,  and 
had  promised  to  recant  if  he  might  have  a benefice.  All  which  the 
good  man  did  patiently  endure,  though  he  never  gave  the  least 
occasion  to  such  malicious  slanders. 

‘ In  the  extremity  of  his  sickness  he  was  summoned  on  a sudden 
to  a second  dispute  before  the  Bishop,  and  made  to  rise  out  of  his 
bed  all  in  a sweat,  so  that  he  swooned  before  he  could  get  out  of 
doors;  and  yet  in  that  distress  he  was  brought  to  dispute  with  the 
Bishop  and  his  doctors,  who  were  prepared  for  him  with  a cart-load 
of  books,  observing,  as  may  be  thought,  on  purpose  this  time  of 
advantage  over  him.  He  answered  little;  but  being  pressed  about 
the  marriage  of  priests  could  not  forbear  saying.  Their  ministers 
might  marry  as  well  as  other  laymen;  and  if  the  Catholic  Church  did 
debar  her  clergy  from  marriage^  why  should  that  grieve  them^  whom 
the  prohibition  did  no  ways  concern  ? And  though  the  Bishop  made 
some  appearance  of  being  displeased  at  his  man  for  bringing  him 
before  him  in  that  plight;  yet  when  the  good  man  pleaded  his  in- 
disposition he  was  not  regarded.’ 

Mr.  Cadwallador  was  condemned  barely  on  account  of  his 
priestly  character,  no  other  treason  being  laid  to  his  charge.  He 
wrote  several  letters  in  prison;  one  to  Mr.  Birket  the  archpriest; 
another  to  "Nix.  John  Stevens,  a neighbouring  missioner,  recommend- 
ing to  them  the  care  of  his  flock.  Other  letters  also  of  much  edifica- 
tion he  wrote  to  other  friends  in  the  midst  of  his  manifold  sufferings, 
in  one  of  which,  written,  as  it  seems,  when  he  was  now  near  his 
crown,  he  delivers  himself  thus: — 

‘ Comfort  yourselves,  my  friends,  in  this  that  I die  in  an  assurance 
of  salvation;  which  if  you  truly  love  me,  as  you  ought  to  do,  should 
please  you  better  than  to  have  me  alive  a little  while  among  you  for 
your  content,  and  then  to  die  with  great  uncertainty  either  to  be 
saved  or  damned.  If  the  manner  of  my  death  be  shameful,  yet 
not  more  than  my  Saviour’s  was;  if  it  be  painful,  yet  not  more  than 
my  Saviour’s  was.  Only  have  you  care  to  persevere  in  God’s  true 
faith  and  charity,  and  then  we  shall  meet  again  to  our  greater  comfort 
that  shall  never  end.  Fare  ye  well  !’ 

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i6io]  ROGER  CADWALLADOR 

The  particulars  of  his  death  are  thus  related  in  the  same  manu- 
script which  we  have  quoted  above: — ‘ The  long-desired  day 
wherein  he  was  to  suffer  being  come  at  last,  he  and  his  bed-fellow 
Mr.  Poweiy  a lay  Catholic  prisoner,  left  their  beds  by  three  o’clock 
in  the  morning,  and  were  on  their  knees  in  prayer  till  eight ; at  which 
time,  and  all  the  day  after,  the  resort  of  people  that  came  to  see  him 
was  very  great,  whose  streaming  tears,  being  only  strangers  to  him, 
gave  evident  signs  of  their  compassion;  many  of  them  protesting 
that  they  would  undertake  to  go  barefoot  many  a hundred  miles  to 
do  him  any  good;  for  which  their  good-will  he  courteously  and 
kindly  thanked  them,  acquainting  them  how  glorious  a thing  he 
looked  upon  it  to  die  for  Christ  and  the  Catholic  faith. 

‘ Having  spent  most  of  the  morning  in  spiritual  preparation  for 
his  end,  about  ten  o’clock  he  took  some  corporal  food,  viz.,  a little 
comfortable  broth,  and  calling  for  a pint  of  claret  wine  and  sugar 
on  occasion  of  a friend  that  was  come  to  visit  him,  he  made  use  of 
the  words  of  Bishop  Fisher  in  the  like  case,  as  he  said,  when  he  was 
taking  a cordial,  before  the  like  combat  of  death — Fortitudinem  meam 
ad  te  Domine  custodiam  ; saying  in  English,  he  took  it  to  make  him- 
self strong  to  suffer  for  God.  Then,  as  if  he  had  been  to  go  to  a 
feast,  he  put  on  his  wedding  garment,  viz.,  a new  suit  of  clothes, 
which  a friend  had  provided  for  him  from  top  to  toe,  whom  he 
requited  with  a good  and  godly  exhortation,  counselling  him  to 
persevere  till  death  in  the  Catholic  faith,  and  giving  him  directions 
to  bestow  twelve  pence  of  his  money  on  the  porter ; for  he  kept  two 
shillings  in  his  own  pocket  to  bestow  on  him  that  was  to  lead  and 
drive  the  horse  when  he  went  to  execution. 

‘ Some  half  an  hour  before  the  time  of  his  suffering,  the  keeper, 
for  a farewell,  used  all  his  art  and  cunning  to  make  him  distempered 
with  passion,  but  found  him  so  well  fenced  with  patience  that  it  was 
all  in  vain.  So  he  remained  in  readiness,  expecting  the  coming  of 
the  Sheriff  to  conduct  him  to  the  place  of  execution ; which  happened 
to  be  about  four  o’clock  in  the  afternoon;  at  which  time  the  Under- 
Sheriff  came,  accompanied  among  others  by  the  executioners,  who 
were  a couple  of  masons  clad  in  long  garments  all  in  black,  and  their 
faces  covered  with  the  same,  which  made  them  seem  ugly  and  dread- 
ful. The  champion  of  Christ,  nothing  daunted  at  the  sight,  at  his 
first  coming  out  of  the  doors,  cheerfully  viewed  all  the  company, 
demanding  what  was  to  be  done } The  Under-Sheriff  made 
answer.  Nothing,  sir,  if  you  please;  for  if  you  will  but  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance  here,  you  may  save  us  labour,  and  yourself  much  pain; 
which  he  constantly  refusing  to  perform,  the  Under- Sheriff  replied, 

303 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 


that  then  he  was  to  die,  and  directed  him  to  lie  down  upon  the  hurdle. 
But  he  seemed  loath  to  concur  any  way  himself  to  his  own  death, 
insinuating  that  others  rather  should  execute  that  office ; which  those 
two  black  hell-hounds  quickly  did,  stretching  him  on  the  hurdle, 
and  with  cords  fastening  him  thereto. 

‘ Being  thus  bound  to  the  hurdle,  he  made  the  sign  of  the  cross 
as  well  as  he  could,  and  quietly  betook  himself  to  some  heavenly 
contemplation,  continuing  in  it  all  the  way  to  the  place  of  execution, 
and  for  about  a quarter  of  an  hour  after  his  coming  thither.  Then, 
the  Under-Sheriff  thinking  he  did  but  delay,  and  seek  to  prolong 
the  time,  interrupted  his  devotion,  making  proffer  of  life  again,  if 
he  would  take  the  oath;  which  he  refusing,  the  Under-Sheriff  said, 
Then^  Lord  have  mercy  on  you.  Being  taken  off  the  hurdle,  and 
brought  within  sight  of  the  gallows  and  the  block  whereon  he  was 
to  be  quartered,  they  shewed  him  these  and  other  instruments  of 
death,  leading  him  between  two  great  fires ; the  one  prepared  to  burn 
his  heart  and  bowels,  the  other  to  boil  his  head  and  quarters;  and 
thinking  the  sight  of  these  did  somewhat  terrify  him,  they  promised 
him  once  more  that  none  of  them  should  touch  him,  if  he  would 
take  the  oath;  but  his  Christian  courage  made  him  persist  in  his 
resolution  of  dying  in  that  quarrel.  And  yet  after  he  had  prayed  a 
while  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  being  wished  to  make  haste,  for  that 
night  approached;  to  give  satisfaction  to  some  gentlemen  present, 
that  often  inculcated  to  him  the  taking  of  the  oath,  he  openly  pro- 
tested that  he  acknowledged  and  held  his  majesty  that  now  is,  to  be 
the  true  and  lawful  king  of  this  realm  and  other  his  dominions,  and 
that  he  was  very  willing  to  swear  to  him  all  true  allegiance;  that  is, 
to  be  true  unto  him  as  far  as  the  law  of  God  and  conscience  did 
oblige  any  subject  to  his  sovereign.  Whereupon  some  gentlemen 
present  applauded  this  his  protestation,  wishing  him  to  proceed 
forward  to  the  rest  of  the  oath,  &c.  No,  said  the  martyr,  there  is 
secret  poison  in  the  sequel.  The  gentlemen  laboured  by  many  words 
to  persuade  him  the  contrary,  and  that  in  the  contents  of  the  oath 
there  was  no  denial  meant  of  the  Pope’s  spiritual  authority,  but  only 
a mere  acknowledgment  of  allegiance  to  the  sovereign  prince.  Then 
one  Richardson,  a minister,  importuning  him  to  give  his  opinion 
about  the  oath,  he  answered.  It  was  a matter  of  no  great  importance 
what  his  private  opinion  was,  and  that  they  should  rather  regard 
what  was  the  sentiment  of  the  Church,  and  that  his  swearing  would 
neither  diminish  the  Pope’s  real  authority,  nor  increase  the  King’s. 

‘ Being  helped  up  the  ladder,  he  began  to  signify  to  the  people 
that  he  was  brought  there  to  die  for  the  Catholic  faith,  and  for  that 

304 


i6io]  ROGER  CADWALLADOR 

he  was  a priest,  and  for  coming  over  to  this  country  to  minister  the 
sacraments  to  God’s  children,  and  to  reduce  the  seduced  that  were 
gone  astray,  from  their  errors  to  the  right  paths  of  salvation.  And 
then  comforting  himself  with  these  words  of  St.  Peter  (i  Pet.  iv.): 
Let  none  of  you  suffer a murderer^  oP^as  a thief,  or  as  a coveter 
of  others'  things;  but  if  as  a Christian,  let  him  not  he  ashamed, 
but  let  him  glorify  God  in  this  name,  he  was  interrupted  by 
Richardson,  the  minister,  saying  he  misapplied  the  place  of  scripture, 
being  to  suffer  for  treason  in  the  highest  degree.  To  whom  the 
martyr  mildly  replied.  You  mistake,  sir,  I was  condemned  only  for 
being  a priest  ; and  it  is  apparent  by  the  public  proffers  which  have 
been  made  me,  if  I would  condescend  to  take  the  new  oath,  that  I 
am  not  guilty  of  treason  in  the  highest  degree.  Then  he  went  forward, 
desiring  the  people  to  bear  him  witness  that  he  died  as  a priest  for 
the  Catholic  cause;  and  begging  that  if  any  Catholics  were  present, 
they  would  say  a Paternoster  with  him  privately,  if  publicly  they 
durst  not,  for  fear  of  discovering  themselves. 

‘ The  Paternoster  and  Ave  Maria  being  ended,  and  the  minister 
asking,  whether  he  would  say  a Pater  with  him,  he  smiling,  answered. 
You  shall  first  yield  to  say  one  with  me.  When  the  unskilful 
executioner  went  to  put  the  halter  about  his  neck,  he  seemed  to 
receive  it  very  patiently,  as  the  yoke  of  his  Master,  saying,  he  freely 
forgave  his  executioner  and  all  others  that  were  accessory  to  his  death ; 
but  Robert  Rennet  by  name,  meaning  the  Bishop,  whose  finger  being 
deepest  in  his  blood,  yet  he  said  he  wished  him  a higher  place  in 
heaven  than  himself.  He  desired  also  of  God  that  he  might  be  the 
last  that  should  be  forced  to  die  in  England  for  defence  of  the  Catholic 
faith;  and  that  his  blood  might  serve,  by  the  grace  and  merits  of 
Christ,  to  blot  and  wipe  out  of  memory  whatever  stain  or  blemish 
was  come  to  his  country  in  this  cause,  by  the  loose  and  scandalous 
lives  of  any  that  went  in  the  name  of  Catholic  priests. 

‘ Then  he  betook  himself  to  his  private  prayers  till  the  executioner 
came  to  turn  the  ladder,  at  which  time  he  said  aloud  five  or  six  times. 
In  manus  tuas  Domine  commendo  spiritum  meum, — Into  thy  hands, 
O Lord,  I commend  my  spirit.  And  lastly,  Domine  accipe  spiritum 
meum, — Lord  receive  my  spirit.  He  hung  very  long,  and  in  extra- 
ordinary pain,  by  reason  that  the  knot,  through  the  unskilfulness  of 
the  hangman,  came  to  be  directly  under  his  chin,  serving  only  to 
pain  and  not  to  despatch  him.  Insomuch  that  when  the  people 
were  persuaded  that  he  was  thoroughly  dead,  he  put  up  his  hand  to 
the  halter,  as  if  he  had  either  meant  to  show  how  his  case  stood,  or 
else  to  ease  himself;  but  bethinking  himself  better,  and  perhaps  a 

305  u 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 

scruple  coming  into  his  head  to  concur  to  hasten  his  own  death,  he 
had  scarce  touched  the  halter,  but  that  he  presently  pulled  away  his 
hand.  And  within  the  space  of  a Paternoster  after,  he  lifted  up  his 
hand  again  to  make  the  sign  of  the  cross,  which  made  all  the  standers- 
by  much  amazed;  and  some  of  the  vulgar,  desirous  to  rid  him  of  his 
pain,  lifted  him  upwards  by  the  legs  twice  or  thrice,  letting  him  fall 
again  with  a swag.  Then  after  a little  rest,  when  they  thought  him 
quite  dead,  he  was  cut  down;  but  when  he  was  brought  to  the  block 
to  be  quartered,  before  the  bloody  butcher  could  pull  off  his  doublet, 
he  revived  and  began  to  breathe,  which  the  multitude  perceiving 
began  to  murmur,  which  made  the  Under-Sheriff  cry  out  to  the 
executioner  to  hasten;  but  before  they  had  stripped  him  naked  he 
was  come  to  a very  perfect  breathing.  It  was  long  after  they  had 
opened  him  before  they  could  find  his  heart,  which,  notwithstanding, 
panted  in  their  hands  when  it  was  pulled  out.  As  soon  as  the  head 
was  cut  off,  one  of  the  Sheriff’s  men  lifted  it  up  on  the  point  of  a 
halbert,  expecting  the  applause  of  the  people,  who  made  no  sign  that 
the  fact  was  pleasing  to  them.  Nay,  they  that  were  present  were 
struck  at  the  sight,  and  said.  This  pries  fs  behaviour  and  death  would 
give  great  confirmation  to  all  the  Papists  of  Herefordshire;  which 
saying  fell  out  to  be  true,  for  it  ministered  to  them  great  courage 
and  comfort.’  So  far  my  old  manuscript. 

Here  is  added  in  another  hand,  ‘ He  used  to  travel  much  a-foot, 
and  living  commonly  amongst  the  poorer  sort,  both  endured  much, 
and  did  exceeding  great  good,  converting  very  many.  He  was  a 
very  zealous  reformer  of  evil  manners,  and  sought  this  by  all  means 
whatsoever  in  all.  One  noble  saying  I heard  reported  of  him  was, 
that  a notable  person  coming  unto  him  in  his  sickness,  and  he  lying 
on  his  bed  with  his  shackles  on  his  legs,  shaking  them  he  said  to  him, 
That  the  high  priest  of  the  old  law  had  little  bells  about  the  rim  of 
his  vestment;  and  I stirring  my  legs  say,  Audi  Domine;  hcec  sunt 
tintinabula  mea^ — Hear,  O Lord;  these  are  my  little  bells ; signify- 
ing belike  that  these  were  as  acceptable  to  God  as  that  sound  of  the 
little  bells.’ 

Mr.  Cadwallador  suffered  at  Leominster^  or  Lemster,  in  Hereford- 
shire^ August  27,  anno  1610,  cetatis  suce  forty-three. 


306 


GEORGE  NAPPIER 


i6io] 


GEORGE  NAPPIER,  Priest  * 

George  NAPPIER  was  bom  in  Oxford,  and  there  performed 
his  grammar  studies.  From  thence  he  passed  over  to  Doway, 
or  Rhemes,  and  became  a student  in  the  English  College. 
Whilst  he  was  here,  among  many  other  rare  examples  of  virtue 
which  he  gave,  his  charity  for  his  neighbours  was  particularly  taken 
notice  of;  when  in  the  time  of  a plague,  two  .of  his  fellow  students 
being  seized  with  the  infection,  he  voluntarily  took  upon  him  to 
attend  them  and  to  take  care  of  them,  not  without  evident  danger 
of  his  own  life ; for  he  was  also  himself  quickly  seized  by  the  conta- 
gion. But  that  sickness  was  n,ot  unto  death,  for  all  three,  by  the 
mercy  of  God,  soon  after  recovered.  Having  finished  his  studies, 
and  received  his  orders  in  1596,  he  resided  for  some  time  at  Antwerp, 
and  from  thence  in  1603,  being  the  first  year  of  King  James  the 
First,  he  passed  over  into  England.  Dr.  Worthington  in  his 
Catalogue  gives  this  short  account  of  his  conduct  during  the  seven 
years  of  his  mission  in  England,  that  he  was  remarkably  laborious 
in  gaining  souls  to  God;  Strenuam  navavit  lucrandis  animahus 
operam,  p.  51.  In  the  year  1610,  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  per- 
secutors. The  particulars  of  his  seizure,  and  of  what  passed  from 
that  time  till  his  death,  are  here  abridged  from  a manuscript  penned 
by  a Catholic  gentleman  who  was  a fellow-prisoner  with  him  in 
Oxford  gaol. 

A true  Relation  of  the  Martyrdom  of  Mr.  George  Nappier,  &c.,  in  a 
Letter  to  a Clergyman. 

My  Rev.  Friend, — According  to  your  request,  I have  here  set 
down  all  the  particulars  that  befell  Mr.  Nappier,  from  the  time  of 
his  apprehension  until  his  exit  out  of  this  world. 

And  first,  I have  heard  him  say,  that  he  had  made  it  his  prayer 
to  God,  that  if,  by  the  disposition  of  His  Divine  Providence,  he 
should  fall  into  the  enemies’  hands,  he  might  not  he  taken  in  his 
friend^ s house,  because  of  the  penalty  of  the  laws  against  harbourers 
of  priests — and  it  seems  that  God  was  pleased  to  hear  his  prayer. 
For  being  seen  by  a young  fellow  to  go  into  a Catholic  woman’s 

* Ven.  George  Nappier,  Napper,  or  Napier. — From  Dr.  Worthington  and 
Raissius  in  their  printed  Catalogues ; but  chiefly  from  a Manuscript  relation 
by  a fellow-prisoner,  which  I have  met  with  in  Mr.  Knaresborough’s  Collec- 
tions ; see  also  Gillow ; Stapleton,  Oxfordshire  Missions:  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

307 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 


house  on  the  i8th  of  July^  towards  evening,  the  knave  ran  in  great 
haste  to  the  vicar’s  house,  to  give  notice,  and  concert  measures  with 
him  for  seizing  the  priest. 

The  informer  met  with  a cold  reception  at  the  first,  the  parson’s 
daughter  flatly  refusing  to  tell  whether  her  father  was  at  home ; and 
the  mother  being  no  less  reserved,  and  unwilling  to  let  the  man  come 
under  her  roof.  Some  few  days  before,  it  seems,  a quarrel  had 
happened  between  this  blade  and  the  parson;  so  that  his  furious 
knocking  at  the  door,  and  calling  for  the  vicar  in  haste,  with  such 
disorder  in  his  looks  and  speech,  joined  to  the  fright  that  both 
mother  and  daughter  were  in,  from  a dream  of  the  latter  the  night 
before,  that  her  father  was  murdered y affected  the  good  women  in 
such  manner,  that  they  held  fast  the  door  and  refused  him  entrance. 
The  fellow  perceived  the  mistake,  and  bid  them  be  easy,  for  that 
he  came  upon  another  sort  of  an  errand,  to  do  a piece  of  good  service 
to  the  Church,  and  assist  the  vicar  in  seizing  a Popish  priest,  just 
gone  into  one  of  his  parishioners’  houses.  Upon  this  they  began 
to  listen  to  the  man,  and  the  parson  was  called  down;  who  com- 
mended the  young  man’s  zeal,  but  was  of  opinion  that  nothing  was 
to  be  done  that  night,  but  that  they  would  take  care  to  have  him 
secured  early  in  the  morning;  and  accordingly  a constable  was 
engaged  to  be  ready  for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  Nappier  having  assisted  the  family,  and  performed  his 
devotions  very  early,  according  to  the  custom  of  those  times,  took 
his  leave,  and  was  making  the  best  of  his  way  on  foot  (his  usual  way 
of  travelling)  through  the  enclosures,  supposing  all  quiet  at  that 
early  hour,  when  to  his  great  surprise  two  or  three  sturdy  young 
fellows  came  up  hastily  towards  him  and  bade  him  stand.  You 
must  go  hack  with  us,  says  one.  You  are  a priest , says  another;  wedl 
have  you  before  a Justice.  The  good  man  made  no  words  on’t,  but 
went  quietly  with  them. 

And  first  they  charged  the  constable  with  him,  and  bade  him 
carry  him  before  Sir  Francis  Evers.  When  he  came,  the  Justice 
ordered  the  constable  to  search  him.  It  must  be  here  observed  that 
Mr.  Nappier  had  hi?,  pyx  with  him,  and  in  it  two  consecrated  Hosts; 
and  as  he  owned  to  me  several  times,  when  he  heard  Sir  Francis  give 
the  constable  orders  to  search,  he  was  under  the  greatest  concern 
for  fear  lest  the  Blessed  Sacrament  should  fall  into  their  hands  and 
be  exposed  to  some  profane  or  sacrilegious  treatment.  And  he 
farther  assured  me,  not  without  tears  in  his  eyes,  that,  whereas  the 
search  was  most  strict,  even  so  far  that  his  shoes  were  pulled  off  in 
the  presence  of  the  Justice  that  nothing  might  escape  them;  and 

308 


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GEORGE  NAPPIER 


whereas  also,  in  searching  of  his  pockets,  the  constable,  to  his  feeling, 
had  his  hands  many  times  both  upon  the  pyx  and  upon  a small 
reliquary;  yet  neither  of  them  were  discovered,  to  the  great  surprise 
and  no  less  joy  of  the  good  man — a passage  he  never  spoke  of  during 
his  confinement  without  blessing  and  praising  the  Divine  goodness 
for  this  merciful,  may  I not  venture  to  term  it  with  him,  even  miracu- 
lous preservation;  for  after  all  their  labour  they  only  found  his 
breviary,  his  holy  oils,  a needle-case,  thread  and  thimble.  Sir 
Francis  said  he  was  but  a poor  priest,  and  I verily  believe,  says  he, 
no  great  statesman;  and  bade  the  constable  take  him  into  his  cus- 
tody, and  look  well  to  him.  The  constable  replied,  he  should  take  a 
special  care  of  his  not  making  his  escape,  and  would  therefore  set 
him  in  the  stocks  till  his  worship  should  otherwise  dispose  of  him. 
But  Sir  Francis  forbade  him,  and  ordered  the  constable  to  let  him 
have  a bed,  and  what  else  he  called  for;  and  Sir  Francis  used  him 
very  kindly  at  his  own  house,  as  did  my  lady.  ‘ She  provided  me  a 
mess  of  good  broth,’  said  Mr.  Nappier  ‘ for  my  supper;  and  in  the 
morning,  when  I was  again  brought  before  Sir  Francis,  in  order 
to  receive  my  Mittimus,  my  lady  provided  for  me  a mess  of  milk, 
with  cinnamon  and  sugar  for  my  breakfast,  and  that  being  the  20th 
of  July,  they  carried  me  to  Oxford  gaol.’ 

The  prisoner  was  brought  to  the  bar  the  next  assizes,  which 
happened  soon  after  his  commitment,  and  was  tried  before  Mr. 
Justice  Crook,  upon  an  indictment  of  high  treason,  for  taking  priestly 
orders  by  authority  derived  from  Rome,  and  remaining  in  England 
contrary  to  the  laws. 

The  Judge  asked  him  whether  he  was  a priest.  The  prisoner 
answered,  if  he  was  such,  the  law  did  not  compel  him  to  discover 
himself;  But  if,  my  Lord,  says  he,  you  have  witnesses  to  prove  me  a 
priest,  let  them  be  called.  Once  more  the  Judge  said  to  him.  Will 
you  deny  that  you  are  a priest } Mr.  Nappier  replied.  If  any  man 
will  prove  me  in  orders,  let  the  Court  produce  him;  and  then,  my 
Lord,  I shall  submit  to  the  penalty  of  the  law.  The  Judge  then 
directed  his  discourse  to  the  jury  in  these  or  the  like  words. — Gentle- 
men, you  hear  the  prisoner  will  not  deny  himself  to  be  a priest;  and 
therefore  you  may  certainly  believe  that  he  is  a priest.  For  my  part, 
if  he  will  but  here  say  that  he  is  no  priest,  I will  believe  him  But, 
indeed,  these  instruments  of  his  priestly  functions  (the  oil  boxes) 
do  plainly  show  him  to  be  in  orders ; and  therefore  you  have  evidence 
sufficient  that  he  is  guilty  of  the  indictment.  Upon  which  the 
prisoner  was  brought  in  guilty  by  the  jury. 

His  relations  made  great  interest  to  obtain  a reprieve  for  him,  and 

309 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 


his  execution  was  respited  till  the  month  of  November;  and,  prob- 
ably speaking,  had  not  some  back-friends,  more  especially  the  Vice- 
Chancellor  of  Oxford^  and  some  others  interposed,  his  reprieve 
might  have  been  continued  from  time  to  time,  and  he  either  trans- 
ported or  permitted  to  languish  away  his  life  in  durance,  as  many 
others  had  done  before  him.  But  two  faults  he  was  guilty  of ; which, 
according  to  the  divinity  of  these  men,  were  crimes  unpardonable. 
There  was  a poor  wretch  tried  at  the  same  assizes  for  felony,  and 
found  guilty,  whose  name  was  Falkner,  Some  few  days  before  his 
execution,  he  was  reconciled  by  Mr.  Nappier,  and  had  all  the  helps 
that  a dying  man  could  expect,  as  far  as  circumstances  of  time  and 
place  would  allow.  In  short,  at  the  gallows  the  matter  was  dis- 
covered, the  poor  man  declared  himself  a Catholic,  abjured  the 
errors  of  his  former  religion,  as  well  as  begged  pardon  of  God  and 
of  all  the  world  for  the  sins  of  his  past  life,  and  with  great  appear- 
ances of  repentance  and  a devout  behaviour,  submitted  himself  to  the 
executioner. 

The  people  stormed ; the  ministers  threw  all  the  blame  upon  the 
condemned  priest,  made  a heavy  rout,  called  for  justice,  and  went 
straight  away  to  Abingdon^  to  make  complaint  to  the  judges.  The 
High  Sheriff  and  the  Vice-Chancellor  were  ordered  to  examine  into 
the  fact,  and  lay  before  their  lordships  a true  account  of  the  whole 
proceeding,  with  the  names  of  the  persons  concerned  in  the  perver- 
sion of  this  poor  fellow.  Mr.  Happier  was  sent  for  to  Christ  Church, 
and  strictly  examined  by  the  Vice-Chancellor  and  the  High  Sheriff 
about  the  whole  affair.  To  these  he  gave  this  fair  account:  that  he 
had  no  discourse  nor  acquaintance  with  Falkner  till  they  had  both 
received  sentence  of  death;  and  he  was  removed  from  his  former 
chamber  to  the  condemned  hole,  where  he  found  the  said  Falkner, 

‘ Here  he  applied  to  me,’  said  Mr.  Happier,  ‘ for  my  advice  and 
instruction  how  to  make  a happy  end  and  save  his  soul.  I was  glad 
of  the  opportunity,  encouraged  him  in  his  good  resolutions,  and  on 
my  part  endeavoured  by  all  proper  means  to  improve  these  pious 
motions  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  order  to  bring  him  to  a true  repentance 
and  confession  of  his  sins.’  In  a word,  Mr.  Happier  told  him  without 
more  ado,  that  he  was  the  person  whom  God  was  pleased  to  make 
use  of  for  reconciling  the  poor  wretch  to  Him  and  His  Church,  and 
that  as  he  was  the  only  person  concerned,  he  desired  that  no  other 
might  be  questioned  or  troubled  about  it. 

The  High  Sheriff  and  Vice-Chancellor  gave  him  to  understand 
that  they  were  to  lay  this  whole  matter  before  the  judges,  who  were 
highly  displeased  with  what  they  had  already  heard;  and  that  as 

310 


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GEORGE  NAPPIER 


soon  as  they  had  received  this  farther  confirmation  by  his  owning 
the  fact  before  them,  they  persuaded  themselves  that  it  would  put 
a stop  to  the  reprieve  and  hasten  his  execution.  ‘ Their  will  be 
done,’  says  Mr.  Nappier;  ‘ I did  nothing  but  what  I thought  a strict 
duty;  and  so  far  I am  from  repining  any  ways  at  what  is  done,  that 
if  you  please,  Mr.  Vice-Chancellor,  with  my  hearty  commendations 
to  my  good  lord  judges,  you  may  assure  them  that  if  they  will  come 
back  to  Oxford,  and  give  me  the  same  opportunity,  Fll  do  as  much 
for  their  lordships:^ 

The  Vice-Chancellor  asked  him,  whether  he  would  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance.  He  told  him  with  all  his  heart,  as  far  as  it  related 
to  the  obedience  due  to  princes  in  temporals  only,  and  would  acknow- 
ledge upon  oath,  if  he  pleased,  that  King  James  was  his  liege 
sovereign,  and  that  he  was  vested  with  as  much  authority  over  all 
his  subjects.  Catholics  as  well  as  Protestants,  as  any  of  his  prede- 
cessors whatsoever.  They  insisted  upon  his  taking  the  oath  of 
allegiance  as  set  forth  in  the  Act  of  Parliament,  and  upon  this 
condition  they  promised  him  his  life  should  be  saved.  But  this 
he  refused.  Then  they  persuaded  him  to  peruse  Mr.  BlackwelVs 
treatise  of  the  lawfulness  of  this  oath;  and  the  Vice-Chancellor 
called  for  the  book.  Mr.  Nappier  took  it,  and  gave  it  a reading; 
but  some  few  days  after  sent  back  the  book,  and  told  Mr.  Vice- 
Chancellor  that  he  still  continued  in  his  former  resolution,  the  oath 
of  allegiance  as  it  stood  worded,  he  would  not  take. 

It  was  soon  after  noised  about  that  Mr.  Nappier  was  to  be 
executed  in  a few  days.  However,  nothing  was  done  till  the  return 
of  the  judges  from  their  circuits.  Then,  indeed.  Judge  Crook,  as 
the  report  then  went,  managed  matters  in  such  sort  with  the  Council, 
that  a warrant  was  sent  to  the  High  Sheriff  for  the  execution  of  the 
prisoner.  But  here,  by  the  unwearied  endeavours  of  his  relations, 
his  Majesty  was  again  petitioned,  and  another  short  reprieve  was 
obtained  till  the  9th  of  November,  upon  condition  that  in  the  interim 
he  should  confer  with  the  Vice-Chancellor  and  other  learned 
divines.  The  Vice-Chancellor  happening  to  be  at  London  during 
most  of  the  time,  Dr.  Hammond  and  the  pro-proctor  had  instructions 
to  discourse  with  Mr.  Nappier  upon  the  subject  of  the  oath  of 
allegiance.  See.  And  it  is  said  of  him  that  these  conferences  were 
managed  with  so  much  calmness,  humility,  and  candour  on  the 
part  of  the  prisoner,  that  these  gentlemen  were  not  a little  moved 
with  his  meek  and  modest  behaviour,  and  made  their  report  in  such 
favourable  terms  as  plainly  shewed  their  great  unwillingness  to  have 
him  suffer. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 


Some  few  days  before  the  expiration  of  the  reprieve,  the  Vice- 
Chancellor  returning,  sent  again  to  have  the  prisoner  brought  before 
him,  and  interrogated  him  upon  the  old  chapter,  IVas  he  yet  disposed 
to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  ? The  prisoner  offered  him  a draft 
of  an  oath  of  fidelity,  which  he  was  ready  to  take;  but  the  Vice- 
Chancellor  told  him  in  plain  terms  that  nothing  would  satisfy  but 
the  Parliamentary  Oath.  If  he  would  take  this,  he  would  use  his 
best  endeavours  to  save  him,  and  not  otherwise. 

On  Thursday y the  8th  of  November,  the  discourse  was  revived 
that  he  was  to  die,  and  that  the  next  day.  The  report  was  brought 
to  the  Catholic  gentleman  prisoner  in  the  same  gaol,  and  the  good 
man  himself  was  not  kept  in  ignorance.  A special  friend  of  his 
(a  priest)  sent  him  word  that  day,  that  he  purposed  to  sup  with  him. 
Mr.  Nappier  understood  the  message;  and  as  this  confirmed  him 
in  his  opinion  that  his  dissolution  was  at  hand,  so  it  extremely 
rejoiced  him  to  have  the  comfort  of  a priest,  and  the  benefit  of  the 
Church’s  absolution  to  prepare  him  for  his  death.  He  shut  himself 
up  under  a stricter  confinement  upon  this  notice,  and  employed  the 
remainder  of  the  day  in  devotion;  but  withal  desired  his  fellow- 
prisoner  (the  writer  of  this  relation)  to  order  a breast  of  mutton  for 
supper,  and  to  invite  two  poor  Catholics  to  sup  with  him,  which  was 
done  accordingly. 

Thus  far  we  have  only  abridged  the  account  given  by  this  Catholic 
gentleman.  What  follows  is  set  down  in  his  own  words,  copied 
from  the  original. 

‘ Little  did  he  eat  at  supper,  only  a piece  of  pigeon-pie,  and  after 
a few  stewed  prunes,  which  one  of  his  sisters  had  brought  him;  and 
very  merry  he  was  that  evening.  And  being  at  supper,  I said  unto 
him,  Mr.  Nappier,  if  it  be  God’s  holy  will  that  you  should  suffer, 
I do  wish,  with  all  my  heart,  that  it  might  be  to-morrow,  it  being 
Friday,  and  said,  that  our  Saviour  did  eat  the  Paschal  Lamb  with 
His  disciples  on  Thursday  at  night,  and  suffered  the  Friday  follow- 
ing, and  therefore  I wish,  if  you  must  die,  it  might  be  to-morrow. 
He  answered  me  very  sweetly,  saying.  Welcome  by  God^s  grace; 
and  I pray  God  I may  be  constant  ; praying  us  all  to  pray  for  him. 
And  thus  much  I must  let  you  understand,  that  every  time  that  he 
heard  news  that  he  should  suffer,  he  would  give  to  some  poor  body 
that  was  Catholic,  some  of  his  clothes,  and  I would  say  unto  him, 
Methinks  you  might  make  reservation  of  them  again,  if  you  should 
not  die ; he  would  say  unto  me.  Oh  no,  for  I have  more  upon  my  back 
than  I brought  into  the  world,  and  if  I live  I will  put  myself  to  God's 
Providence.  And  truly  if  he  had  lived,  he  had  left  himself  little 

312 


i6io] 


GEORGE  NAPPIER 


more  than  he  brought  into  the  world,  for  he  had  given  almost  all 
away.  After  supper  he  and  the  other  good  man  withdrew  them- 
selves to  a secret  place  to  confer  of  some  special  matters,  and  when 
they  had  made  an  end,  they  took  their  leave  of  one  another,  and  so 
did  all  the  company,  and  every  man  to  his  chamber. 

‘ The  next  day  being  Friday,  and  the  9th  of  November,  about  six 
in  the  morning,  the  Under-Sheriff  sent  to  the  keeper’s  wife,  and 
willed  her  to  let  Mr.  Nappier  know  that  he  should  prepare  himself 
to  die,  for  that  was  the  day,  between  one  and  two  in  the  afternoon, 
that  he  should  be  executed.  The  poor  woman  took  it  very 
grievously,  and  fell  a crying,  and  came  to  me.  I,  hearing  her  cry 
much,  marvelled  what  the  matter  should  be;  and  came  and  met  her 
at  my  chamber- door,  and  asked  what  the  matter  was  } who  answered 
me  crying.  Oh,  the  blessed  man  must  die  this  day,  and  I cannot  find 
in  my  heart  to  go  tell  him  of  it.  I answered  her  again.  Welcome  by 
God’s  grace;  for  now  I am  assured  it  is  God’s  will  to  have  it  so,  and 
therefore  I will  go  unto  him  myself  to  let  him  understand  the  news. 
And  so  I went  to  his  chamber,  and  knocking  at  his  door,  he  came 
and  opened  it,  and  I saluted  him  and  asked  him  how  he  did  ? And 
he  answered  me,  saying.  Well,  I thank  Almighty  Jesus.  And  I 
asked  him  how  he  slept  in  the  night  } and  he  said.  Very  well,  I thank 
God.  Then  I said  unto  him,  that  the  bell  had  tolled,  and  rung 
out  also:  And  he  asked*  me  what  I meant  by  those  speeches  ? I 
said  unto  him  again.  That  now  he  must  put  on  his  armour  of  proof, 
for  he  must  fight  that  day  a great  battle.  Pie  took  me  in  his  arms 
and  embraced  me,  saying.  It  was  the  best  news  that  ever  was  brought 
unto  him,  and  I was  most  heartily  welcome  for  declaring  of  it  unto  him; 
saying  farther,  That  he  found  himself  cleansed,  he  hoped,  from  all  the 
rust  which  had  troubled  him  long  before.  And  as  I thought  he  rejoiced 
much,  and  asked  me  if  he  might  not  serve  God  (say  Mass)  that  day 
I said,  the  day  was  far  spent;  but  if  it  pleased  him  I would  go  and 
make  all  things  ready;  and  he  prayed  me  to  do  so,  for  he  was  ready. 
And  surely  methought  he  did  celebrate  that  day  as  reverently  in  all 
his  actions,  and  with  as  much  sweet  behaviour  as  ever  I saw  him  in 
all  my  life;  for  1 did  take  special  notice  of  him.  Pie  showed  no  fear 
in  any  respect;  and  when  he  had  made  an  end,  and  all  things  were 
laid  aside,  he  fell  to  his  devotions;  and  by  the  end  of  our  service 
many  scholars  were  come  into  the  castle-yard  and  into  the  court. 
And  after  he  had  prayed  some  hours  I came  unto  him,  and  asked 
him,  if  I should  send  for  some  comfortable  thing  for  him  to  drink  } 
and  he  answered  me:  No;  saying.  He  would  neither  eat  nor  drink, 
hoping  in  his  Saviour  that  he  should  have  a sumptuous  banquet  shortly. 

313 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 

And  after  a little  stay  I considered  that  his  time  drew  somewhat 
near,  I came  unto  him  again,  and  put  him  in  mind  of  shifting  him 
with  a fair  shirt,  and  he  said  he  would  willingly  do  so.  And  then  I 
made  him  a fire,  and  warmed  his  shirt,  and  coming  down  to  put  on 
his  shirt,  he  made  a step  down  amongst  the  poor  prisoners,  and  did 
distribute  some  money  amongst  them.  And  coming  up  again,  he 
brought  a piece  of  silver  of  half  a crown,  and  some  money  besides, 
and  laid  it  in  my  chamber  window ; and  I asked  him  what  he  would 
do  with  that  piece  of  silver,  having  the  picture  of  St.  George?  and  he 
told  me.  That  he  would  give  it  to  the  executioner  for  his  pains;  and  the 
rest  he  would  give  to  some  poor  people;  and  so  he  did.  And  when  he 
had  put  on  his  clean  shirt  he  fell  to  his  prayers  again.  He  had 
prayed  but  a short  time  when  a couple  of  scholars,  masters  of  arts, 
and  I think  one  of  them  was  a minister,  came  in;  and  they  began  to 
offer  some  speeches  to  him  concerning  the  oath  of  allegiance.  He 
prayed  them  to  give  him  leave  and  to  let  him  prepare  himself,  for 
he  had  not  long  to  stay;  and  it  stood  upon  him  to  call  to  mind  all 
his  reckonings,  which  he  was  to  make  to  his  Lord  and  Master;  and 
therefore  with  most  mild  and  sweet  words  he  entreated  them  not  to 
trouble  him ; and  they,  like  honest-minded  men,  stayed  their  speeches, 
seeming  to  be  sorry  for  him.  And  then  the  pro-proctor  cometh  to 
the  castle  to  speak  with  him,  and  he  sent  the  keeper  to  bring  Mr. 
Nappier  to  him ; he  staying  in  the  chamber  with  divers  other  scholars, 
and  some  others  besides;  and  the  blessed  man  being  come  unto 
him,  he  began  to  use  some  speeches  to  him,  to  persuade  him  to  take 
the  oath.  But  the  good  man  prayed  him  to  give  him  leave  to  spend 
that  little  time  which  was  left  him  in  prayer.  And  so  kneeled 
down  at  a round  table,  and  prayed  a little.  But  the  Under-Sheriff 
willed  him  to  make  him  ready,  for  all  things  were  almost  ready  for 
the  execution.  And  then  he  rose  up  and  went  into  a little  chamber 
hard  by,  and  put  on  a white  waistcoat,  &c.,  and  being  apparelled  to 
the  end  that  the  law  had  appointed,  he  came  again  into  the  keeper’s 
chamber;  and  I meeting  my  keeper,  he  asked  me,  if  I had  taken 
my  leave  of  him  ? I answered,  I would  willingly  see  him  again. 
And  he  willed  me  to  go  up  with  him,  and  I should  see  him;  and  so 
I went  with  him  into  his  chamber.  And  as  I was  coming  in  the 
blessed  man  was  about  to  kneel  down,  and  seeing  me  he  stayed; 
and  I pressed  through  the  scholars  and  came  unto  him,  and  kneeling 
down  he  blessed  me,  and  rising  up  again  he  embraced  me  and 
kissed  me.  And  I heard  the  pro-proctor  ask,  who  I was  ? and  one 
answered  him,  that  I was  a gentleman  and  a prisoner  for  my 
conscience.  And  then  the  blessed  man  began  to  kneel  down,  and 


i6io] 


GEORGE  NAPPIER 


the  proctor  said  to  him,  Mr.  Happier,  shall  I pray  with  you  ? and  he 
answered  him  in  these  words,  Oh  no,  good  Mr.  Proctor;  you  and  I 
are  not  of  one  religion,  and  therefore  may  not  pray  together.  Then 
the  proctor  asked  him  again,  saying.  Shall  I pray  for  you  1 The 
blessed  man  said  unto  him,  / would  to  God  you  were  in  a state  of 
grace  to  pray  for  me.  And  then  he  kneeled  down,  and  I kneeled  by 
him,  and  I think  he  said  but  one  Paternoster , for  I could  say  but 
one;  and  presently  the  Under-Sheriff  called  very  earnestly  to  come 
away.  And  so  prostrating  himself  on  the  ground  he  kissed  it,  and 
rose  up,  and  made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  went  forward  to  the 
dungeon  door,  where  the  hurdle  stayed  for  him.  And  coming  by 
the  proctor,  the  proctor  said  unto  him,  Mr.  Happier,  if  you  will  yet 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  I make  no  doubt  of  your  life.  He  spoke 
unto  him  and  said.  Good  Mr.  Proctor,  do  not  wrong  me  when  I am  gone, 
for  I know  many  speeches  will  go  of  me;  and  now  I say  again  unto  you, 
that  I have  prayed  most  heartily  for  the  King,  the  prince,  and  all  his 
children,  as  any  subject  he  hath  in  the  world;  and  will  yield  him  as 
much  power  and  authority  as  ever  any  prince  had  or  ought  to  have. 
And  then  the  hangm.an  came  unto  him  and  asked  him  forgiveness, 
and  the  blessed  man  said  and  embraced  him,  I most  lovingly  forgive 
thee,  and  for  a pledge  I have  willed  one  of  the  Sheriff's  men  to  give 
thee  some  silver;  and  the  hangman  said.  He  had  received  it,  and 
thanked  him  for  it.  And  so  he  being  called  for  again  he  went 
forward,  and  coming  down  to  the  stair’s  foot,  the  door  was  open, 
and  I followed  him;  and  he  seeing  the  hurdle,  most  willingly  went 
himself  and  laid  him  down  with  a lively  courage,  having  blessed 
himself.  He  had  not  so  much  as  a thread  to  bind  him,  which  I 
think  never  none  but  was  bound  saving  himself.  And  then  they 
offered  to  draw  forward,  and  one  of  the  pins  of  the  trace  broke,  so 
they  stayed  till  it  was  fastened.  And  the  people  were  so  unreason- 
able in  pressing  themselves  to  see  him,  that  they  pressed  me  down 
twice  upon  the  hurdle.  And  then  I called  to  the  proctor  to  command 
them  to  give  back;  and  then  I took  both  his  hands  in  my  hands,  and 
prayed  God  to  comfort  him,  and  looking  upon  me  he  prayed  God  to 
bless  me;  and  with  much  ado  I got  from  the  throng  of  people. 
And  more  than  this  I cannot  set  down  of  my  own  knowledge. 
What  follows  is  the  report  of  Mr.  Charles's  own  hearing  at  the  place 
where  he  suffered  his  martyrdom.’ 

The  9th  of  Hovemher,  being  Friday,  1610,  it  pleased  God  to 
appoint  the  time  in  which  the  faith  of  Mr.  George  Happier,  priest, 
was  to  be  tried  in  the  furnace.  Being  brought  therefore  out  of 
prison,  and  laid  on  the  hurdle,  with  hands  joined  and  his  eyes  fixed 

315 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 


towards  heaven,  without  moving  any  way,  he  was  drawn  to  the 
place  of  execution.  Where,  being  taken  off  and  set  on  his  feet, 
beholding  the  place  where  he  was  to  suffer,  he  signed  himself  with 
the  sign  of  the  cross ; and  ascending  the  steps  of  the  ladder  with  a 
cheerful  mind  to  receive  his  martyrdom,  turning  his  face  towards 
the  people,  having  again  signed  himself  with  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
he  began  to  speak  as  follows:  Gentlemen,  you  must  expect  no  great 
speech  at  my  hands,  for  indeed  I intend  none;  only  I acknowledge 
myself  to  be  a miserable  and  wretched  sinner.  And  therewithal  joining 
his  hands  with  intention  to  pray,  he  was  interrupted  by  a minister 
who  called  to  him,  saying,  Nappier,  Nappier,  confess  your  treason. 
Wherewith  bending  himself,  and  looking  down  towards  him,  he 
answered  him,  saying.  Treason,  sir  ! I thank  God,  I never  knew  what 
treason  meaJit ! To  which  the  minister  replied.  Be  advised  what 
you  say ; do  not  you  remember  how  the  judge  told  you  it  was  treason 
to  be  a priest  ? He  answered  the  minister  again.  For  that  I die,  sir, 
and  that  judge  as  well  as  I shall  appear  before  the  just  Judge  of  heaven, 
to  whom  I appeal,  who  will  determine  whether  it  be  treason  or  no  to  be 
a priest.  And  withal  he  protested  that  none  but  Catholics  can  be 
saved.  After  these  words  he  desired  that  he  might  have  leave  to 
pray,  whereunto  the  minister  replied.  Pray  for  the  King;  to  which 
he  answered.  So  I do  daily.  But  said  the  minister.  Pray  for  the 
King  now.  With  that  he  lifted  up  his  hands  and  said,  / pray  God 
preserve  His  Majesty,  and  make  him  a blessed  saint  in  heaven.  Then 
he  desired  the  company  that  he  might  pray  for  himself.  The 
minister  interrupting  him  the  third  time,  said.  Go  to;  pray,  and  we 
will  pray  with  you.  To  which  he  answered.  Sir,  I will  7ione  of  your 
prayers,  neither  is  it  my  desire  you  should  pray  with  me,  but  I desire 
all  good  Catholics  to  join  with  me  in  prayer.  So  addressing  himself 
to  pray  he  said.  In  te  Domine  speravi.  See.,  In  Thee,  O Lord,  I have 
put  my  trust,  let  me  not  be  confounded  for  ever.  Then  lifting  up 
his  hands  and  heart,  he  said  the  psalm  De  profundis,  &c.;  after  that, 
Beati  quorum  remissce  sunt  iniquitates,  &c.;  lastly,  the  psalm  Miserere. 
These  being  ended,  he  pulled  down  his  nightcap  over  his  eyes  and 
most  part  of  his  face,  and  often  repeating  these  words.  In  manus 
tuas.  See.,  Into  Thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend  my  spirit,  he  yielded 
himself  to  one  side  of  the  ladder,  having  his  hands  still  joined.  So 
being  turned  off,  he  struck  himself  three  times  on  the  breast,  and 
yielded  his  blessed  soul  into  His  hands  that  gave  it.  Thus  beseech- 
ing God  to  defend  you  from  your  enemies,  I most  humbly  desire 
you  to  remember  me  in  your  prayers.  From  my  cell  this  19th  day 
of  December,  1610. 


316 


JOHN  ROBERTS 


i6io] 

P.S. — His  charity  was  great,  for  if  any  poor  prisoner  wanted 
either  meat  to  fill  him  or  clothes  to  cover  him,  he  would  rather  be 
cold  himself  than  they  should.  If  any  of  them  would  pray  him  to 
give  his  word  to  the  keeper  for  them,  he  would  do  it,  if  he  paid  it 
himself,  as  sometimes  he  did,  and  he  would  wait  for  the  poorest 
prisoner  in  the  castle.  There  was  one  wretch  went  away  with 
twenty  shillings  and  nine  pence  of  his,  promising  him  he  would 
send  it  him  honestly,  but  he  never  heard  of  him.  One  other  he  lent 
his  cloak  to  wear  a few  days,  to  keep  him  warm ; and  hath  willed  that 
as  long  as  he  stays  in  the  gaol  he  must  wear  it,  which,  I fear,  will 
be  so  long  that  he  will  wear  that  out,  and  such  another.  And 
thus  beseeching  you  once  more  of  your  prayers,  I in  all  duty 
commend  me. 

Mr.  Nappier  suffered  at  Oxford,  November  9,  1610.  His  head 
was  set  up  on  Christ  Church  steeple,  and  his  quarters  upon  the  four 
gates  of  the  city. 


JOHN  ROBERTS,  Priest,  O.S.B.^ 

JOHN  ROBERTS  was  born  in  Merionethshire  of  Wales,  from 
whence  he  was  called  in  religion.  Father  John  de  Mervinia.  In 
what  school  ’ or  college  he  had  his  first  education  I have  not 
found;  though  I find  one  of  that  name  in  the  Doway  Diary,  sent 
from  Rhemes  to  Rome  in  1 583 . If  this  be  the  gentleman  we  are  treating 
of,  he  must  afterwards  have  gone  from  Rome  to  Spain;  for  certain 
it  is,  that  this  Mr.  Roberts  was  sometime  an  alumnus  of  the  English 
Seminary  of  Valladolid,  and  from  thence  betook  himself  to  the 
Spanish  congregation  of  Valladolid  of  the  Venerable  Order  of  St. 
Rennet,  amongst  whom  he  entered  in  the  year  1595.  He  was  pro- 
fessed in  the  abbey  of  St.  Martin  of  Compostella,  and  having  not 
long  after  received  the  holy  order  of  priesthood  in  1600,  he  was  that 
same  year  sent  upon  the  English  mission;  being  the  first,  says 
Father  B.  W[eldon],  who  out  of  a monastery  (since  the  suppression 
of  monasteries  in  England)  came  to  attack  the  gates  of  hell  and 
encounter  the  prince  of  darkness  in  his  usurped  kingdom,  whom  he 
overcame  like  his  Master,  the  great  Pattern  of  Martyrs,  by  losing 
his  life  in  the  conflict. 

* Ven.  John  Roberts. — From  Weldon’s  Manuscript  concerning  the 
English  Benedictine  Congregation,  extracted  from  the  archives  of  their 
monasteries;  from  Raissius’s  Catalogue  of  the  Douay  Martyrs;  and  from  a 
Manuscript  sent  me  from  the  English  College  of  St.  Omers;  see  also  Camm, 
Life  of  John  Roberts;  Acts  of  E.  M. 

317 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 

He  was,  says  my  author,  a man  of  admirable  zealy  couragey  and 
constancy.  Who,  during  his  ten  years’  labours  in  the  mission,  was 
four  times  apprehended  and  committed  to  prison,  and  as  often  sent 
into  banishment,  but  still  returned  again  to  the  work  of  his  Master 
upon  the  first  favourable  opportunity.  His  extraordinary  charity 
evidently  shewed  itself  during  the  time  of  a great  plague  in  London  y 
where  he  assisted  great  numbers  of  the  infected,  and  was  instru- 
mental in  the  conversion  of  many  souls  from  their  former  errors 
and  vices.  He  was  apprehended  for  the  fifth  time,  at  Mass,  on  the 
first  Sunday  of  Advent y i6io,  and  hurried  away  in  his  vestments, 
and  thrust  into  a dark  dungeon,  from  whence  he  was  quickly  after 
brought  out  to  his  trial,  and  condemned  to  die  barely  for  his  priestly 
character.  His  life,  however,  was  offered  him,  if  he  would  have 
taken  the  new  oath,  which  he  constantly  refused. 

My  manuscript  from  St.  Omers  gives  the  following  account  of 
the  execution  of  Mr.  RohertSy  and  of  Mr.  Thomas  SomerSy  alias 
Wilson y a secular  priest  of  Doway  College y who  suffered  at  the  same 
time  and  place. 

‘ These  two  blessed  men  being  drawn  within  sixteen  or  eighteen 
yards  of  the  place  of  execution  (Tyburn) y the  multitude  of  the  gentry 
and  of  the  common  people  was  such  and  so  great,  that  they  could 
not  draw  them  to  their  intended  place,  but  were  forced  to  take  them 
from  the  hurdle  and  to  send  them  to  the  carts,  in  which  stood  sixteen 
condemned  persons  with  their  ropes  about  their  necks,  and  tied  to 
the  gallows.  Father  Roberts  was  the  first  taken  from  the  hurdle, 
who  with  a cheerful  and  smiling  countenance  walked  in  his  gown 
to  the  cart,  into  which  he  offered  to  leap  but  could  not,  being  very 
weak,  in  regard  of  his  sickness,  until  by  the  serjeants  and  other 
officers  he  was  assisted.  He  took  notice  upon  this  occasion  that  he 
was  to  be  hanged  amongst  thieves,  upon  which  one  of  the  officers 
put  him  in  mind  that  his  Master  was  so  ser\^ed.  As  soon  as  his 
feet  were  seated  in  the  cart,  he  turned  himself  towards  the  poor 
condemned  prisoners,  and  displaying  his  hands,  and  blessing  them, 
he  said.  We  are  all  come  hither  to  die,  from  which  there  is  no  hope 
of  escape,  and  if  you  die  in  the  religion  now  professed  in  Englandy 
you  shall  undoubtedly  perish  everlastingly.  Let  me,  therefore, 
for  the  love  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  entreat  you  that  we  may  all  die 
in  one  faith,  in  testimony  whereof  let  me  beseech  you  to  pronounce 
with  me  those  words,  I believe  the  holy  Catholic  Church;  protesting 
your  desires  to  die  members  of  the  same,  as  also  your  sorrowfulness 
for  having  led  so  naughty  and  wicked  lives,  whereby  you  have 
offended  our  sweet  and  merciful  Saviour;  which  if  you  will  truly 


i6io] 


JOHN  ROBERTS 


and  constantly  profess,  I will  pronounce  absolution,  and  then  my 
soul  for  yours.  And  being  purposed  to  have  given  them  farther 
ghostly  counsel,  he  was  interrupted  by  a churlish  officer,  who  would 
no  longer  permit  him  to  speak  to  those  poor  people.  Whereupon, 
falling  down  upon  his  knees,  he  privately  poured  forth  some  few 
prayers,  which  having  finished,  he  suddenly  rising  up  from  his 
knees,  with  a smiling  and  most  cheerful  countenance,  turned  himself 
to  the  people  and  blessed  them  all. 

‘ The  executioner  being  very  busy  in  pulling  off  his  gown,  he 
said,  Mr.  Sheriff,  shall  I not  speak  ? To  which  the  Sheriff,  being  a 
man  of  much  humanity,  replied.  Yes,  Mr.  Roberts,  you  shall  speak; 
and  withal  delivered  to  one  of  the  officers  a little  glass  of  aqua  vitce 
to  keep  him  from  fainting  in  regard  of  his  great  weakness,  whereof 
he  drank  a little  quantity.  During  which  time  Mr.  Somers,  his 
associate,  was  likewise  brought  to  the  cart,  to  whom  Mr.  Roberts 
gave  his  hand  to  help  him  up,  saying.  Welcome,  good  brother;  and 
then  having  embraced  and  blessed  each  other,  Mr.  Roberts  turned 
himself  to  the  people,  blessing  them  with  a cheerful  countenance,  and 
with  an  audible  voice,  said,  Audite  coeliquce  loquor,  audiat  terra  verba 
oris  mei.  Which  having  Englished,  saying.  Honourable,  worshipful, 
and  my  well  beloved  friends , and  beginning  to  proceed,  he  was  again 
interrupted  by  the  said  churlish  officer;  whose  insolence  was  such 
that  he  was  publicly  taunted  and  rebuked  by  many  gentlemen  of 
great  condition,  they  all  protesting  against  his  barbarous  churlish- 
ness. 

‘ Being  thus  hindered  from  dilating  upon  that  scripture  text 
formerly  uttered;  having  again  blessed  the  people,  he  said,  I am 
condemned  to  die  for  that  being  a priest  I came  into  England  con- 
trary to  a statute  made  in  the  27th  year  of  the  late  Queen’s  reign. 
Other  matter  was  not  objected  against  me  at  my  arraignment.  And 
to  the  objection  that  he  came  into  England  without  due  authority 
he  replied,  that  he  was  sent  into  England  by  the  same  authority  by 
which  St.  Augustin  the  apostle  of  England  was  sent,  whose  disciple 
he  was;  being  of  the  same  order,  and  living  under  the  same  rule 
in  which  he  lived;  and  that  for  the  profession  and  teaching  of  that 
religion,  which  St.  Augustin  planted  in  England,  he  was  now  con- 
demned to  die. 

‘ The  executioners  being  as  busy  in  making  Mr.  Wilson  ready, 
as  they  had  Mr.  Roberts,  he  in  this  interim  again  surveying  the 
people,  and  blessing  them,  to  many  of  his  acquaintance,  and  to  every 
one  that  saluted  him  with  hat  or  otherwise,  he  returned  a resalutatino 
with  benedictions;  and  then  pronounced  those  words,  Memorare 

.319 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 


novissima  tua,  Let  every  man  remember  his  end;  he  farther  added, 
Omnes  nos  manifestari  oportet  ante  tribunal  Christi:  We  must  all 
appear  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  there  to  give  account 
of  our  faith  and  works.  They  that  have  done  well  shall  go  to 
everlasting  life;  and  they  that  have  done  evil  into  everlasting  tor- 
ments. Then  blessing  the  people  again,  he  prayed  them  to  pardon 
him  for  not  using  more  words,  protesting  inability  of  speech  in 
regard  of  weakness.  But  for  his  last  farewell  he  entreated  them  to 
return  to  the  unity  of  the  Catholic  Church;  praying  them  to  take 
certain  notice  that  extra  ecclesiam  non  est  salus^  the  English  whereof 
he  inforced  himself  to  deliver  with  a most  strong  voice;  saying. 
Unto  this  end  I will  not  cease  to  pray  for  you  all  during  my  life,  and 
after  my  death  I shall  have  greater  ability  to  perform  the  same. 
And  then  he  was  again  interrupted  by  that  same  rude  officer,  who  so 
often  before  had  interrupted  him,  saying.  That  it  was  not  fit  he 
should  so  persuade  the  people;  to  whom  the  principal  officer  replied. 
He  speaks  nothing  against  the  King  or  State,  and  therefore  I see  no 
reason  but  that  he  may  speak.  To  which  the  other  replied.  It  must 
not  be ; he  must  not  be  suffered  to  allure  the  King’s  people  in  this 
sort.  To  which  Mr.  Roberts  answered,  I say  nothing  against  the 
King,  he  is  a good  king;  I beseech  God  to  bless  him,  his  grave 
senate  the  Council,  the  honourable  bench  by  whom  I was  con- 
demned, together  with  all  those  that  have  been  instruments  of  my 
death.  Neither  is  it  the  King  that  causes  us  to  die,  he  is  a clement 
king;  it  is  heresy,  it  is  heresy  that  does  this. 

‘ Being  advised  to  put  on  his  nightcap,  he  answered.  Do  you  think 
I fear  the  headache  ? And  seeing  the  fire  prepared  to  burn  his 
bowels,  he  said,  I perceive  you  prepare  a hot  breakfast  for  us.  Then, 
having  given  his  last  benediction,  as  well  to  the  whole  multitude, 
as  to  those  that  knew  or  did  salute  him;  putting  his  hands  close  to 
his  eyes  he  prayed  secretly  until  Mr.  Wilson  was  full  ready.  Whose 
hands  being  fast  tied,  with  a cheerful  and  pleasant  countenance 
he  (Mr.  Wilson)  blessed  all  the  people  with  these  words : Benedicat 
VOS  omnipotens  et  misericors  Dominus,  Pater  et  Filius  et  Spiritus  Sanctus. 
And  farther  said  that  he  was  condemned  to  die  for  being  a priest, 
as  also  for  refusing  an  oath  now  tendered  as  an  oath  of  allegiance; 
protesting  himself  ever  to  have  been  a true,  loyal,  and  faithful 
subject;  and  that  he  refused  not  the  oath,  in  respect  of  that  allegiance 
which  the  prince  may  challenge  of  his  subjects,  but  in  regard  that  it 
is  so  mixt  with  matters  of  religion,  that  it  is  expressly  forbidden  by 
the  Pope’s  holiness,  whom  we  are  all  bound  to  obey  in  matters  of 
religion;  and  therefore  he  persuaded  them  all  to  obey  this  same 

320 


i6io] 


JOHN  ROBERTS 


supreme  pastor  of  God’s  Church,  affirming,  as  his  blessed  associate 
had  done  before,  that  out  of  the  same  Church  there  is  no 
salvation. 

‘ And  now  they  were  informed  by  an  officer  that  they  must 
instantly  die.  Embracing  therefore  and  blessing  each  other,  and 
giving  their  last  benedictions  with  manacled  hands,  Mr.  Roberts, 
plucking  his  handkerchief  over  his  eyes  said,  Omnes  sancti,  et  sanctce 
Dei  inter cedite  pro  me;  and  Mr.  Wilson,  In  manus  tuas  Domine  com- 
mendo  spiritum  meum.  They  were  suffered  to  hang  till  they  were 
thoroughly  dead;  then  being  cut  down,  they  were  bowelled,  be- 
headed, and  quartered.  Their  entrails  being  burnt,  their  quarters 
were  buried  in  the  same  pit  which  was  prepared  for  those  poor 
wretches  that  then  died,  all  which  sixteen  bodies  were  cast  upon 
them.’  So  far  the  manuscript. 

B.  W.  adds  that  two  nights  after,  one  of  Mr.  Roberts's  brethren, 
with  some  other  Catholics,  dug  out  at  midnight  the  quarters  both 
of  Mr.  Roberts  and  Mr.  Wilson  from  the  pit  into  which  they  had  been 
cast,  and  carried  them  off ; but  that  as  they  were  coming  into  the  town, 
at  break  of  day,  meeting  with  the  watch,  one  of  these  pious  thieves, 
that  he  might  more  certainly  escape,  let  drop  a leg  and  thigh  of 
Father  Roberts,  which  was  taken  up  and  carried  to  George  Abbot, 
then  Bishop  of  London,  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  who 
was  the  man  that  had  been  Father  Roberts  his  chief  adversary,  and 
had  stood  with  greatest  vehemency  against  him  at  his  trial,  animating 
the  Judge  against  him;  and  that  he  ordered  them  to  be  buried  in  the 
Church  of  St.  Saviour,  to  hinder  the  Catholics  from  recovering 
them.  The  rest  were  carried  to  Doway,  to  the  monastery  of  the 
English  Benedictines  there,  but  one  of  Father  Roberts's  arms  was  sent 
into  Spain  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Martin's  at  Compostella. 

Mr.  Roberts  suffered  at  Tyburn,  December  lo,  i6io. 


THOMAS  SOMERS,  alias  WILSON,  Priest  * 

Mr.  SOMERS,  who  was  known  upon  the  mission  by  the 
name  of  Wilson,  was  born  in  Westmoreland;  where  for  some 
years  he  taught  a grammar  school  to  the  great  benefit  of 
many,  as  well  of  his  scholars  as  of  his  other  neighbours,  whom  he 
instructed  in  the  Christian  Catholic  religion;  and  some  also  of  the 

* Ven.  Thomas  Somers,  alias  Wilson. — From  Dr.  Worthington  and 
Raissius  in  their  printed  Catalogues;  see  also  C.R.S.,  x.,  xi. 

321 


X 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6io 


more  advanced  he  persuaded  to  go  over  to  Doway  to  the  English 
College  or  Seminary  there,  in  order  to  qualify  themselves  by  learning 
and  piety  for  holy  orders,  that  so  they  might  one  day  return  again 
to  their  own  country  to  assist  the  souls  of  their  neighbours  in  those 
evil  days.  The  counsel  which  he  gave  to  others,  he  not  long  after 
followed  himself;  and  repairing  to  the  aforesaid  college,  he  passed 
through  his  divinity  studies,  was  made  priest,  and  sent  upon  the 
English  mission  in  1606.  His  residence  was  in  London,  and  his 
labours  were  chiefly  dedicated  to  the  poorer  sort  of  Catholics  there, 
whom  he  served  with  such  extraordinary  diligence  and  zeal,  as  to 
be  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  the  pastor  or  parish  priest  of 
London,  Parochus  Londiniensis , 

After  some  time  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  priest-catchers,  and 
was  committed  to  prison,  and  from  prison  was,  with  twenty  others 
of  the  same  character,  by  virtue  of  an  order  from  the  Council, 
shipped  off,  and  sent  into  banishment.  He  landed  at  Boulogne,  and 
from  thence  went  and  paid  a visit  to  his  old  mother  college,  where 
he  met  with  a kind  welcome,  and  was  invited  to  take  up  his  habita- 
tion there,  the  office  of  Procurator  of  the  House  being  oflPered  him 
by  Dr.  Worthington,  then  president.  But  his  heart  was  with  his 
flock,  from  which  he  had  been  violently  separated;  and  no  appre- 
hension of  dangers  to  which  his  return  must  needs  expose  him, 
being  so  well  known  as  he  was,  could  make  any  impression  on  a soul 
that  was  all  on  fire  with  heavenly  charity,  and  which  looked  upon 
death  in  such  a cause  as  the  greatest  of  all  happinesses. 

To  England  therefore  he  returned,  and  there  reassumed  his 
accustomed  labours  in  the  same  field  as  formerly,  but  was  not  long 
after  again  apprehended  and  quickly  brought  to  his  trial,  where  he 
was  convicted  of  having  received  holy  orders  in  the  Church  of  Rome, 
and  having  exercised  his  priestly  functions  in  England;  and  for  this 
supposed  treason — no  other  being  so  much  as  objected  to  him — he 
was  condemned  to  die  the  death  of  traitors.  When  the  bloody 
sentence  was  pronounced  against  him,  it  drew  tears  from  the  eyes 
of  many,  and  caused  pity  and  compassion  in  most  of  the  standers- 
by;  but  as  for  his  own  part,  he  heard  it  with  such  a remarkable 
calmness  and  composedness  in  his  looks,  as  affected  the  whole  court 
with  wonder  and  astonishment. 

A few  days  after  he  was  drawn  to  Tyburn  in  the  company  of  Mr. 
Roberts,  where,  as  we  have  seen  already,  they  both  made  a glorious 
confession  of  their  faith  in  the  sight  of  an  infinite  number  of  people, 
and  poured  forth  their  blood  in  defence  of  it,  December  10,  1610. 

Molanus  in  his  Appendix  to  his  Idea  togatce  Constantice,  published 

322 


THOMAS  SOMERS 


1612] 

in  1629,  down  Mr.  Somerses  banishment  in  1610,  and  gives  him 
for  companions  Messieurs  Richard  Newport^  Philip  Woodward^ 
Thomas  Leaky  Cuthbert  Johnson y Oswald  Needham y N.  Greeny  John 
Praty  John  Lockwood y John  Ainsworth  y Robert  Chamberlaney  Edward 
Millingtony  Gilbert  Hunty  N.  Sadler y and  N.  Muttony  O.S.B.,  Thomas 
Priesty  and  Mich,  WalpolCy  S.J.,  &c.  He  adds  that  Oswald  Needham 
was  afterwards  crowned  with  martyrdom  (but  this  particular  is  not 
confirmed  by  any  other  writer) ; and  that  John  Lockwood  and  Gilbert 
Hunt  were  also  afterwards  condemned  to  die. 

This  year,  1610,  Mr.  Lewis  BarloWy  the  first  missioner  from  the 
Seminaries,  departed  this  life  in  a good  old  age.  He  came  to  Doway 
in  1570,  was  made  priest  and  sent  upon  the  mission  in  1574,  was 
divers  times  apprehended  and  imprisoned  and  was  sent  into  banish- 
ment in  1603,  but  returned  again  to  his  labours,  and  died  this  year 
in  England. — Doway  Diary. 

The  year  1611  passed  without  the  shedding  of  any  Catholic 
blood  on  religious  accounts;  not  so  the  following  year,  in  which  I 
find  three  priests  and  one  layman  put  to  death  upon  the  penal 
statutes. 


[ 1612.  ] 

WILLIAM  SCOT,  Priest,  O.S.B  * 

WILLIAM  SCOT,  who  in  religion  was  called  Father 

was  a gentleman  by  birth,  and  bred  up  to  the  study  of  the 
civil  law  in  Trinity  Hall  in  the  University  of  Cambridge. 
He  was  converted  by  reading  Catholic  books,  and  went  beyond  the 
seas,  where  he  was  for  some  time  alumnus  of  one  of  the  Spanish 
seminaries,  I believe  of  that  of  Valladolidy  and  from  thence  entered 
into  the  Order  of  St.  Benedict y being  one  of  the  first  of  the  English 
that  entered  himself  amongst  the  Spanish  monks  of  the  congregation 
of  Valladolid.  He  was  professed  in  the  famous  abbey  of  St.  Facundus 
in  the  town  of  SahaguUy  and,  having  received  the  holy  order  of 
priesthood,  returned  into  England  to  labour  there  in  the  vineyard 
of  his  Lord. 

For  a welcome  at  his  first  arrival  at  Londony  he  beheld  the  priest, 

* Ven.  William  Scott. — From  Weldon’s  Manuscript  concerning  the 
English  Benedictine  Congregation;  and  from  a relation  of  his  trial  by  an 
eye-witness ; see  also  Camm,  Life  of  Roberts. 

323 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1612 


by  whom  he  had  formerly  been  taken  into  the  Church,  hurried  away 
to  death  for  his  faith  and  character ; and  he  himself  within  three  days 
aftei  was  apprehended  and  cast  into  prison  for  the  like  cause.  He 
was  kept  in  confinement  for  about  a twelvemonth,  and  then  trans- 
ported into  banishment ; and  this  happened  to  him  more  than  once ; 
for  a certain  contemporary  author  informs  us,  that  he  was  several 
times  imprisoned,  and  several  times  banished.  [Post  crebros  car  ceres 
et  exilia:  Apostolatus  Bened.,  p.  247.]  In  his  last  banishment  he 
went  to  Dozuayy  and  lived  there  for  some  time  amongst  his  brethren 
in  their  monastery  of  that  town.  But  he  returned  again  to  his 
Master’s  work,  and  quickly  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors. 
His  chief  adversary  who  caused  him  to  be  prosecuted  and  con- 
demned was  George  Abbot,  who  from  being  Bishop  of  London  was 
advanced  to  the  Archbishopric  of  Canterbury.  Mr.  Scot  upon  his 
apprehension  was  brought  before  this  Protestant  prelate  to  be 
examined;  he  refused  the  new  oath  of  allegiance,  but  neither  con- 
fessed nor  denied  his  priesthood.  The  chief  proof  that  was  brought 
for  his  being  a priest,  was,  that  as  he  came  by  water  from  Gravesend 
to  London,  upon  some  danger  of  being  discovered,  he  flung  into  the 
Thames  a little  bag,  where  were  his  breviary  and  faculties  with 
some  medals  and  crosses;  which  bag  a fisherman  catching  in  his  net, 
had  carried  to  the  said  George  Abbot. 

The  following  account  of  his  trial  and  death  was  written  by  an  eye-witness, 
whose  manuscript  relation  is  preserved  by  the  English  Benedictines,  in  their 
monastery  of  Doway,  who  favoured  me  with  a copy  of  it. 

On  Monday  the  25th  of  May,  Mr.  Scot  was  removed  from  the 
Gatehouse  to  Newgate,  in  order  to  take  his  trial  in  the  sessions  which 
were  to  begin  at  the  Old  Bailey  the  following  Thursday.  Whilst 
he  was  here  preparing  himself  for  his  last  conflict,  his  conversation 
gave  great  edification  to  his  fellow  prisoners ; but  it  was  particularly 
taken  notice  of,  that  he  seemed  much  mortified,  when  any  one 
would  be  saying,  that  it  was  not  likely  the  Court  would  proceed  at 
that  time  to  the  execution  of  any  priest.  On  Thursday  morning, 
when  he  understood  by  the  jailer  that  the  Bishop  of  London  [King'] 
would  be  at  the  session-house,  to  attend  his  trial  at  three  o’clock 
that  afternoon,  he  began  to  take  heart,  and  to  prepare  himself  for 
that  hour.  At  which  time  he  and  his  companion  Mr.  Newport 
were  conducted  to  the  Old  Bailey;  where  were  sitting  the  Lord  Mayor, 
the  Bishop  of  London,  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  Cook,  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Common-Pleas,  the  Recorder  of  London,  with  many 
other  justices.  Here  Mr.  Scofs  indictment  was  read;  which,  he 

324 


i6i2] 


WILLIAM  SCOT 


said,  contained and  therefore  he  pleaded  not  guilty.  They 
urged  him  to  say  directly,  whether  he  was  a priest  or  no;  but  this 
he  would  neither  confess  nor  deny,  saying,  that  it  was  the  business 
of  his  accusers  to  make  it  out  that  he  was  a priest.  They  would 
needs  infer  from  hence  that  he  certainly  was  a priest;  and  Lord 
Chief  Justice  Cook  urged,  that  in  cases  of  prcemunire  it  was  judged 
sufficient  to  find  any  man  guilty,  if  he  neither  owned  nor  denied 
the  fact.  Mr.  Scot  replied,  that  however  it  might  be  in  cases  of 
prcemunire,  it  was  certain  that  in  cases  of  life  and  death  they  were  to 
proceed  only  according  to  what  had  been  legally  made  out  by 
witnesses. 

It  was  then  objected,  that  he  had  been  sent  into  banishment  as 
a priest,  and  that  by  his  accepting  of  this  banishment  with  the  rest, 
he  had  sufficiently  owned  himself  a priest.  He  answered  that  he 
had  never  accepted  of  any  banishment;  that  he  had  been  released 
indeed  with  others,  at  the  request  of  the  Ambassador  of  Savoy; 
but  when  he  obtained  this  liberty,  which  he  had  never  petitioned  for, 
he  neither  owned  himself  a priest,  nor  ever  promised  himself,  or 
any  other  for  him,  to  his  knowledge,  that  he  would  not  return  again 
into  England.  And  whereas  the  Bishop  of  London  was  very  active 
in  this  cause,  Mr.  Scot  told  him  it  did  not  become  his  lordship,  or 
any  one  of  his  cloth,  to  meddle  in  causes  of  life  and  death.  But 
this  did  not  silence  the  Protestant  prelate,  who  amongst  other  things 
urged  against  the  prisoner,  that  in  the  bag  mentioned  above  was 
found  a paper  giving  leave  to  say  Mass  above  or  below  ground,  &c. 
Giving  leave!  said  Mr.  Scct^  hut  to  whom?  Was  my  name  there  ex- 
pressed? If  not^  your  lordship  might  have  kept  that  argument  to 
yourself^  with  the  rest  of  the  things  in  the  hag. 

The  Bishop  still  urged  him  to  answer,  if  he  was  a priest,  or  no. 
My  Lord^  said  he,  are  you  a priest?  No,  said  the  prelate.  No 
priest,  no  hishop,  said  Mr.  Scot.  I am  a priest,  said  the  Bishop, 
hut  not  a massing  priest.  If  you  are  a priest,  said  Mr.  Scot,  you 
are  a sacrificing  priest,  for  sacrificing  is  essential  to  priesthood;  and  if 
you  are  a sacrificing  priest , you  are  a massing  priest,  [For  what  other 
sacrifice  have  the  priests  of  the  new  law,  as  distinct  from  mere  laics, 
to  offer  to  God,  but  that  of  the  Eucharist,  which  we  call  the  Mass  ?] 
If  then  you  are  no  massing  priest,  you  are  no  sacrificmg  priest;  if  no 
sacrificing  priest,  no  priest  at  all,  and  consequently  no  hishop. 

But  as  Mr.  Scot  perceived  the  judges  were  resolved  to  proceed 
upon  bare  presumptions  to  direct  the  jury  to  bring  him  in  guilty; 
he  told  them  he  was  sorry  to  see  his  cause  was  to  be  committed  to 
the  verdict  of  those  poor  ignorant  men  who  knew  not  what  a priest 

325 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1612 


was,  nor  whether  he  was  a man  or  a mouse.  Then  turning  himself 
to  the  jury,  he  said,  it  grieved  him  much  that  his  blood  was  to  fall 
upon  their  heads;  but  withal  bid  them  consider,  for  the  securing 
their  own  consciences,  that  nothing  had  been  alleged  against  him 
but  mere  presumptions;  and  as  he  was  not  to  be  his  own  accuser, 
they  were  to  proceed  according  to  what  had  been  legally  proved, 
and  not  upon  presumptions.  The  jury  withdrew,  but  quickly 
returned  again,  and  gave  in  their  verdict  by  the  mouth  of  the  foreman , 
guilty;  which  word  Mr.  Scot  had  so  sooner  heard,  but  he  fell  upon 
his  knees,  and  said  with  a loud  voice.  Thanks  he  to  God;  adding,  that 
never  any  news  was  more  welcome  to  him,  and  that  there  was  nothing 
that  he  had  ever  wished  for  more  in  his  life,  than  the  happiness  of 
dying  for  so  good  a cause.  Then  turning  himself  to  the  people  he 
said,  ‘ I have  not  as  yet  confessed  myself  a priest,  that  the  law 
might  go  on  its  course ; and  that  it  might  appear  whether  they  would 
proceed  to  condemn  me  upon  mere  presumption  and  conjectures 
without  any  witness,  which  you  see  they  have  done.  Wherefore, 
to  the  glory  of  God,  and  of  all  the  saints  in  heaven,  I now  confess 
I am  a monk  of  the  order  of  St.  Bennet^  and  a priest  of  the  Roma?i 
Catholic  Church.  But  be  you  all  witnesses,  I pray  you,  that  I have 
committed  no  crime  against  his  Majesty  or  my  country ; I am  only 
accused  of  priesthood,  and  for  priesthood  alone  I am  condemned.’ 

Mr.  Newport^  a man  of  great  zeal  and  fervour,  who  had  twice 
before  been  imprisoned  and  sent  into  banishment,  and  through  the 
desire  of  martyrdom  had  returned  a third  time  upon  the  mission, 
and  had  been  a third  time  apprehended;  after  seven  months’  im- 
prisonment (during  which  he  had  prepared  himself,  as  he  had  done 
for  many  years  before,  for  the  conflict  for  which  God  had  designed 
him)  was  brought  to  the  sessions-house  with  Father  Scot^  but  for 
want  of  time  was  not  tried  that  afternoon,  but  sent  back  to  prison; 
to  which  Mr.  Scot  returned  with  as  much  calmness  and  uncon- 
cernedness in  his  looks,  as  if  nothing  had  been  done  that  day  against 
him.  The  next  morning,  being  Friday^  Mr.  Newport  alone  was 
brought  to  the  bar,  where  he  acknowledged  himself  to  be  a priest, 
and  that  he  had  been  twice  banished,  &c.,  but  denied  the  indictment, 
not  owning  himself  guilty  of  any  treason  against  his  king  or  country. 
The  Recorder  told  him,  it  was  high  treason  for  a priest  ordained 
beyond  the  seas  to  return  into  England.  Mr.  Newport  answered, 
Whatever  it  might  be  by  the  law  of  England,  it  could  be  no  treason 
by  the  law  of  God ; that  their  new  laws  were  made  according  to  their 
new  religion,  and  could  not  be  of  any  force  against  the  law  of  God, 
and  that  authority  which  Jesus  Christ  Himself  had  given  to  priests, 
' ■ 326 


WILLIAM  SCOT 


1612] 

in  those  words,  Go,  teach  all  nations^  &c.  And  as  it  could  be  no 
treason  to  be  a priest,  so  he  could  not  comprehend  how  he  could 
be  a traitor  for  returning  into  his  own  country,  having  been  always 
both  at  home  and  abroad  a faithful  subject  to  his  Majesty.  He  added 
that  by  the  laws  which  they  had  lately  made  against  priests,  they 
might  condemn  Christ  Himself  if  He  were  upon  earth,  because  He 
was  a priest.  The  Recorder  told  him,  that  priests  were  the  first 
men  that  had  plotted  against  his  present  Majesty.  No,  no,  said 
Mr.  Newport,  but  Protestants  and  Puritans  were  the  men  that 
plotted  against  him,  and  sought  to  rob  him  of  his  life,  whilst  he  was 
yet  in  his  mother’s  womb.  These  and  other  such  like  words,  says 
my  author,  who  was  present  at  his  trial,  he  spoke  with  wonderful 
constancy  and  fortitude.  He  seemed  very  unwilling  his  blood 
should  lie  at  the  door  of  the  poor  ignorant  jury ; but  was  obliged  to 
acquiesce  to  the  custom  of  the  law.  The  twelve  brought  him  in 
guilty;  which  verdict  he  received  with  great  courage  and  cheerful- 
ness. The  Bishop  of  London  was  present  at  his  trial,  but  said  nothing ; 
for  he  had  gained  but  little  credit,  even  amongst  Protestants,  by 
what  he  had  said  the  day  before  at  the  trial  of  Father  Scot. 

Friday  in  the  afternoon  the  two  confessors  of  Christ  were  again 
brought  to  the  bar ; and  being  asked  what  they  had  to  say  for  them- 
selves, why  the  sentence  of  death  should  not  pass  upon  them;  they 
replied,  That  they  could  not  be  justly  condemned,  either  for  being 
priests,  or  for  returning  into  England,  for  neither  the  one  nor  the 
other  could  possibly  be  criminal ; as  nothing  else  could  be  objected 
against  them.  The  Recorder  would  not  suffer  them  to  proceed; 
but  taking  occasion  from  that  constancy  and  alacrity  which  appeared 
in  their  countenance  (by  which,  as  well  as  by  their  courageous 
answers,  the  people  were  much  edified)  to  reproach  them,  as  if  they 
had  not  behaved  with  that  modesty  as  other  priests  had  done  before 
them,  hoping  thereby  to  disgrace  them  with  the  standers-by,  who 
had  very  much  applauded  them,  he  pronounced  separately  the 
sentence  of  condemnation  against  them  in  the  usual  form.  After 
which,  their  hands  being  tied,  they  were  sent  back  to  prison;  where 
they  remained  that  night  full  of  joy  at  their  approaching  happiness, 
and  giving  great  comfort  and  edification  to  their  fellow-prisoners. 

The  next  morning,  being  the  30th  of  May,  at  six  of  the  clock, 
they  were  brought  out  to  the  hurdle.  And  first  Mr.  Newport  was 
appointed  for  the  right-hand  side,  who  laid  himself  down  with  a 
smiling  countenance,  and  lifting  up  his  hands,  which  were  tied,  in 
the  best  manner  he  could,  gave  his  benediction  to  the  people.  Then 
Father  Scot,  who  had  come  down  in  his  religious  habit,  with  a 

327 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1612: 


design  to  have  wore  it  at  his  execution,  but  was  ordered  to  put  it 
ofT  again,  advanced  to  the  hurdle;  and  standing  over  it  declared  to 
the  people,  ‘ That  he  was  a faithful  subject  of  his  Majesty,  and  daily 
prayed  for  him ; and  that  he  begged  of  God  to  turn  away  his  stripes 
and  punishments  from  this  island;  that  he  wished  as  well  to  the 
King  as  to  his  own  soul ; and  had  never  harboured  so  much  as  one 
evil  thought  against  him;  and  that  if  by  his  death  he  could  do  any 
service  to  the  soul  or  body  of  his  sovereign,  he  should  be  no  less 
willing  .to  die  for  his  service,  than  he  was  now  to  lay  down  his  life 
for  God’s  honour  and  the  testimony  of  the  truth.’ 

After  this  speech,  at  which  my  author  says  he  was  present,  Mr. 
Scot  was  pinioned  down  upon  the  hurdle,  and  so  drawn  to  Tyburn 
with  his  companion,  and  there  executed  according  to  sentence. 
May  30,  being  Whitsun  Eve^  1612. 


RICHARD  NEWPORT,  alias  SMITH,  Priest  * 

He  was  born  in  Northamptonshire;  and  performed  his  studies 
abroad  partly  in  the  College  of  Rhemes  (if  he  be  the  Richard 
Smith  whom  I find  in  the  Doway  Diary  sent  to  Rome  in  1586) 
and  partly  in  that  of  Rome^  where  he  was  made  priest.  From  hence 
he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission,  and  behaved  himself  in  such 
a manner  as  justly  to  acquire  the  character  of  a laborious  missionary ; 
being  withal  remarkably  successful  in  bringing  home  many  strayed 
sheep  to  the  fold  of  Christ,  to  which  his  apostolical  way  of  living 
did  not  a little  contribute.  He  was  several  times  apprehended  and 
cast  into  prison,  and  twice  banished.  His  name  occurs  amongst 
those  who  were  transported  in  1606;  at  which  time,  we  are  told, 
he  took  that  opportunity  of  making  a pilgrimage  to  Rome,  there  to 
pour  forth  his  prayers  at  the  tombs  of  the  Apostles,  in  behalf  of  this 
afflicted  Church,  and  to  obtain  of  God,  by  their  intercession,  grace 
and  constancy  for  himself  to  fulfil  his  ministry  amidst  so  many 
difficulties  and  dangers,  as  he  expected  to  meet  with  upon  his  return 
to  England. 

’Tis  true,  he  had  been  strictly  charged  by  the  Council  not  to 
come  back  into  any  of  the  British  dominions  at  his  utmost  peril; 
but  then  he  had  learnt  from  the  example  of  the  Apostles,  that  in 
things  relating  to  the  functions  of  his  ministry,  he  was  to  hearken  to 

* Ven.  Richard  Newport,  alias  Smith. — From  Dr.  Worthington’s 
Catalogue;  see  also  Folev,  Records,  vii.;  Weldon;  Rubens. 

328 


i6i2] 


JOHN  ALMOND 


God  rather  than  man.  To  England  therefore  he  returned,  and 
though  he  was  apprehended  again  and  banished  a second  time,  he 
again  came  back  at  the  first  favourable  opportunity. 

Being  apprehended  for  the  third  time,  the  persecutors  were  now 
resolved  to  make  sure  work  with  him,  and  effectually  to  silence  him 
for  ever.  To  this  end  they  brought  him  upon  his  trial,  on  an  indict- 
ment of  high  treason,  for  being  a priest,  and  returning  into  England 
contrary  to  the  statute.  We  have  already  seen  his  behaviour  at  the 
bar;  and  how  by  his  jury  he  was  found  guilty  of  the  indictment,  and 
in  consequence  of  this  supposed  guilt,  was  condemned  to  die  the 
ignominious  death  of  traitors;  which  he  suffered  with  constancy 
and  courage,  in  the  company  of  Mr.  Scot,  May  30,  1612. 


JOHN  ALMOND,  Priest. 

JOHN  ALMOND,  who  in  his  examination  before  the  Bishop  of 
London  calls  himself  Francis  Lathome,  and  who  was  known 
upon  the  mission  by  the  name  of  Molineux,  was  born  on  the 
skirts  of  Allerton  near  Liverpool,  in  Lancashire,  and  brought  up  at 
school  at  Much-Wooton  in  the  same  county.  From  hence  he  passed 
over  into  Ireland,  and  so  abroad  into  the  world.  He  must  have  left 
home  when  he  was  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  old,  if  he  be  the 
Almond  whom  I find  in  the  Doway  Diary  sent  from  Rhemes  to  Rome 
in  1582;  but  then  he  must  have  been  more  than  ten  years  abroad, 
which  is  the  time  that  my  old  manuscript  affirms  he  employed 
beyond  the  seas  to  improve  himself  in  virtue  and  learning.  Certain 
it  is,  that  he  was  at  least  forty-five  years  old  w^hen  he  suffered,  though 
his  grey  hairs  seemed  to  speak  him  older ; and  that  he  did  not  return 
to  England  till  1602,  at  which  time  I find  in  the  register  of  Doway, 
that  John  Almond,  priest,  coming  from  Rome  visited  the  College  of 
Doway  on  his  way  to  England.  T.  W.  also,  in  his  Catalogue,  informs 
us  that  he  was  a priest  of  Rome;  and  there  publicly  sustained  theses 
of  universal  divinity  with  great  applause  in  1601.  I have  met  with 
little  or  nothing  of  the  particulars  of  his  missionary  labours,  only 
my  author  (the  manuscript)  gives  him  the  following  character,  in 
his  introduction  to  the  account  of  his  death : — 

* Ven.  John  Almond. — From  a copy  of  his  examination  before  Dr.  King, 
Bishop  of  London,  written  by  himself ; and  from  an  old  Manuscript  by  an 
eye-witness  of  his  death,  amongst  the  Collections  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Knares- 
borough;  see  also  Acts  of  E.  M. 

329 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1612 


‘ Upon  Saturday,  being  the  5th  of  December,  1612,  between 
seven  and  eight  of  the  clock  in  the  morning,  came  to  suffer  at  Tyburn, 
for  the  Catholic  rtXigion,  John  Almond,  a man  of  the  age  of  forty-five, 
by  his  own  relation;  yet  in  his  countenance  more  grave  and  staid, 
beginning  to  be  besprinkled  with  hairs  that  were  white — who  having 
tarried  beyond  the  seas  about  ten  years  to  enable  himself  by  his 
study  with  learning  and  virtue,  returned  into  his  native  country, 
where  he  exercised  an  holy  life  with  all  sincerity,  and  a singular 
good  content  to  those  that  knew  him,  and  worthily  deserved  both 
a good  opinion  of  his  learning  and  sanctity  of  life ; a reprover  of  sin,  a 
good  example  to  follow;  of  an  ingenious  and  acute  understanding, 
sharp  and  apprehensive  in  his  conceits  and  answers,  yet  complete 
with  modesty,  full  of  courage,  and  ready  to  suffer  for  Christ,  that 
suffered  for  him.  Of  his  stature,  neither  high  nor  low,  but  in- 
different ; a body  lean,  either  by  nature  or  through  ghostly  discipline ; 
a face  lean,  his  head  blackish  brown ; in  his  conversation  mild,  learned 
and  persuasive,  and  worthy  to  be  remembered  of  those  that  did 
converse  with  him.  As  I said,  not  only  a sharp  reprover  of  sin,  but 
a good  encourager  besides,  by  his  own  example,  of  those  that  sought 
the  way  to  heaven,  which  he  himself  found  at  the  last  by  perse- 
cutions, crosses,  and  many  afflictions.’  So  far  the  manuscript. 

Mr.  Almond  \N2iS  apprehended  on  the  22d  of  March,  1611-2,  and 
brought  before  Dr.  John  King,  lately  advanced  to  the  bishopric  of 
London.  What  passed  in  his  examination  here  was  penned  by 
himself,  of  which  I shall  here  set  down  an  abstract. 

‘ Bishop.  What  is  your  name  ? Almond.  My  name  is  Francis. 
B.  What  else  ? A.  Lathome.  B.  Is  not  your  name  Molineux  ? A. 
No.  B.  I think  I shall  prove  it  to  be  so.  A.  You’ll  have  more 
to  do  than  ever  you  had  to  do  in  your  life.  B.  What  countryman 
are  you  ? A.  A Lancashire  man.  B.  In  what  place  were  you 
born  ? A.  About  Allerton.  B.  About  Allerton!  mark  the  equivo- 
cation; then,  not  in  Allerton?  A.  No  equivocation;  I was  not  born 
in  Allerton,  but  in  the  edge  or  side  of  Allerton.  B.  You  were  born 
under  a hedge,  then,  were  you  ? A.  Many  a better  man  than  I, 
or  you  either,  has  been  born  under  a hedge.  B.  What,  you  cannot 
remember  that  you  were  born  in  a house  ? A.  Can  you  ? B.  My 
mother  told  me  so.  A.  Then  you  remember  not  that  you  were 
born  in  a house,  but  only  that  your  mother  told  you  so;  so  much  I 
remember  too. 

‘ B.  Were  you  ever  beyond  the  seas  ? A.  I have  been  in  Ireland. 
B.  How  long  since  you  came  thence  ? A.  I remember  not  how 
long  since,  neither  is  it  material.  B.  Here  is  plain  answering,  is  it 

.330 


JOHN  ALMOND 


1612] 

not  ? A.  More  plain  than  you  would  give,  if  you  were  examined 
yourself  before  some  of  ours  in  another  place.  B.  I ask,  Are  you  a 
priest  ? A.  I am  not  Christ;  and  unless  I were  Christy  in  your  own 
grounds,  yours  I mean,  I cannot  be  a priest.  B.  Though  you 
cannot  be  one  in  our  grounds,  are  you  one  in  your  own  ? A.  If  I 
be  none,  nor  can  be  any  in  your  grounds,  which  allow  no  other 
priesthood,  nor  other  priest  but  Christy  and  you  are  bound  to  main- 
tain your  own  grounds,  and  uphold  the  truth  of  them,  you  might  w’ell 
forbear  this  question,  and  suppose  for  certain  that  I am  no  priest. 
B.  Are  you  a priest,  yea  or  no  ? A.  No  man  accuseth  me.  B. 
Then,  this  is  all  the  answer  I shall  have  1 A.  All  I can  give  unless 
proof  come  in.  B.  Where  have  you  lived,  and  in  what  have  you 
spent  your  time  ? A.  Here  is  an  orderly  course  of  justice,  sure  ! 
What  is  it  material  where  I have  lived,  or  how  I have  spent  my 
time,  all  the  while  I am  accused  of  no  evil  ? 

‘ B.  Will  you  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  ? A.  Any  oath  of 
allegiance,  if  it  contain  nothing  but  allegiance.  And  with  that  the 
Bishop  reaches  out  his  arm  for  the  oath,  lying  towards  the  middle 
of  the  table;  which  I perceiving  said,  That  oath  you  cannot  with  a 
good  conscience  offer.  B.  Yes,  that  I can;  and  I thank  God,  I have 
taken  it  myself  seven  times.  A.  God  forbid  ! B.  Why  ? A.  You 
have  been  seven  times  perjured.  B.  Wherein  } A.  In  taking  this 
false  clause:  And  I do  further  swear  that  I do  from  my  heart  abhor ^ 
detest y and  abjure  as  impious  and  hereticaf  this  damnable  doctrine  and 
position  y that  princes  excommunicated  or  deprived  by  the  Pope  may  be 
deposedy  &c.  B.  There  is  no  perjury  nor  falsehood  in  it.  A.  If 
in  taking  it  you  abjure  that  position  as  heretical  which  is  not  heretical, 
then  is  it  perjury  and  falsehood  to  take  it.  But  in  taking  it  you 
abjure  that  position  as  heretical  which  is  not  heretical,  ergOy  &c. 
B.  I grant  your  major y I deny  your  minor.  A.  No  position  in  your 
grounds  can  be  heretical,  unless  it  be  expressly  censured  for  heretical, 
by  the  Word  of  God,  or  the  contradictory  expressly  contained  in 
the  Word  of  God.  But  this  position  is  not  expressly  censured  for 
heretical  by  the  Word  of  God;  nor  is  the  contradictory  expressly 
contained  in  the  Word  of  God.  ErgOy  it  is  not  heretical.  B.  It  is 
censured  as  heretical  by  the  Word.  A.  Allege  the  text,  give  us  a 
Bible.  B.  Bring  in  a Bible.  Then  turning  it  with  an  evil  will, 
he  said  it  was  censured  in  the  13th  of  the  Romans.  A.  You  mean 
those  words.  He  that  resisteth  power y resisteth  God^s  ordinance.  But 
I ask.  Where  is  this  position  censured  ? There  is  not  one  word  of 
the  position  in  hand.  Other  place  he  alleged  none.  B.  You  would 
have  it  censured  in  express  words  ? A.  You  are  bound  to  bring  a 

331 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1612 


censure  in  express  words:  which,  because  I see  you  cannot,  answer 
this  consequence:  This  position  is  not  set  down  at  all  in  the  Bible;  ergo, 
it  cannot  he  censured  by  the  Bible.  He  answered  not;  but  said,  I 
was  a proud  arrogant  Jack.  To  which  I replied,  God  forgive  you, 
your  words  trouble  me  not ; and  so  two  several  times  more  I prayed 
God  to  forgive  him,  when  he  miscalled  me  and  abused  me  in  words. 

‘ Then  leaving  the  oath,  which  he  was  weary  of,  he  asked.  Have 
you  gone  10  the  church  ? And  added,  I forgot  it  before;  but  I 
go  beyond  you  now.  A.  I have  not  gone  to  the  church.  B. 
Will  you  go  ? A.  I will  not:  Is  not  this  plain  dealing?  B.  Now 
you  deal  plainly.  A.  If  it  would  not  offend  you,  I must  tell  you 
that  you  went  beyond  youself:  for  you  confessed  even  now  that  you 
should  have  asked  it  before,  and  so  go  beyond  yourself  in  asking  it 
now.  Much  more  passed  betwixt  us  before  about  a disjunctive 
position,  wherein  the  Bishop  needeth  not  to  boast  of  his  logic;  at 
part  of  which  a certain  Dean  coming  in,  after  the  Bishop  was  weary 
the  Dean  began  to  talk  of  the  Pope’s  power  to  depose  kings,  saying. 
It  was  essential  to  the  Pope,  and  a matter  of  faith  in  our  doctrine. 
To  whom  I replied.  It  was  not  essential  to  the  Pope’s  power,  nor 
any  matter  of  faith;  and  that,  whether  the  Pope  could  or  could  not 
depose,  it  was  perjury  to  take  the  oath  in  their  grounds,  and  ours 
too;  which,  I said,  I would  undertake  to  demonstrate  before  all  the 
bishops  in  England,  or  else  I would  lose  my  hand  and  my  head. 
The  Dean  said,  I was  too  quick  with  him;  and  that  my  logic  would 
deceive  me,  if  I builded  so  much  upon  it;  wishing  me  to  look  to  a 
good  conscience.  I replied.  It  was  my  conscience  which  I did 
stand  upon,  and  therefore  refused  the  oath  for  the  reasons  alleged. 
Yet  to  give  satisfaction,  this  oath  I offered  that  I would  swear.  I 
do  hear  in  my  heart  and  soul  so  much  allegiance  to  King  James  (whom 
I prayed  God  to  bless  now  and  evermore)  as  he,  or  any  Christian  king 
could  expect  by  the  law  of  nature,  the  law  of  God,  or  the  positive  law 
of  the  true  Church,  be  it  which  it  will,  ours  or  yours.  The  Bishop  and 
the  Dean  said  they  were  fair  words;  but  the  Dean  added,  he  knew 
well  which  Church  I meant;  to  which  I answered.  Let  you  and  me 
try  that,  and  then  put  it  out  of  question ; but  he  was  deaf  on  that  ear. 

‘ Then  the  Bishop  bade  me  put  my  hand  to  my  examination.  I 
first  perused  it ; and  in  the  end  of  it,  where  the  register  had  set  down. 
Being  asked  whether  he  would  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  he  answered. 
He  could  not  without  perjury;  I bid  him  add  also,  as  I had  said, 
/ could  not  in  their  grounds  nor  ours;  the  Bishop  would  not  suffer  him 
to  add  that,  but  said  I should  have  another  time;  upon  that,  I put 
my  hand  to  it,  though  I said  he  had  put  it  in  by  halves.  Thus  ended 

332 


JOHN  ALMOND 


1612] 

the  pageant,  saving  that  I said  publicly  (giving  the  honour  to  God) 
that  I had  not  sworn  any  oath,  not  so  much  as  in  faiths  in  sixteen 
years  before;  and  therefore  they  needed  not  wonder  that  I now 
refused  an  oath  with  falsehood  and  perjury  in  it. 

After  this  examination  he  was  committed  to  Newgate,  from 
whence  after  some  months  he  was  brought  to  his  trial  upon  an 
indictment  of  high  treason,  for  having  taken  orders  beyond  the  seas, 
by  authority  of  the  See  of  Rome,  and  for  remaining  in  this  kingdom 
contrary  to  the  laws.  At  his  trial,  he  shewed,  it  seems,  the  same 
vivacity  of  wit  and  resolution,  as  he  had  done  in  his  examination; 
but  was  brought  in  guilty  by  his  jury,  though  he  neither  confessed 
nor  yet  denied  his  being  a priest ; and  what  proofs  were  brought  of 
his  being  such,  does  not  appear. 

The  day  appointed  for  his  execution  was  the  5th  of  December, 
1612,  when  being  brought  out  of  Newgate  between  seven  and  eight 
o’clock  in  the  morning,  he  stept  with  a smiling  countenance  into 
the  sledge  prepared  for  him,  and  so  was  drawn  to  Tyburn.  When 
he  arrived  there,  being  taken  off  the  sledge,  and  having  his  hands 
untied,  he  put  off  his  hat,  and  blessed  God  with  a loud  voice,  that 
He  had  held  him  worthy,  and  had  brought  him  to  that  place  to  die 
for  His  name  and  glory.  Then  asking  what  he  was  to  do,  the  Sheriff 
told  him  that  he  must  get  up  into  the  cart  that  stood  under  the  tree, 
where  he  must  die.  Which  he  did,  though  not  without  much 
difficulty,  the  cart  being  high,  and  his  legs  weak  and  stiff  with  his 
ill  and  cold  lodging  for  ten  days  before.  Being  up,  he  cheerfully 
said,  I am  now,  I thank  God,  up;  and  kneeling  down,  he  first  blessed 
himself  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  in  token  that  he  was  not  ashamed 
of  Christ,  Who  was  crucified  thereon  for  his  redemption;  then 
prayed  a little  to  himself ; afterwards  rising  up  he  mildly  asked  the 
Sheriff,  whether  it  would  please  him  to  permit  him  to  speak  to  the 
people;  who  very  courteously  told  him  he  might.  He  having  leave 
to  speak,  kneeled  down  and  said,  Domine  labia  mea  aperies,  et  os 
meum  annuntiabit  laudem  tuam.  And  then  protesting  that  he  would 
speak  nothing  derogating  to  the  power  of  his  sacred  Majesty,  or 
injurious  to  any  person  whatsoever,  he  proceeded  and  told  the 
people  that  he  was  a Catholic,  and  came  thither  to  die  for  the  Catholic 
religion,  and  for  Christ's  cause.  Who  had  shed  His  blood  for  him 
and  his  redemption.  That  he  was  glad  and  willing  to  lose  his  life 
for  His  honour,  and  sorry  he  had  no  more  lives  to  lose,  nor  more 
blood  to  shed  for  the  cause  of  nis  Blessed  Redeemer.  That  he  did 
acknowledge  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  that  his  Majesty  King 
James  the  First  was  true  and  lawful  king  of  these  realms;  and  had 

333 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1612 


the  same  power  and  authority  over  his  dominions,  and  his  subjects 
therein  born,  which  the  king  of  Spain,  or  the  king  of  France  had  in 
theirs;  that  he  himself  was  his  true  subject,  and  had  never  harboured 
so  much  as  any  treasonable  thought  against  him,  which  he  did  pro- 
test freely  and  sincerely  before  God  and  the  whole  host  of  heaven. 
Moreover,  that  if  he  had  known  of  any  treasonable  design  against  the 
King  or  State,  any  way  whatsoever,  he  should  think  himself  obliged 
to  have  put  a stop  to  it,  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  Then  he 
earnestly  prayed  to  God  for  the  King  and  all  the  royal  family,  and 
that  his  posterity  might  inherit  the  crown  of  England  for  ever. 
Adding  again,  that  he  acknowledged  his  authority  for  making  laws, 
and  that  his  subjects  were  bound  to  obey  them. 

But  here  he  was  interrupted  by  a minister  who  asked  him.  How 
then  he,  being  a priest,  offered  to  come  into  the  kingdom  against 
those  laws  ? Mr.  Almond  answered  that  Christ  was  the  greater 
King,  and  that  laws  made  against  Christ's  laws  were  not  binding; 
and  that  in  case  he  were  a priest,  which  they  had  not  proved  him 
to  be,  he  had  a commission  derived  from  Christ — ^Who  sent  His 
disciples  to  teach  all  nations  (St.  Matt,  xxviii.  19) — to  come  and 
teach  in  England;  as  he  supposed  Protestants,  if  their  religion  were 
true,  might  be  sent  into  Turkey,  India,  or  elsewhere,  for  saving  of 
souls,  notwithstanding  the  laws  of  those  countries  might  make  it 
death  so  to  do.  The  minister  farther  objected  that  he  had  at  his 
arraignment  delivered  dangerous  doctrines,  as  that  a priest  had 
power  to  absolve  and  forgive  any  man  that  should  kill  a king,  and 
that  he  had  treated  the  bench  with  disrespect.  He  answered  that 
the  minister  did  mistake  him  and  belied  the  Catholic  doctrine, 
and  that  he  had  dealt  modestly  at  his  arraignment,  which  he  referred 
to  the  standers-by.  And  for  matters  of  murthering  kings,  he  de- 
clared murther  to  be  a heinous  crime,  and  of  a king  most  of  all; 
and  that  the  doctrine  of  the  Catholic  Church  no  ways  encouraged 
any  of  her  children  to  commit  any  sin  whatsoever,  much  less  murder 
or  treason,  but  on  the  contrary  teaches  them  humility,  patience, 
long-suffering,  and  obedience.  And  yet  the  greatest  sinner  that 
ever  was — even  a king-killer — than  which  he  thought  none  could 
be  worse,  through  true  contrition,  confessing  himself  with  hearty 
repentance  to  his  ghostly  father,  and  ready  to  make  satisfaction 
according  to  his  power  and  the  rules  of  the  Catholic  Church,  might 
be  forgiven  through  the  merits  of  Christ's  bitter  passion,  one  drop 
of  Whose  Precious  Blood  was  sufficient  to  have  saved  ten  thousand 
worlds,  how  much  more  one  sinner,  though  never  so  vile.  And 
that  Christ  himself  had  declared  as  much  {St.John  xx.  27),  and  given 

334 


JOHN  ALMOND 


1612] 

this  power  to  His  Church,  and  the  true  ministers  of  the  sacraments 
thereof,  that  whose  sins  soever  they  did  remit  should  be  remitted,  &c.; 
and  that  this  was  his  doctrine  and  meaning,  and  there  was  his  warrant. 
And  then  he  pressed  the  minister  to  tell  him  if  this  were  not  the 
Protestant  doctrine  also,  who  could  not  deny  but  it  was,  if  the  sinner 
had  faith.  But  then  he  asked  what  satisfaction  could  be  made  for 
the  death  of  a king.  Mr.  Almond  replied  that  faith  was  not  sufficient, 
except  it  was  applied  aright;  for  the  devils  believed  and  trembled, 
and  yet  would  not  be  saved;  and  that  Christ's  death  had  made 
satisfaction.  The  minister  pressing  farther  with  an  argument  con- 
cerning faith  and  satisfaction,  Mr.  Almond  denied  the  consequence, 
but  withal  desired  that  he  might  now  be  allowed  to  pray,  when 
another  minister  interrupting  him,  asked  if  he  had  not  equivocated 
in  his  former  answers  and  protestations  of  loyalty.  Mr.  Almond 
protested  upon  his  soul.  No,  as  he  should  answer  before  God;  nor 
had  spoken  with  any  mental  reservation,  and  that  the  only  reason 
why  he  had  refused  the  oath  of  allegiance,  as  they  called  it,  was  out 
of  tenderness  of  conscience  by  reason  of  the  ensnaring  clauses 
contained  therein ; protesting  withal,  that  if  the  Pope,  or  any  foreign 
prince  whatsoever,  should  by  war  and  hostility  invade  this  his 
native  country,  and  thereby  seek  to  overthrow  the  State,  or  make  a 
conquest  of  the  kingdom,  or  divest  his  Majesty  of  any  of  his 
dominions,  he  ought  to  be  resisted  by  every  good  subject  to  the 
best  of  his  power,  and  that  by  force  of  arms;  and  that  this  was 
the  Catholic  doctrine  and  religion,  which  was  to  be  brought  in 
by  preaching  and  miracles,  after  the  example  of  Christ  and  His 
apostles,  and  not  by  blood  and  force  of  arms:  that  this  he  had 
ever  professed  and  taught,  and  this  he  was  ready  to  seal  with  his 
blood. 

Then  being  almost  unstripped,  having  nothing  on  but  his  waist- 
coat and  breeches,  the  halter  having  been  long  about  his  neck,  he 
kneeled  down  and  began  to  pray,  by  giving  thanks  to  God  who  had 
strengthened  him  by  His  grace,  and  brought  him  thither  to  shed  his 
blood  for  the  Catholic  religion,  which  he  most  firmly  believed  to 
every  tittle  without  the  least  doubt  or  wavering.  And  here  again 
he  was  interrupted  by  a minister  that  stood  near,  who  told  him  he 
had  forgot  to  ask  forgiveness  of  his  sins.  Mr.  Almond  replied 
he  did  not  do  well  to  interrupt  him,  that  he  could  not  do  all  at  once, 
and  yet  he  could  do  that  without  the  minister’s  counsel.  Then 
rising  up  he  pulled  several  things  out  of  his  pockets,  which  he  flung 
away,  looking  round  about  in  the  disposing  of  them  as  his  affection 
guided  him.  He  also  flung  away  some  three  or  four  pounds  in  silver 

335 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1612 

amongst  the  poor  that  crowded  about  the  gallows,  saying,  ‘ I have 
not  much  to  bestow  or  give,  for  the  keeper  of  Newgate  hath  been 
somewhat  hard  unto  me  and  others  that  way,  whom  God  forgive, 
for  I do;  for  I having  been  prisoner  there  since  March,  we  have  been 
ill-treated  continually,  but  now  at  last  without  charity;  for  we  were 
all  put  down  into  the  hole  or  dungeon,  or  place  of  Little  Ease,  whence 
was  removed  since  we  came  thither  two  or  three  cart  loads  of  filth 
and  dirt.  We  were  kept  twenty-four  hours  without  bread  or  meat 
or  drink,  loaded  with  irons,  lodging  on  the  damp  ground,  and  so 
continued  for  ten  days  or  thereabouts.’  Here  Mr.  Sheriff  told  him 
that  the  keeper  had  done  nothing  but  by  orders,  and  was  commanded 
to  do  what  he  had  done.  I had  thought,  said  Mr.  Almond,  it  had 
been  done  of  his  own  head;  but  since  it  was  done  by  power,  I will 
neither  resist  it,  nor  speak  farther  of  it.  Then  turning  to  the 
executioner  he  gave  him  a piece  of  gold  of  eleven  shillings,  adding, 
‘ I don’t  give  thee  this  to  spare  me,  for  I am  ready,  as  my  duty 
doth  bind  me,  to  lose  both  life  and  blood,  and  therefore  he  might, 
if  he  would,  rip  him  up  alive,  and  cut  off  his  hands,  for  that  no 
torment  was  sufficient  to  satisfy  his  obedience  to  his  Redeemer; 
wishing  he  had  the  heart  of  St.  Vincent  or  the  body  of  St.  Laurence 
to  be  broiled  upon  a gridiron;  for  he  was  ready  to  suffer  all,  even  to 
be  pulled  in  pieces  joint  by  joint  without  any  favour,  so  much  he 
hoped  God  would  strengthen  him  with  His  power,  and  that  all  that 
blood  which  he  had  to  shed  for  his  master  Christ  was  too  little,  and 
not  enough.’  And  then  kneeling  down  again,  he  humbly  acknow- 
ledged himself  to  be  a sinner,  and  earnestly  begged  God’s  mercy 
and  forgiveness;  not  doubting  but  that  what  sins  soever  he  had 
committed,  which  he  confessed  were  many,  Christ,  by  His  mercy. 
His  death,  and  the  shedding  of  His  blood  would  remit  and  pardon, 
and  that  He  would  now  accept  his  willingness  to  shed  his  blood  for 
His  glor}^  Of  which  words  a minister  presently  taking  hold,  asked 
Mr.  Almond,  What ! do  you  match  and  compare,  then,  your  blood- 
shedding  with  Christ's  blood-shedding,  as  if  Christ  were  not  able 
to  work  your  salvation  without  your  own  means  ? ‘You  mistake 
me,’  quoth  Mr.  Almond;  ‘ my  sins,  though  venial,  deserve  Christ’s 
wrath  and  punishment.  It  is  His  death  alone,  and  the  shedding  of 
His  blood  alone,  that  is  not  only  sufficient  but  also  efficient  to  save  us 
all.  I have  not  much  more  to  say — one  hour  overtaketh  another, 
and  though  never  so  long,  at  last  cometh  death.  And  yet  not  death, 
for  death  is  the  gate  of  life  unto  us,  whereby  we  enter  into  ever- 
lasting blessedness;  and  life  is  death  to  those  who  do  not  provide 
for  death,  for  they 'are  ever  tossed  and  troubled  with  vexations, 

336 


i6i2] 


JOHN  ALMOND 


miseries,  and  wickedness;  but  to  use  well  this  life  is  the  pathway, 
yet  through  death,  to  everlasting  life.’ 

Then  being  in  his  shirt  he  kneeled  down,  and  often  repeating. 
In  manus  tuas  Domine^  &c.  (Into  Thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend 
my  spirit:  Thou  hast  redeemed  me,  O Lord  God  of  truth  !)  he 
waited  whilst  the  hangman  prepared  for  the  execution,  at  no  time 
shewing  either  any  sign  of  fear  or  faint-heartedness  through  all  the 
course  of  his  martyrdom ; but  as  he  began  smiling,  so  he  continued 
constant  with  a cheerful  countenance,  instantly  desiring  all  the 
professors  of  the  true  Catholic  religion  to  pray  for  him  and  with 
him.  And  he  often  repeated  upon  his  knees,  looking  up  towards 
heaven.  In  manus  tuas^  &c.;  and  so  with  a sure  hope  having  com- 
mended himself  to  God,  he  protested  he  died  a chaste  maid^  which 
he  did  acknowledge  was  Christ's  special  grace,  and  not  his  own 
ability  or  worthiness,  and  that  he  ever  hated  all  carnal  acts,  and  such 
sins  for  which  the  Catholic  religion  or  profession  had  been  slandered ; 
for  which  grace  he  rendered  thanks  to  God.  Then,  ‘ I have  been,’ 
saith  he,  ‘ indicted  and  accused  that  I was  a priest,  but  I will  neither 
confess  nor  deny  the  same ; but  at  the  last  day  when  all  secrets  are 
revealed,  and  Christ  shall  come  in  glory  to  judge  the  world,  to 
Whom  I hope  I am  now  going.  He  will  then  reveal  what  I am.’ 
Then  being  ready  to  die,  having  stood  long  in  his  shirt,  the  weather 
being  cold  and  the  morning  frosty,  yet  shewed  he  no  shivering,  nor 
once  to  quake,  but  most  readily  yielded  his  hands  to  be  tied  by  the 
executioner;  and  the  cart  being  ready  to  be  drawn  away,  he  asked 
if  it  were  not  good,  or  the  fashion,  to  have  a handkerchief  over  his 
eyes  ? The  people  cried.  Yes;  one  offering  a foul  one,  which  was 
refused.  Mr.  Almond  said  it  was  no  matter;  then  a stander-by  gave 
him  a clean  one,  and  tied  it  over  his  face,  which  still  looked  cheerful. 
Then  he  desired  the  executioner  to  give  him  a sign  when  the  cart 
was  to  be  drawn  away,  ‘ that  he  might  die  with  the  name  of  his  blessed 
Saviour  that  sweet  name  of  comfort  in  his  mouth.’  He  often 

repeated  these  words.  In  manus  tuas  Domine^  &c.,  and  the  sign  being 
given,  he  Jesu,  Jesu,  Jesu  ! and  then  hanging  for  about  the 

space  of  three  Paternosters ^ some  of  the  standers-by  pulling  him  b)'’ 
his  legs  to  despatch  his  life,  he  was  cut  down  and  quartered,  his  soul 
flying  swiftly  to  Him  that  redeemed  us  all,  for  Whose  quarrel  he 
protested  he  died.  So  far  the  MS.  written  by  an  eye-witness. 

As  for  Dr.  King^  Bishop  of  London,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  principal  promoter  of  Mr.  Almond's  death ; instead  of  reaping 
any  joy  from  the  execution  of  this  good  priest,  he  is  said  to  have 
been  ever  after  a man  of  sorrows.  And  if  we  may  believe  what  is 

337  Y 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1612 


confidently  asserted  by  the  Catholic  writers  of  those  times,  he  was 
before  his  death  favoured  by  a grace  seldom  granted  to  persecutors, 
to  become  himself  a Catholic,  and  to  die  in  the  communion  of  that 
Church  which  he  had  cruelly  persecuted.  In  the  preface  of  a book 
published  in  his  name  after  his  death,  and  called  The  Bishop  of 
London's  Legacy^  he  is  introduced  thus  addressing  himself  to  our 
martyr : ‘ O happy  Almond,  who  here  upon  earth  didst  mask  thyself 
under  the  name  of  Molineux  ! in  thy  blood,  even  in  thy  blood  did  I 
wash  my  hands.  It  was  I that  did  further  thy  death.  Be  thou, 
O blessed  saint,  who  now  seest  and  hearest  me  {Quid  non  videt,  qui 
videntem  omnia  videt?  What  does  he  not  see,  who  sees  Him  that 
sees  all  things  ?) — be  thou,  I say,  out  of  thy  seraphical  charity,  as 
propitious  to  pray  for  the  remitting  of  that  crying  sin,  as  I am  ready 
to  acknowledge  the  sin ; and  let  thy  blood  (guilty  of  no  other  treason 
than  in  not  being  a traitor  to  Christ  and  His  Church)  not  resemble 
the  blood  of  Abel,  which  cried  for  revenge  against  his  brother,  but 
rather  the  blood  of  Christ,  which  prayed  for  pardon  of  His  crucifiers  ’ 
{Epistle  to  the  Reader,  p.  10). 

Mr.  Almond  suffered  at  Tyhurn,  December  the  5th,  1612,  in  the 
forty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  the  eleventh  of  his  mission. 


JOHN  MAWSON,  Layman.=^ 

I FIND  this  name  in  the  list  of  those  that  suffered  this  year 
(1612)  for  the  Catholic  religion,  but  with  little  or  no  particulars. 
He  was  apprehended  whilst  he  was  actually  hearing  Mass;  but 
as  this  is  not  capital  by  our  laws,  he  must  have  suffered  on  some 
other  charge.  Whether  it  was  for  being  reconciled  to  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  or  for  assisting  priests,  or  for  being  instrumental 
in  the  conversion  of  others,  &c.,  my"^ short  Memoirs  do  not  inform 
me,  only  that  he  suffered  2it  Tyhurn,  upon  the  penal  statutes  then  in 
force  against  tht  English  Catholics. 

This  year  1612,  according  to  B.  W.  in  his  manuscript  concerning 
the  EnglislT Benedictine  Congregation,  Thomas  Hill,  D.D.,  who  from 
a Seminary  priest,  educated  in  the  Colleges  of  Rhemes  and  Rome, 
became  a monk  of  the  said  congregation,  was  condemned  to  die  for 
his  priestly  character;  but  was  not  executed.  He  died  afterwards 
at  Doway  in  1644,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  the  fifty-third 


* 


John  Mawson. — See  Worthington’s  Catalogue  of  Martyrs. 


338 


i6i6] 


THOMAS  ATKINSON 


of  his  priesthood,  and  the  thirty-third  of  his  religious  profession. 
He  was  the  author  of  a little  book  of  motives  to  the  Catholic  religion, 
entitled,  A Quartron  of  Reasons^  &c.,  which  Archbishop  ^^^0/ under- 
took to  answer. 

During  the  three  following  years  1613,  1614,  and  1615,  though 
the  Catholics  were  still  great  sufferers,  on  account  of  their  recusancy, 
by  heavy  fines,  close  imprisonments,  &c.,  yet  I find  none  put  to  death 
for  their  religion.  In  the  latter  end  of  1615,  I find  in  the  Douay 
Diary  Mr.  Smithy  Mr.  Blount^  and  Mr.  Brown,  priests,  sent  into 
banishment  from  Wisbeach  Castle,  and  in  the  same  year  Father 
Robert  Edmonds,  O.S.B.,  died  a prisoner  for  his  faith  in  the  Gate- 
house. But  in  the  year  1616  the  sword  of  persecution  was  again 
unsheathed,  and  no  less  than  four  priests  and  one  layman  were  put 
to  death  upon  the  penal  statutes. 


[ 1616.  ] 

THOMAS  ATKINSON,  Priest.^ 

Thomas  ATKINSON  was  bom  in  the  East  Riding  of  York- 
shire, and  educated  in  Doway  College,  during  its  residence  at 
Rhemes,  where*  he  was  ordained  priest,  as  appears  by  the 
College  Diary,  in  1588,  and  sent  the  same  year  upon  the  English 
mission.  His  missionary  labours  were  employed  in  his  native 
country,  where  for  near  thirty  years  he  faithfully  and  zealously 
discharged  every  part  of  the  duty  of  an  apostolic  pastor.  ‘ In 
recalling  many,’  says  m.y  author,  ‘ to  the  Catholic  fa’th;  in  diligently 
visiting  his  flock,  which  was  numerous  and  spread  in  many  distant 
places,  to  confirm  them  with  the  sacraments,  to  encourage  them,  and 
push  them  forw^ard  to  the  practice  of  virtue,  and  to  arm  them 
against  the  deceits  and  fury  of  their  adversaries;  travelling  always 
on  foot;  frequently  passing  whole  nights  without  sleep,  either  em- 
ployed in  the  functions  of  his  ministry,  or  in  his  journeys;  for  by 
serving  the  same  parts  of  the  country  for  so  many  years,  he  was 
become  so  well  known  to  the  heretics,  that  he  could  not  safely 

* Ven.  Thomas  Atkinson. — From  a letter  sent  over  to  Douay  by  a 
missionary  priest  in  1616,  giving  an  account  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Atkinson 
and  the  others  that  suffered  that  year,  published  the  following  year  at  Douay 
under  the  title  of  Exemplar  Literarum,  etc.;  Item  from  two  Manuscripts 
in  my  hands;  see  also  Troubles,  i. 


339 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


travel  by  day.  Till  at  length  it  pleased  the  Divine  Majesty  to 
reward  these  labours  of  His  servant,  and  his  tears  which  he  continu- 
ally shed  in  prayer,  and  his  most  holy  life  by  a glorious  and  trium- 
phant death.’ 

Of  Mr.  Atkinson  and  his  labours,  thus  also  writes  the  Lady 
Babthorpe  his  contemporary,  in  a manuscript  which  I have  before  me. 

‘ There  was  a good  priest,  one  Mr.  Atkinson  in  our  country,  who 
lived  long  in  doing  great  service  to  God ; taking  great  pains  in  serving 
the  poor,  who  without  such  pains  could  not  have  had  those  helps 
and  comforts  that  they  stood  in  need  of  in  that  time.  For  divers 
years  he  travelled  afoot,  enduring  all  weathers;  and  many  times 
when  he  had  a weary  and  wet  day,  the  houses  to  which  he  went 
could  not  receive  him  in ; but  he  was  obliged  to  stay  in  some  outhouse 
or  corner,  being  both  wet  and  cold,  and  even  in  the  time  of  frost  and 
snow,  so  long,  till  the  owners  of  the  houses  could  receive  him  in 
with  safety.  This  he  used  so  long,  that  in  a great  frost  he  got  a fall 
and  broke  his  leg;  in  the  cure  of  which  he  suffered  much,  lighting  on 
a bad  surgeon.  Yet  after  his  recovery  he  used  his  former  charity 
and  pains;  but  not  being  able  to  travel  much  on  foot,  he  had  a horse 
to  help  him.  In  this  man  God  shewed  wonderful  things  at  his 
taking  and  imprisonment.  One  was,  that  his  irons  fell  off  his  legs, 
when  the  keeper  had  fastened  them  on ; which  being  reported  to  the 
Lord  Sheffield,  who  was  the  President  of  the  North,  he  sent  to  the 
keeper  to  know  if  it  were  true,  who  confessed  the  truth.  Another 
charity  the  good  man  used  was,  when  he  came  to  poor  folk’s  houses, 
he  would  not  let  them  be  at  any  charge,  but  both  found  himself 
meat  and  them ; and  gave  them  money  too : so  what  he  received  from 
those  that  were  able  he  bestowed  on  the  poor.’ 

His  apprehension  and  death  is  thus  briefly  related  in  a manu- 
script sent  me  from  St.  Omer's,  written  the  same  year  that  he  suffered, 
and  agreeing  perfectly  with  the  printed  account  published  at  Doway. 

‘ A venerable  priest,  called  Mr.  Atkinson,  a man  of  seventy  years 
of  age,  or  more,  who  had  laboured  in  this  vineyard  above  thirty* 
years,  in  the  province  of  York,  going  always  on  foot,  and  for  the 
most  part  by  night,  from  one  Catholic  house  to  another,  to  help, 
confess,  and  administer  the  holy  sacraments;  in  this  present  year 
of  our  Lord  i6i6,  coming  to  the  house  of  a Catholic  gentleman 
[Mr.  Vavasour  of  Willitoft]  was  espied  by  a heretic,  and  suspected 
to  be  a priest;  who  maliciously  advertised  some  officers  of  it;  and 
they  coming  with  all  speed,  met  the  said  priest  coming  from  the 

* There  is  a mistake  in  the  number  of  years ; he  laboured  in  the  Mission 
only  twenty-eight  years. 


340 


THOMAS  ATKINSON 


i6i6] 

Catholic  house,  and  apprehended  him;  carrying  him,  with  the 
gentleman,  his  wife,  and  children,  guarded  with  armed  men  to  the 
city  of  York.  Where  [it  being  the  time  of  the  assizes]  he  was 
brought  before  the  President  and  the  judges  there  present.  They 
examined  him,  whether  he  was  a priest  or  no  ? which  the  holy  old 
man  would  not  acknowledge,  for  fear  of  endangering  the  goods  and 
lives  of  the  gentleman,  and  his  wife  and  children,  who  had  harboured 
him;  yet  would  not  directly  deny,  because  he  would  not  say  anything 
that  might  have  any  colour  or  appearance  of  untruth.  Yet  the 
judges,  having  no  other  proof  or  witness,  condemned  him  to  death, 
and  gave  sentence  on  him  as  a traitor. 

They  found  about  him  at  his  apprehension  a pair  of  beads,  some 
blessed  grains,  with  a copy  of  indulgences  granted  by  His  Holiness, 
which  they  there  read  publicly  to  the  people,  laughing  and  scoffing 
at  them,  and  saying  a thousand  untruths  of  the  use  of  them,  as 
heretics  are  accustomed;  and  by  reason  they  found  these  things 
about  him,  they  were  confirmed  in  their  opinion  that  he  was  a priest, 
and  thereupon  impanelled  a jury  and  condemned  him.  And  on 
the  nth  of  March y according  to  our  style,  he  was  drawn  upon  a 
hurdle  from  the  prison  to  the  place  of  execution,  where  he  had  his 
life  offered  him  if  he  would  take  the  oath,  which  he  constantly 
refusing,  was  turned  off  the  ladder,  and  being  half  dead  was  cut  down 
by  the  executioner  [dismembered,  bowelled]  and  quartered.  All 
which  he  suffered  with  wonderful  patience,  courage,  and  constancy, 
and  signs  of  great  comfort ; seeing  that  now  fulfilled  in  him  which 
he  had  so  long  desired,  not  without  some  foreknowledge,  by  vision 
from  God,  as  himself  secretly  discovered  to  some  friends  that  were 
with  him  in  the  same  prison,  where  at  this  present  are  remaining 
about  eighty  other  Catholics,  condemned  most  of  them  in  a prce- 
munire,  that  is  to  say,  the  loss  of  all  their  goods,  and  perpetual  im- 
prisonment. 

A certain  young  man,  a Catholic,  having  a desire  to  get  some 
relics  of  this  holy  martyr,  bought  of  the  hangman  his  stockings; 
which  a Protestant  espying,  caused  the  young  man  to  be  examined 
by  the  magistrate ; and  being  found  to  be  a Catholic  and  the  servant 
of  a Catholic  gentleman,  they  sent  him  to  prison,  where  he  remains 
and  suffers  with  the  rest. 

After  the  condemnation  and  death  of  this  holy  man,  the  judges 
and  justices  of  the  assizes,  perceiving  their  proceedings  not  to  be 
pleasing  to  the  people  (having  condemned  him  against  all  law, 
without  either  witness  or  other  substantial  proof,  only  for  having 
beads  about  him,  and  because  he  would  not  directly  deny  himself 

341 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


to  be  a priest)  endeavoured  to  satisfy  the  world  by  producing  after- 
wards a base  wicked  fellow,  who  witnessed  before  them,  that  the 
party  condemned  was  a priest,  and  that  he  had  sometimes  seen  him 
say  Mass. 

Mr.  Atkinson  suffered  at  York,  March  ii,  1615-16. 

His  Latin  life  printed  at  Doway  1617,  confirms  the  truth  of  that 
extraordinary  event,  of  his  irons  falling  off  his  legs  when  he  was 
employed  in  prayer,  as  a thing  well  known  and  attested  by  many; 
as  also  the  vision  he  had  before  his  apprehension,  in  which  our 
blessed  Lady  revealed  to  him  that  he  should  glorify  her  Son,  by 
suffering  for  His  cause  a cruel  martyrdom. 


JOHN  THULIS,  Priest,  and  ROGER  WRENNO, 
or  WORREN,  Layman.* 

JOHN  THULIS  was  born  in  Lancashire,  at  a place  called 
Up-Holland,  and  performed  the  greatest  part  of  his  studies 
abroad,  in  Doway  College  during  its  residence  at  Rhemes;  from 
whence,  being  now  a student  in  divinity  and  in  holy  orders,  he  was 
sent  to  Rome  where  he  was  made  priest.  After  his  return  to  England 
he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  adversaries  of  his  faith,  and  was  for 
many  years  a close  prisoner  in  Wisheach  Castle.  When  or  how  he 
escaped,  or  was  released  from  thence,  I have  not  found;  but  for  the 
latter  part  of  his  time  he  seems  to  have  exercised  his  missionary 
functions  in  his  own  country;  at  least  there  he  was  apprehended 
by  order  of  William,  Earl  of  Derby,  and  committed  prisoner  to  the 
county  gaol  at  Lancaster. 

His  Latin  life,  printed  at  Doway  the  year  after  his  execution, 
informs  us  that  God  Almighty  had  prepared  this  His  servant  for  the 
crown  of  martyrdom,  by  many  trials  and  crosses,  which  he  had 
undergone  with  a wonderful  courage'  and  tranquillity  of  mind. 
And  that  once  when  he  was  brought  to  death’s  door  by  extremity 
of  sickness,  and  had  received  all  the  rites  of  the  Church,  he  was 
divinely  admonished  that  he  was  not  to  die  that  time,  but  to  look 
for  a more  glorious  death  by  martyrdom.  That  he  was  a man 
exceedingly  mortified  in  his  life,  and  who  had  acquired  so  great  a 
command  of  his  passions,  that  though  by  nature  he  was  of  a choleric 

* Ven.  John  Thules  and  Roger  Wrenno,  or  Worren. — From  a printed 
account  of  their  martyrdom,  published  at  Douay  in  1617;  and  from  a 
Manuscript  in  my  hands ; see  also  Acts  of  E.  M.;  Foley,  Records,  vi. 

342 


i6i6]  JOHN  THULIS  AND  ROGER  WRENNO 


disposition,  he  had  so  far  overcome  himself  that  even  in  the  midst 
of  calumnies  and  lies,  which  were  unjustly  cast  upon  him,  he  behaved 
with  that  temper  and  meekness,  and  so  moderated  all  his  words, 
as  if  nothing  had  come  out  of  his  mouth,  but  what  had  been  well 
studied  and  meditated  beforehand ; insomuch  that  one  of  the  judges 
who  sat  upon  him  at  his  trial  was  heard  to  say  in  the  company  of 
many  gentlemen,  that  he  had  scarce  met  in  all  the  north  of  England 
with  a man  of  so  much  modesty,  prudence  and  temper. 

In  the  same  prison  of  Lancaster  Castle^  where  Mr.  Tkulis  was 
confined,  among  other  Catholics  there  was  one  Roger  Wrefino,  or 
Worren,  a weaver  by  trade,  but  a zealous  and  devout  soul.  These 
two,  not  long  before  the  Lent  Assizes  i6i6,  found  means  to  make 
their  escape  out  of  prison  about  five  in  the  evening ; and  making  the 
best  of  their  way,  as  they  imagined,  from  that  time  till  the  next  day, 
walking  all  that  while  a good  round  pace;  when  they  thought 
they  were  now  about  thirty  miles  from  Lancaster,  they  found  them- 
selves to  be  very  near  that  town,  God’s  holy  will  designing  for  them 
there  the  crowm  of  martyrdom.  So  being  discovered  at  sunrising 
in  that  neighbourhood,  they  were  apprehended  and  brought  back 
again  to  their  lodgings  in  the  castle,  where  they  were  sure  to  be 
better  looked  to  for  the  future.  Soon  after  this  the  assizes  came  on, 
when  they  were  both  brought  to  their  trial,  and  both  condemned. 
Mr.  Thulis  was  sentenced  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  for  being 
a priest,  and  exercising  his  priestly  functions  in  this  realm;  and  the 
weaver,  as  in  cases  of'  felony,  for  relieving  and  assisting  priests. 
Yet  they  both  of  them  had  their  lives  offered  them  if  they  would 
take  the  new  oath  of  allegiance,  and  as  to  Mr.  Thulis,  a gentleman  of 
that  country  (Mr.  Ashton  of  Leaver)  who  was  his  godson,  proffered 
him  £20  a year  for  his  life  if  he  would  comply;  but  they  both  con- 
stantly refused  the  oath,  as  inconsistent  with  truth  and  their  con- 
science. 

The  day  appointed  for  their  execution  was  the  i8th  of  March. 
When  Mr.  Thulis  was  brought  out  of  the  castle,  and  laid  upon  a 
hurdle  in  order  to  be  drawn  to  the  gallows ; as  he  took  his  last  leave 
of  his  fellow  priests,  who  remained  there  in  prison,  he  recommended 
to  them  mutual  love  and  charity,  the  proper  characteristics  of  the 
true  disciples  of  Christ.  Wrenno  was  conducted  at  the  same  time 
to  execution  in  the  company  of  divers  malefactors,  who  were  to  suffer 
the  same  day,  four  of  whom  had  been  lately  reconciled  in  prison  by 
Mr.  Thulis  to  God  and  His  Church,  and  constantly  professed  to  the 
last  the  Catholic  faith  as  the  true  and  only  saving  religion. 

At  the  gallows,  when  Mr.  Thulis  was  going  up  the  ladder,  he  was 

343 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


again  called  upon  to  save  his  life  by  taking  the  oath;  And  why,  said 
they,  should  you  boggle  at  it  ? It  requires  nothing  more  of  you 
than  a civil  allegiance  to  the  King.  Write  me  then,  said  he,  a form 
of  an  oath  which  contains  nothing  but  civil  allegiance^  and  I will 
take  it.  They  told  him,  they  could  tender  him  no  other  form  of 
oath  than  that  which  was  ordered  by  the  Parliamentary  statute; 
And  that,  said  he,  I cannot  in  conscience  take;  for  it  contains  many 
things  contrary  to  Catholic  faith.  So  he  was  turned  off  the  ladder, 
and  afterwards  cut  down  and  quartered.  His  four  quarters  were 
hung  up  at  four  of  the  chief  towns  of  the  county,  viz.^  Lancaster y 
Preston y Wigan y and  Warrington;  that  at  Preston  was  fixed  to  the 
church  steeple;  and  his  head  was  set  up  on  the  castle  walls. 

As  for  WrennOy  the  weaver,  after  he  was  turned  off  the  ladder, 
the  rope  broke  with  the  weight  of  his  body,  and  he  fell  down  to  the 
ground;  and  after  a short  space  he  came  perfectly  to  himself,  and 
going  upon  his  knees  began  to  pray  very  devoutly,  with  his  eyes  and 
hands  lifted  up  to  heaven.  Upon  this  the  ministers  came  up  to  him, 
and  extolled  the  providence  and  mercies  of  God  in  his  regard,  and 
likewise  the  King’s  clemency,  who  would  give  him  his  life,  if  he 
would  but  condescend  after  all  to  take  the  oath.  The  good  man 
at  this  presently  arose,  saying,  I am  the  same  man  I waSy  and  in  the 
same  mindy  use  ^our  pleasure  with  me;  and  with  that  he  ran  to  the 
ladder,  and  went  up  it  as  fast  as  he  could.  How  noWy  says  the 
Sheriff,  what  does  the  man  meany  that  he  is  in  such  haste?  Oh!  says 
the  good  man,  if  you  had  seen  that  which  I have  just  nozo  seeUy  you 
would  he  as  much  in  haste  to  die  as  I now  am.  And  so  the  executioner 
putting  a stronger  rope  about  his  neck,  turned  the  ladder,  and 
quickly  sent  him  to  see  the  good  things  of  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the 
livingy  of  which  before  he  had  had  a glimpse. 

They  suffered  at  Lancaster y March  i8,  1615-16. 


THOMAS  MAXFIELD,  Priest  * 

He  was  descended  of  an  ancient  family  of  this  name  in  Stafford- 
shire. His  father,  who  was  a man  of  great  piety,  had  sufered 
much  for  his  religion ; and  besides  the  confiscationof  his  estate, 
and  a long  and  close  imprisonment  of  many  years,  was  actually  under 

* Ven.  Thomas  Maxfield,  or  Macclesfield. — From  his  Life,  published 
this  same  year  at  Douay  by  Dr.  Kellison ; and  from  an  account  sent  over  to 
Douay  by  an  eye-witness  of  his  conflict,  and  printed  there  in  the  following 
year;  see  also  Gillow;  C.R.S.,  iii.;  Downside  Review,  xxxiv. 

344 


THOMAS  MAXFIELD 


i6i6] 

sentence  of  death  for  his  faith  when  this  son  was  born;  his  wife 
being  at  the  same  time  a close  prisoner  for  the  same  cause.  As  for 
Mr.  Thomas,  having  got  some  little  tincture  of  grammar  in  his  own 
country,  he  was  sent  abroad  to  the  English  College  of  Doway,  where 
he  arrived  in  1603,  and  there  made  a good  progress  in  learning; 
finished  his  course  of  philosophy;  and  was  advanced  two  years  in 
the  study  of  divinity,  when  he  was  attacked  with  a long  and  lingering 
sickness,  which  obliged  him  to  interrupt  his  studies,  and  return  to 
his  native  country,  in  hopes  of  recovering  his  health  by  change  of 
air;  which  had  its  desired  effect,  for  after  some  time  he  recovered, 
and  then  without  delay  crossed  the  seas  again,  and  returned  to  the 
College;  where,  having  completed  his  divinity,  and  being  found  by 
the  superiors  every  way  qualified  by  virtue  and  learning  for  an 
apostolic  life,  he  was  presented  to  holy  orders  in  1614,  and  sent  upon 
the  mission  in  1615. 

At  his  coming  to  London  the  first  visit  he  made  was  to  a priest, 
an  intimate  friend  of  his,  a close  prisoner  in  the  Gatehouse;  where 
likewise  he  celebrated  Mass  for  the  first  time  after  his  arrival  in 
England,  After  which  three  months  did  not  pass  before  he  was 
apprehended,  being  upon  his  knees  before  the  altar,  after  Mass,  in 
recollection  and  prayer.  In  this  posture  the  pursuivants  found  him, 
and  immediately  laying  hands  upon  him  violently  hauled  him  away, 
as  if  he  had  been  some  notorious  robber  or  housebreaker  taken  in 
the  fact. 

He  was  convened  before  some  of  the  bishops,  who  put  the  usual 
murthering  questions  unto  him.  Was  he  a Romish  priest?  Why 
did  he  presume,  after  having  taken  orders  in  the  Church  of  Rome, 
to  return  into  England  contrary  to  the  laws  of  this  nation  ? Was  he 
willing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  ? &c.  To  these  interrogatories, 
Mr.  Maxfield  returned  a plain  and  distinct  answer,  viz.,  he  owned 
himself  a priest,  ordained  by  a Catholic  Bishop,  according  to  the 
form  appointed  in  the  Roman  pontifical,  and  by  authority  derived 
from  the  Bishop  of  Rome.  That  as  he  was  lawfully  ordained,  so 
was  he  likewise  lawfully  sent  to  preach  the  Word  of  God,  and  to 
administer  the  sacraments  to  his  countrymen ; and  that  as  the  mission 
of  priests  lawfully  ordained  is  originally  from  Christ,  Who  sent  His 
Apostles  even  as  His  Father  had  sent  Him,  he  humbly  conceived  no 
human  laws  could  justly  render  his  return  into  England  criminal; 
for  this  would  be  to  prefer  the  ordinances  of  men  to  the  commands 
of  the  supreme  legislator  Christ  Himself.  As  to  the  rest,  he  would 
pay  obedience  in  all  civil  matters  to  his  Majesty;  but  would  not 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  as  it  was  worded.  Upon  this  he  was 

345 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


sent  to  the  Gatehouse^  where  he  had  before  offered  to  God  the  first- 
fruits  of  his  mission. 

His  conduct  in  prison  (for  about  eight  months)  was  truly  religious 
and  edifying  to  all.  The  author  of  the  Latin  account  of  his  martyr- 
dom, published  at  Doway  the  same  year  he  suffered,  who  seems  to 
have  been  an  eye-witness  of  his  behaviour,  gives  this  commendation 
of  him:  that  he  wholly  devoted  himself  to  prayer,  and  other  religious 
exercises;  that  he  used  great  mortifications;  and  that  his  comport- 
ment in  general,  during  the  time  of  his  confinement  in  the  Gate- 
house, was  such  as  afforded  great  comfort  and  edification  to  the 
other  prisoners. 

But  as  zeal  for  the  conversion  of  souls  was  his  predominant 
virtue,  it  put  him  upon  thoughts  of  making  his  escape  out  of  prison, 
that  he  might  be  in  a condition  of  being  more  serviceable  to  the 
souls  of  his  neighbours  at  a time  when  priests  were  very  much 
wanted.  The  design  he  communicated  to  a fellow-prisoner,  a 
Father  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  who  was  his  spiritual  director,  to- 
gether with  his  motives  and  reasons ; and  farther,  to  learn  the  will  of 
heaven,  he  earnestly  recommended  the  affair  to  God  in  his  devotions 
for  many  days,  adding  fasting  and  alms  to  his  prayers,  and  humbly 
beseeching  the  Almighty  to  manifest  His  will  to  him,  and  give  such 
issue  to  his  undertaking  as  should  be  best  pleasing  to  Him,  and  most 
conducive  to  His  divine  honour  and  glory. 

And  now,  having  concerted  his  measures,  he  attempted  to  put 
his  design  into  execution  on  the  24th  oi  June,  1616,  letting  himself 
down  in  the  dead  of  the  night  from  a high  window  by  the  help  of  a 
cord.  But  when  he  was  just  come  to  the  ground,  he  was  surprised 
to  find  himself  fast  in  the  arms  of  an  unknown  person,  who  by  his 
loud  cries  gave  the  alarm  to  the  neighbourhood,  and  so  turnkeys, 
watchmen,  &c.,  came  rushing  in  upon  him,  and  after  having  hauled, 
dragged,  beat,  and  buffeted  him,  to  make  sure  work  they  thrust 
him  under  a table,  girding  about  his  neck  a massive  collar  of  iron; 
to  this  again  they  fasten  a ponderous  chain  of  an  hundred  weight, 
wherewith  they  inhumanly  load  and  fetter  him,  and  in  this  painful 
posture  they  keep  him  for  some  hours  till  the  morning,  and  then  he 
met  with  even  more  barbarous  usage,  as  we  shall  now  see. 

There  was  in  the  Gatehouse  a subterraneous  dungeon,  a deep  and 
dark  hole,  which,  if  we  may  judge  by  the  filth  and  nastiness  of  the 
place,  had  not  been  opened  or  made  use  of  for  a long  time;  in  this 
dungeon  was  a pair  of  wooden  stocks  of  an  odd  contrivance,  made 
not  so  much  to  secure  as  to  torture  the  prisoner.  Here,  by  the 
jailer’s  orders,  Mr.  Maxfield  was  to  take  up  his  quarters;  and  in  this 

346 


THOMAS  MAXFIELD 


i6i6] 

engine  his  feet  were  fastened  in  such  manner  that  he  could  neither 
stand  upright,  nor  yet  lie  down,  or  turn  or  move  his  body  into  any 
other  posture  for  a little  ease.  To  which  was  added  another  torment 
more  intolerable  to  human  nature,  from  the  swarms  of  venomous 
insects  generated  in  the  filth  and  moisture  of  the  vault,  which  by 
their  creeping  over  his  body,  fast  locked  up  in  this  cruel  machine, 
sorely  annoyed  him,  without  his  being  able  to  make  the  least  defence 
against  them.  The  darkness,  stench,  horror,  and  torments  of  this 
place  the  confessor  of  Christ  endured  from  before  daybreak  on 
Friday  till  Monday  night,  that  is  for  above  seventy  hours  together, 
without  the  least  intermission  till  a warrant  was  sent  from  the  Council 
for  his  immediate  removal  to  Newgate  in  order  for  his  trial. 

There  was  something  so  very  cruel  and  barbarous  in  this  treat- 
ment of  Mr.  Maxfieldy  that  it  moved  the  whole  prison  to  compassion- 
ate his  condition  and  study  to  give  him  help,  so  that  not  without 
danger  of  incurring  the  like  penalty,  they  raised  up  a plank  and 
opened  a small  passage  over  the  dungeon,  through  which  they  spoke 
to  him,  pitied  his  extreme  sufferings,  and  threw  him  in  an  old  blanket 
to  cover  him,  being  before  almost  naked;  and  a priest  of  the  Society, 
a prisoner  there,  whom  Mr.  Maxfield  had  made  use  of  for  his  con- 
fessariuSy  ventured  to  come  to  this  hole  to  speak  to  him,  to  comfort 
him,  and  to  exhort  him  to  patience  and  courage.  But  what  sur- 
prised this  good  father  very  much,  was  to  find  the  man  of  God  so 
far  from  being  dejected  amidst  that  variety  of  sufferings,  or  in  need 
of  any  human  comforts,  that  his  soul  seemed  to  be  elevated  with 
supernatural  lights,  and  abounding  with  heavenly  consolations. 

On  Monday  at  night  he  was  dragged  out  of  this  dungeon,  living 
indeed,  and  that  was  all ; his  face  as  pale  as  that  of  a dead  corpse ; 
his  spirits  sunk  with  hunger  and  want  of  rest  to  that  degree  that  he 
was  under  continual  faintings  away ; his  hands  and  feet  so^benumbed 
as  to  have  lost  all  feeling  and  use,  insomuch  that  it  was  some  time 
before  he  was  able  to  move.  However  the  same  night,  having  first 
fettered  his  arms,  they  hurried  him  away  and  forced  him  to  walk 
from  Westminster  to  Newgate.  Here  he  was  committed  to  the 
common  side,  amongst  a gang  of  felons,  and  was  loaded  with  heavy 
irons,  without  any  other  convenience  for  a little  rest  but  the  bare 
floor.  But  that  which  gave  this  holy  soul  the  greatest  pain,  was  the 
profane  and  impious  discourse  of  those  miserable  wretches,  who, 
though  threatened  with  approaching  death,  yet  took  no  care  to  make 
their  peace  with  God,  but  added  daily  new  crimes  to  their  former 
heavy  load  of  wickedness,  without  the  least  remorse  or  sense  of 
God’s  judgments  upon  impenitent  sinners.  Mr.  Maxfield  laid  hold 

347 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


of  every  occasion  to  bring  these  poor  wretches  to  a sense  of  their 
deplorable  state,  and  to  a repentance  for  their  sins,  and  the  Divine 
goodness  gave  that  blessing  to  his  words  that  he  reconciled  two  of 
the  felons  to  God  and  His  Church.  The  keepers  were  soon  ac- 
quainted with  it,  and  he  looked  for  nothing  less  than  the  stocks  or 
dungeon  a second  time;  but  as  his  trial  was  at  hand,  and  he  was 
looked  upon  to  be  a dead  man,  they  winked  at  it,  only  took  care  to 
prevent  the  like  practices  for  the  future,  by  removing  him  from  the 
common  side,  and  placing  him  amongst  his  fellow-priests,  a comfort 
he  could  not  obtain  before. 

On  Wednesday  the  26th  oijune^  1616,  Mr.  Maxfield  was  brought 
to  the  bar.  The  trial  was  soon  over,  for  being  indicted  for  taking 
orders  in  the  Roman  Church,  and  exercising  the  same  in  England,  he 
fairly  confessed  himself  a priest,  and  so  was  remanded  back  to  New- 
gate, locked  up  in  a separate  place  by  himself,  loaded  with  heavy 
irons,  and  so  strictly  looked  to,  that  no  person  was  allowed  to  visit 
him.  However  he  procured  by  some  means  or  other  to  desire  his 
fellow-priests  in  the  other  part  of  the  prison  to  recite  the  Te  Deum, 
to  give  thanks  to  God  for  the  blessings  he  had  received  that  day. 
The  next  morning  he  was  again  brought  to  the  bar  to  receive  sentence, 
when  the  Judge  offered  him  life,  provided  he  would  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance,  to  which  Mr.  Maxfield  replied  that  his  conscience 
would  not  permit  him  to  take  that  oath  in  the  manner  it  was  worded, 
for  that  it  contained  some  expressions  which  he  conceived  were 
not  consistent  with  truth.  Then  turning  himself  to  the  standers-by, 
he  desired  them  to  take  notice  that  he  was  condemned  for  no  other 
crime  but  his  priesthood,  no  other  treason  being  so  much  as  objected 
against  him;  and  that  even  for  this  too,  in  their  own  hearing,  pardon 
had  been  offered  him,  provided  he  would  take  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
He  therefore  protested,  upon  the  word  of  a dying  man,  that  he 
acknowledged  King  James  his  true  and  lawful  sovereign;  that  he  bore 
him  true  and  faithful  allegiance,  and  was  willing  to  declare  the  same 
upon  oath,  provided  it  were  done  without  such  clauses  and  assertions 
as  are  contrary  to  truth  and  the  Catholic  religion.  After  he  had  said 
this  he  was  proceeding  to  shew  the  iniquity  of  the  laws,  by  which 
men  were  condemned  to  death  for  exercising  priestly  functions,  in 
a nation  which  had  been  converted  to  the  Christian  faith  by  priests 
of  the  same  religion,  when  the  Court  interrupted  him,  bidding  him 
attend  to  the  sentence  which  was  pronounced  in  the  usual  form,  viz., 
that  he  should  be  drawn  to  the  place  of  execution,  hanged,  then  cut 
down  alive,  dismembered  and  bowelled,  his  bowels  to  be  thrown  into 
the  fire,  his  head  to  be  severed  from  the  body,  his  body  quartered,  &c 

348 


THOMAS  MAXFIELD 


i6i6] 

After  sentence  pronounced  he  was  hurried  back  to  prison  and  thrust 
into  the  condemned  hole,  where  he  lay  till  the  execution  day. 

Strict  orders  were  sent  to  Newgate  that  no  Papists  should  have 
access  to  the  prisoner.  However  some  few  made  interest  to  see  him. 
Amongst  others  a lady  of  quality  found  means  to  make  him  a charit- 
able visit,  who  declared  herself  very  much  edified  and  comforted 
with  his  heavenly  discourses  and  saint-like  comportment. 

The  Spanish  Ambassador  went  to  Court  to  solicit  a pardon  for 
him;  and  that  being  refused,  he  petitioned  at  least  for  a reprieve; 
but  was  told  that  his  Excellency  must  wait  till  Tuesday  next  for  a 
final  answer.  This  was  on  Sunday  evening;  and  the  dead- warrant 
being  signed  for  the  executing  the  prisoners  the  very  next  day,  the 
Ambassador  suspected  the  worst,  but  knew  not  how  to  remedy  it. 
However  he  sent  his  own  son  to  wait  on  Mr.  Maxfield  personally 
in  Newgate,  and  with  him  his  director.  Father  Didacus  de  Puente, 
a religious  man  of  great  learning  and  piety,  of  the  Order  of  St. 
Dominic,  who  in  company  of  some  others  of  the  Spanish  nation  got 
admittance  to  see  and  comfort  the  holy  man,  and  to  desire  his  prayers, 
not  only  for  the  Ambassador  and  his  family,  but  also  for  the  King 
his  master  and  the  whole  nation  of  Spain:  assuring  him  withal,  that 
no  endeavours  should  be  wanting  on  the  Ambassador’s  part  to 
procure  him  a reprieve,  though  he  very  much  doubted  whether  he 
should  succeed. 

These  pious  visitors  found  the  priest  of  Jesus  Christ  in  a dark 
dungeon,  loaded  with  heavy  irons  like  the  worst  of  malefactors; 
but  withal  perfectly  calm,  and  even  modestly  cheerful  under  his 
sufferings.  And  though  he  was  pretty  well  convinced  that  he  was 
to  die  the  next  morning,  yet  was  he  so  far  from  appearing  dejected 
or  dismayed  at  the  terrors  of  approaching  death,  or  the  least  dissatis- 
fied with  his  lot,  that,  on  the  contrary,  there  appeared  both  in  his 
countenance,  and  in  his  words  and  actions,  such  manifest  signs  of 
Christian  fortitude,  and  of  an  entire  dependence  and  confidence 
in  the  Divine  protection,  for  his  support  and  strength  in  that  last 
dreadful  hour,  together  with  such  a saint-like  and  heavenly  air  in 
the  whole  conversation  he  had  with  these  strangers,  as  transported 
them  with  a holy  joy  at  the  sight  of  this  victim  of  faith,  and  filled 
them  with  respect  and  veneration  towards  so  great  a servant  of  God. 
The  acts  of  his  martyrdom  tell  us,  that  they  threw  themselves  at  his 
feet;  that  they  kissed  his  hands  and  his  chains,  and  even  the  very 
ground  he  trod  on,  beseeching  him  with  tears  that  they  might  be 
serviceable  to  him  in  one  kind  or  other.  Mr.  Maxfield  thanked 
them  for  their  charitable  offers,  but  told  them  he  wanted  nothing 

349 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


but  theirs,  and  other  good  Christians’  prayers,  for  obtaining  the 
grace  of  God  that  he  might  persevere  to  the  end,  and  overcome 
the  difficulties  he  was  to  encounter  with:  and  therefore  being  very 
sensible  of  his  own  weakness  and  insufficiency,  he  desired  them  to 
pray  for  him.  He  likewise  desired  them  to  use  their  good  offices 
with  the  Ambassador,  that  at  his  return  to  Spain  he  would  recom- 
mend to  his  Catholic  Majesty  the  English  College  of  Doway^  upon 
which  his  royal  predecessor  Philip  the  Second  had  settled  an  annual 
pension,  which  he  hoped  the  present  king,  at  the  intercession  of  his 
Excellency,  would  be  pleased  to  continue.  Upon  this  they  took 
their  leave  of  him,  and  left  him  to  his  devotions.  And  the  reverend 
father  confessor  at  his  return  home  caused  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
to  be  solemnly  exposed  in  the  Ambassador’s  chapel,  where  the 
family  and  other  Catholics  spent  the  night  in  prayer  in  behalf  of 
this  holy  priest,  who  was  in  the  morning  to  pour  forth  his  blood  in 
defence  of  the  Catholic  religion. 

The  next  day  (the  ist  of  July)^  very  early  in  the  morning,  Mr. 
Maxfield  was  demanded  by  the  Sheriff  to  be  carried  to  the  place  of 
execution;  and  accordingly  his  irons  were  struck  off,  and  he  was 
immediately  led  out.  It  was  observed  that  much  artifice  was  used 
to  manage  this  business  with  as  little  noise  as  possible,  insomuch 
that  his  fellow-prisoners  the  priests  and  other  Catholics,  wffio  were 
lodged  in  that  quarter  of  Newgate  over  against  him,  were  kept  close 
up,  and  not  permitted  so  much  as  to  see  him  or  receive  his  last 
blessing  as  he  passed  by.  However,  when  he  came  opposite  to  the 
window,  he  turned  his  face  towards  it,  and  with  an  audible  voice  bid 
them  all  adieu ^ and  then  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  upon  himself  and 
the  crowd,  he  calmly  and  cheerfully  laid  himself  down  upon  the  sledge. 

The  adversaries,  to  prevent  the  great  concourse  of  people, 
besides  choosing  so  early  an  hour,  had  ordered  that  a woman  should 
at  the  same  time  be  burnt  in  Smithfield,  in  hopes  that  this  would 
make  a considerable  diversion,  and  draw  a great  part  of  the  people 
that  way.  But  all  was  to  no  purpose,  the  people  poured  in  from  all 
parts  of  the  town;  and  streets,  windows,  and  balconies  were  all 
thronged  with  unusual  numbers  to  see  this  holy  priest  drawn  to 
Tyburn;  and  great  multitudes  there  were,  horse  and  foot,  who 
accompanied  him  to  the  very  place  of  execution,  amongst  whom 
were  many  Catholics  of  fashion  as  well  foreigners  as  English.  The 
Spaniards  distinguished  themselves  upon  this  occasion,  who  joined 
themselves  in  a body,  and  though  they  met  with  many  affronts, 
forced  their  way  through  the  crowd  to  the  sledge,  and  accompanied 
the  confessor  to  the  end  of  his  stage,  frequently  exhorting  him  to 

350 


THOMAS  MAXFIELD 


i6i6] 

constancy  and  perseverance,  and  begging  for  themselves  his  prayers 
and  blessing,  with  their  heads  uncovered,  and  bowed  down  in  the 
most  respectful  manner. 

This  was  a sensible  mortification  to  some  people,  who  not- 
withstanding their  forwardness  to  have  this  priest  taken  oflF,  would 
gladly  have  had  it  done  in  a more  private  way;  well  knowing  that 
putting  priests  to  death  for  religious  matters  only  could  not  fail 
to  bring  an  odium  upon  Protestants.  But  there  was  yet  another 
circumstance,  that  was  not  less  vexatious  to  them:  for  when  they 
arrived  at  Tyhurn  they  found  the  gibbet  beautifully  adorned  with 
garlands,  and  wreaths  of  flowers;  and  the  ground  all  covered  with 
odoriferous  herbs  and  greens,  in  honour  of  the  martyr  who  was  going 
to  suflFer  there,  and  of  the  cause  for  which  he  was  to  shed  his  blood. 

Mr.  Maxfield  being  now  in  the  cart,  turned  himself  to  the  people, 
and  with  a serene' countenance  and  modest  assurance  spoke  to  them 
to  this  purpose: 

‘ Dear  Countrymen, — ^Whereas  my  return  into  England^  and 
my  remaining  here  is  the  cause  of  my  being  brought  hither  to  suffer 
a disgraceful  death,  I beg  leave  to  assure  you  upon  the  word  of  a 
dying  man,  that  my  errand  into  my  native  country  after  many  years 
spent  abroad,  was  not  to  encourage  treasons  and  rebellions,  or  with- 
draw His  Majesty’s  subjects  from  their  allegiance,  or  in  any  kind  to 
intermeddle  in  State  affairs,  but  only  to  be  serviceable  to  the  souls 
of  my  dear  countrymen,  by  endeavouring  to  remove  their  errors, 
and  bring  them  back  to  the  faith  of  their  ancestors.  Know  also, 
good  people,  that  I am  not  of  the  number  of  those  of  whom  God 
complains  by  the  mouth  of  His  prophet,  that  they  went  without  His 
sending.  No,  God  forbids  that  I should  undertake  a business  of 
this  consequence  without  authority  of  superiors.  I came  here 
because  I was  sent;  and  I was  sent  and  commissioned  to  preach  to 
you,  by  the  same  Apostolic  See  which  formerly  sent  St.  Augustine 
and  his  companions  into  this  kingdom  to  instruct  our  Saxon  ancestors 
in  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ.  And  surely,  as  my  mission  was  from  the 
same  authority,  and  directed  to  the  same  end,  viz.,  the  conversion 
of  Englishmen  to  the  Catholic  faith;  by  condemning  m.e  of  treason 
for  taking  orders  in  the  Church  of  Rome,  and  remaining  in  Efigland, 
you  cannot  but  see  that  you  involve  St.  Augustine  in  the  same  guilt 
of  treason,  a thing  in  itself  absurd  to  all  intents  and  purposes.’ 

Here  the  Sheriff  interrupted  him,  and  would  not  suffer  him  to 
proceed,  giving  orders  at  the  same  time  to  the  executioner  to  do  his 
office.  Upon  which  Mr.  Maxfield,  falling  upon  his  knees,  employed 
himself  for  a few  minutes  in  private  devotions;  then  he  raised  his 

351 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


voice,  and  prayed  aloud  for  the  King,  Queen,  and  royal  family,  and 
likewise  for  the  people  of  this  kingdom  in  general ; and  after  another 
pause  in  silent  prayer,  he  prayed  again  aloud  for  his  persecutors, 
earnestly  beseeching  Almighty  God  to  forgive  all,  as  he  for  his  part 
sincerely  forgave  them  who  had  been  any  ways  instrumental  in 
taking  away  his  life.  These  prayers  he  made  with  a sedate  coun- 
tenance, and  a devotion  edifying  to  all.  And  now  the  executioner 
having  fitted  the  cord  to  his  neck,  the  confessor  lifted  up  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  and  stretching  forth  his  right  hand,  gave  his  last  blessing 
to  the  people,  which  the  greatest  part  received  with  bare  heads,  and 
many  of  them  kneeling.  Then  beseeching  the  Catholics  to  assist 
his  departing  soul  with  their  fervent  prayers,  he  repeated  aloud 
those  words.  Into  thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend  my  spirit,  and  so  the 
cart  was  drawn  away. 

He  had  hanged  a very  little  while  when  the  Sheriff  cried  out  to 
the  executioner  to  cut  the  rope,  and  butcher  him  alive  according  to 
sentence.  But  the  crowd  opposing  it,  and  by  loud  reproaches 
testifying  their  horror  of  such  a barbarous  proposition,  the  execu- 
tioner held  his  hand;  and  he  was  permitted  to  hang  till  he  was  dead, 
at  least  to  all  sense  of  pain,  and  then  he  was  bowelled  and  quartered. 

The  Sheriff,  to  shew  his  zeal,  forbid,  upon  pain  of  imprisonment, 
that  anyone  should  dare  to  carry  off  any  part  of  the  body  or  of  his 
garments,  or  even  of  the  straw  upon  which  the  body  was  butchered. 
And  to  prevent  the  Catholics  from  stealing  afterwards  any  of  his 
relics,  he  ordered  a pit  to  be  made  near  the  gallows,  of  an  unusual 
depth,  into  which  he  threw  the  mangled  limbs  of  the  servant  of  God, 
and  over  them  two  half-rotten  carcasses  of  felons  that  had  been 
buried  there  a month  before;  and  upon  these  again  he  cast  in  the 
bodies  of  thirteen  malefactors  who  were  executed  that  day,  pressing 
down  upon  them  a great  quantity  of  earth,  and  so  he  thought  he  had 
done  the  work  effectually.  But  some  zealous  young  men  that  very 
night,  notwithstanding  all  the  Sheriff’s  precautions,  opening  the  hole, 
took  up  the  mangled  body  of  the  martyr,  and  carried  it  away  in  order 
to  a more  decent  interment.  He  suffered  July  the  ist,  i6i6. 

Mr.  Maxfield  a little  while  before  his  trial  wrote  the  following  letter  to  Dr. 
Kellison,  then  President  of  Doway  College,  the  original  of  which  is  to  this 
day  preserved  in  the  college. 

‘ Most  reverend  and  most  dear  Father, 

‘ As  in  duty  I am  bound  never  to  forget  you,  who  have 
ever  had  so  tender  and  fatherly  care  of  me;  so  now  especially  I 
must  in  no  ways  omit  to  write  to  you,  being  peradventure  the 

352 


6i6] 


THOMAS  MAXFIELD 


last  time  that  ever  I must  salute  you:  for  that  now  I expect 
with  some  hopes  (if  so  unworthy  a wretch  may  presume  to  hope 
for  so  great  a dignity),  to  end  my  days  in  the  just  quarrel  of  my 
Lord  and  Master  Christ  Jesu.  I suppose,  good  sir,  now  that  it 
has  come  to  your  notice  of  my  attempt  out  of  the  Gatehouse ; and 
how  it  hath  pleased  God  to  dispose  of  me,  and  deliver  me  again 
into  the  hands  of  my  enemies,  who  apprehending  me,  put  me  to 
suffer  unusual  affliction  and  misery;  the  particular  relation  where- 
of I choose  rather  to  remit  to  some  other  than  myself  to  be  the 
reporter.  From  thence  I was  removed  by  special  warrant  to 
Newgate;  whence,  as  all  men  tell  me,  I am  to  be  produced  to  my 
answer  upon  Wednesday  or  Thursday  next,  there  to  receive  my  trial 
on  life  and  death,  the  happiest  news  and  tidings  that  ever  I heard: 
God  give  me  strength  and  courage,  and  make  me  to  glorify  His 
glorious  name  by  my  death,  and  to  fill  up  the  number  of  my  glorified 
brethren,  that  are  gone  before  me.  I think  myself  most  happy 
that  I branched  out  of,  and  still  remain  a member  of,  that  blessed 
Plouse  of  Doway^  that  hath  afforded  to  our  poor,  barren  country  so 
much  good  and  happy  seed.  I am  therefore  yours,  and  so  will  live 
and  die.  Let  me  therefore,  dear  father,  be  made  partaker  of  your 
good  prayers,  and  commend  me,  I beseech  you,  to  all  my  good  and 
dearly  beloved  brethren,  whose  happiness  I wish  ever  as  my  own; 
and  I will  never  cease,  God  willing,  to  pray  for  you  and  them,  and 
for  the  prosperity  of  that  House,  both  in  life  and  after  death.  I 
am  forced,  dear  good  sir,  to  be  brief,  through  the  much  company 
that  cometh  to  me  at  this  present,  and  other  necessary  business; 
but  I hope  you  will  pardon  me,  and  accept  of  this  as  a token  of  a 
great  good-will.  I am  your  poor  debtor,  and,  if  I live,  I will  one 
day  defray  all;  if  otherwise,  I hope  you  will  remit  it.  And  so  in 
haste,  being  called  to  the  grate  by  the  Sheriff’s  man,  I bid  you,  dear 
father,  farewell  in  Christ  Jesu. — Your  ever  most  dutiful, 

‘ Thomas  Maxfield.’ 


THOMAS  TUNSTAL,  alias  HELMES,  Priest.* 

Thomas  TUNSTAL  (who  in  the  Doway  Records  is  called 
Helmes)  was  collaterally  descended  from  the  ancient  family 
of  the  Tunstals,  of  Thurland  in  Lancashire^  which  afterwards 

* Ven.  Thomas  Tunstal,  alias  Helmes, — From  the  Account  of  his 
martyrdom,  printed  at  Douay  in  i6i8;  and  from  a Manuscript  sent  me 
by  Cuthbert  Constable,  Esq.,  and  two  other  written  relations;  see  also 
Chalcedon’s  Catalogue  and  Douay  Diaries. 

353 


z 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


removed  into  Yorkshire^  where  they  have  long  resided  at  Scargill, 
Hutton^  or  Wicklijf,  but  was  himself  born  in  the  diocese  of  Carlisle. 
He  performed  his  studies  abroad  in  the  English  College  of  Doway; 
was  ordained  priest  in  1609,  and  sent  on  the  English  mission  in  1610. 
Here  he  quickly  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  and  spent 
four  or  five  years  of  his  mission  in  different  prisons.  His  last  confine- 
ment before  his  final  apprehension  was  in  Wisheach  Castle,  from 
whence  he  made  his  escape,  letting  himself  down  by  a rope.  From 
Wisheach  he  made  the  best  of  his  way  into  Norfolk,  where  he  took 
shelter  in  a friend’s  house  not  far  from  Lynn.  But  he  had  been 
there  very  few  days  when  search  was  made  for  him  and  he  was 
apprehended. 

There  was  in  that  neighbourhood  a charitable  lady  who  did  great 
service  to  the  poor  in  the  way  of  surgery.  Mr.  Tunstal  stood  in 
great  want  of  such  assistance,  having  grievously  galled  and  wounded 
his  hands  by  the  rubbing  of  the  rope  at  the  time  when  he  made  his 
escape ; the  sores  for  want  of  proper  applications  being  grown  exceed- 
ing painful.  Therefore  his  Catholic  host  advised  him  to  apply  to 
Lady  L' Estrange  (this  was  her  name),  and  put  himself  under  her  care. 
She  received  him  kindly,  dressed  his  wounds,  and  promised  him  her 
best  assistance  for  making  a cure.  However  the  good  lady  could 
not  forbear  talking  to  her  husband.  Sir  Hammond  L' Estrange,  a Justice 
of  Peace,  of  some  particulars  relating  to  her  new  patient;  as,  that  he 
was  in  poor  apparel,  yet  a gentlemanlike  man  in  his  discourse 
and  behaviour;  but  withal  somewhat  reserved  in  giving  an  account 
how  he  came  by  those  wounds  in  his  hands ; that  he  was  a stranger 
in  the  country,  and  lodged  at  the  house  of  a Popish  recusant. 
The  Justice  immediately  cried  out,  this  must  be  the  Popish  priest 
lately  escaped  out  of  Wisheach,  for  whom  he  had  that  day  received 
orders  to  make  diligent  search.  Upon  this,  the  lady  is  reported  to 
have  cast  herself  on  her  knees  to  intercede  for  the  man,  begging  her 
husband  to  take  no  notice  of  what  she  had  said,  adding,  that  she 
should  be  an  unhappy  woman  all  her  life,  if  the  priest  should  come 
to  any  trouble  through  her  speeches.  But  notwithstanding  all  she 
could  say  or  do,  the  knight  persisted  in  his  resolution  of  securing  the 
man,  and  accordingly  sent  out  his  warrant,  and  had  him  seized  and 
brought  before  him.  And  though  the  lady  again  renewed  her 
instances  to  have  him  dismissed,  yet  she  could  not  be  heard:  but 
Mr.  Tunstal  was  forthwith  committed  to  Norwich  gaol,  where  at  the 
next  assizes  he  was  brought  upon  his  trial  and  condemned. 

By  the  printed  account  of  his  martyrdom  published  at  Doway 
the  same  year,  he  was  condemned  upon  the  testimony  of  one  single 

354 


THOMAS  TUNSTAL 


i6i6] 

witness,  and  he  a man  of  no  conscience  or  honesty.  This  fellow 
made  oath  that  the  prisoner  had  seduced  two  of  the  king’s  subjects 
from  the  Protestant  religion  to  the  superstitions  of  the  Church  of 
Rome,  and  that  he  had  made  some  attempts  that  way  upon  himself. 
Mr.  Tunstal  desired  the  parties  might  be  allowed  to  speak  what  they 
knew:  and  being  called  upon,  they  both  declared  that  what  Symons 
the  witness  had  sworn  was  false;  the  prisoner’s  discourse  to  them 
being  no  other  than  a persuasive  to  holiness  of  life  in  general ; and 
that  neither  of  them  had  been  reconciled ; this  both  of  them  offered 
to  confirm  upon  oath.  Symons  being  called  again,  farther  deposed, 
that  the  prisoner  had  confessed  himself  to  be  a priest  in  his  hearing ; 
and  also,  that  he  had  been  at  Rome,  and  had  spoken  to  the  Pope, 
who  had  conferred  upon  him  power  to  forgive  sins  and  dispense  indul- 
gences. This  was  perjury  with  a witness,  for  Mr.  Tunstal  had  never 
seen  Rome  or  Italy  in  his  life.  However,  his  solemn  denial  of  these 
things  was  not  regarded ; but  the  jury  was  directed  by  the  judge  to  find 
the  prisoner  guilty  of  the  indictment,  which  was  done  accordingly. 

The  jury  had  no  sooner  brought  in  their  verdict,  but  Mr.  Tunstal ^ 
signing  himself  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  falling  upon  his  knees, 
with  eyes  and  hands  lifted  up  to  heaven,  cried  out  in  an  audible 
voice,  Benedicta  sit  Sancta  Trinitas,  atque  indivisa  Unitas;  confitebimur 
ei,  quia  fecit  nohiscum  misericordiam  suam  — Blessed  be  the  Holy 
Trinity,  and  undivided  Unity,  we  will  confess  to  Him,  because  He 
has  shewed  His  mercy  unto  us; — and  in  that  posture  continued  for 
a while  in  prayer. 

Here  the  Judge  [Altham]  demanded  if  he  would  take  the  oaths  of 
allegiance  and  supremacy  ? Mr.  Tunstal  replied,  his  conscience 
would  not  permit  him  to  take  those  oaths ; but  if  his  lordship  was 
pleased  to  appoint  some  minister  to  confer  with  him,  he  should  be 
glad  of  the  opportunity  of  rendering  an  account  of  his  faith ; and  that 
he  did  earnestly  entreat  him  that  a conference  might  be  had  about 
religion,  that  truth  might  appear.  But  the  Judge  cut  him  short, 
telling  him  he  was  a crafty  disputant,  a cunning  sophister,  and  as 
such  not  to  be  heard,  or  treated  with  by  way  of  dispute.  Instead 
of  that,  he  bid  him  hearken  to  the  sentence  of  death  which  he  was  to 
pronounce  upon  him,  viz.,  that  he  should  be  drawn  through  the 
streets  to  the  place  of  execution,  where  he  should  be  hanged  by  the 
neck,  then  cut  down  alive,  &c.  Deo  gratias,  says  Mr.  Tunstal, 
and  then  with  a smiling  countenance  turning  to  the  Judge,  Why, 
my  good  Lord,  says  he,  this  whole  dreadful  sentence  imports  but  one 
death;  and  I do  assure  your  lordship,  by  the  help  of  God^s  grace,  I am 
not  ashamed,  nor  afraid  of  death,  come  when  it  will. 

355 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


The  next  day  about  nine  o’clock,  the  Sheriff  with  his  officers 
came  to  demand  the  prisoner.  Mr.  Tiinstal,  with  a cheerful  coun- 
tenance, saluted  them  courteously,  telling  them  he  was  ready  to  obey 
their  orders.  Accordingly  being  brought  to  the  hurdle,  he  fell 
upon  his  knees,  and  after  some  short  devotions,  rising  up  he  signed 
himself  and  the  hurdle  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  so  delivered 
himself  to  the  officers  to  be  pinioned  and  tied  upon  it  as  they  thought 
proper.  He  was  drawn  for  a long  mile  through  the  street  and  ways 
so  full  of  dust,  that  he  had  liked  to  have  been  suffocated  with  it. 
When  they  arrived  at  the  gallows,  he  was  taken  off  the  hurdle;  and 
kneeling  down  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  he  employed  about  a quarter 
of  an  hour  in  fervent  prayer.  When  he  got  up.  Sir  Hammond 
U Estrange  off  his  horse,  came  and  spoke  to  him  in  a courteous 

manner,  with  his  head  uncovered,  to  this  effect, — Well,  Mr.  TunstaL 
I find  then  you  are  determined  to  die,  and  I hope  you  are  prepared 
for  it.  Indeed,  Sir  Hammond,  says  the  holy  man,  die  I must,  neither 
do  I repine  at  it;  on  the  contrary,  I have  great  reason  to  rejoice  that 
I am  to  die  in  so  good  a cause ; and  therefore  I cannot  but  be  thankful 
in  a particular  manner  to  Sir  Hammond  U Estrange,  for  being  chiefly 
instrumental  in  bringing  me  to  this  place.  I do  heartily  forgive 
you,  sir,  and  I beseech  God  that  my  guiltless  blood  may  not  lie 
heavy  upon  you  and  yours.  Sir  Hammond  thanked  him,  and  so 
departed. 

Then  the  Sheriff  ordered  him  to  go  up  the  ladder,  which  he  did 
with  great  courage,  blessing  himself,  kissing  both  the  gallows  and 
the  rope,  and  having  spent  another  quarter  of  an  hour  in  private 
devotion,  he  turned  to  the  people  and  began  to  speak  upon  the  text, 
Spectaculum  facti  sumus  mundo,  &c.  (i  Cor.  iv.  9),  but  was  com- 
manded to  desist,  the  ministers  apprehending  the  impression  that 
his  words  might  make  upon  the  standers-by.  Then  he  offered  to 
inform  the  people  at  least  of  the  true  cause  of  his  condemnation, 
that  it  was  upon  account  of  taking  orders  abroad  and  exercising  his 
priestly  functions  in  England,  and  not  for  any  treasonable  practices 
against  the  King  or  Government ; declaring  withal,  that  what  Symons 
had  sworn  of  his  being  at  Rome  was  false,  and  that  he  had  been 
condemned  upon  the  testimony  of  one  single  witness,  which  he 
conceived  was  not  according  to  law.  But  here  again  he  was  inter- 
rupted by  Sir  Thomas  Jenkinson,  and  ordered  to  forbear  making 
reflections  upon  the  proceedings  of  the  Court. 

Then  he  once  more  recollected  himself  in  prayer,  often  repeating 
aloud  those  penitential  words,  O God,  he  merciful  to  me  a sinner ! 
and  often  calling  upon  the  holy  name  of  Jesus,  which  he  had  in  a 

356 


THOMAS  TUNSTAL 


i6i6] 

manner  continually  in  his  mouth;  and  imploring  the  intercession 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  the  saints.  Then  he  prayed  aloud  for  the 
King,  Queen,  and  royal  family,  and  for  the  people  of  England  in 
general,  ‘ beseeching  God  in  His  great  mercy  to  open  their  eyes,  and 
bring  them  to  the  knowledge  of  the  true  faith,’  which  prayer  he 
repeated  three  different  times  with  much  fervour  and  devotion.  He 
also  put  up  a short  but  fervent  prayer  to  God  for  the  conversion  and 
repentance  of  his  accuser  Robert  Symons^  beseeching  God  to  touch 
his  heart  with  His  powerful  grace,  that  he  might  truly  repent  of  his 
perjury,  and  do  penance  for  his  sin;  declaring  withal,  that  if  he  had 
ten  thousand  times  as  many  lives  as  there  were  persons  present  in 
that  crowd,  he  would  most  willingly  lay  them  all  down  for  his 
religion. 

Being  asked  whether  he  was  a Jesuit  or  a secular  priest,  he 
answered,  he  was  a secular  priest,  but  had  made  a vow  of  entering 
into  the  holy  Order  of  St.  Bennet,  if  it  could  be  done;  and  therefore 
he  desired  of  the  Sheriff  that  his  head  might  be  set  up  on  St.  Bennefs 
gate. 

The  Sheriff  and  the  ministers  asked  him  if  he  believed  there 
was  any  merit  in  good  works^  and  whether  he  expected  to  be  saved 
by  his  good  works.  He  answered,  that  good  works  were  certainly 
meritorious  and  great  means  of  salvation,  through  the  passion  of 
Christ,  without  which  no  one  could  be  saved;  but  as  for  himself,  he 
acknowledged  himself  a most  unprofitable  servant,  or  rather  most 
wicked  and  good  for  nothing;  and  therefore  had  his  whole  recourse 
to  the  death  and  blood  of  his  Redeemer,  and  desired  to  hide  himself 
in  His  wounds.  Then  he  called  for  a glass  of  water  to  refresh  his 
mouth  by  reason  of  the  great  heat  and  the  dust,  and  asking  what 
o’clock  it  was,  and  being  told  it  was  about  eleven.  Then,  says  he, 
it  is  near  dinner  time;  Sweet  Jesus  ! admit  me,  though  most  unworthy, 
to  be  a guest  this  day  at  Thy  heavenly  table. 

Near  the  gallows,  but  behind  the  back  of  the  martyr,  there  was  a 
great  fire  prepared  to  burn  his  bowels,  and  by  it  the  block  on  which 
he  was  to  be  quartered.  Mr.  Tunstal  turned  his  face  towards  these 
objects,  which  would  have  shocked  another  person,  and  kept  his  eyes 
for  some  time  fixed  on  them ; and  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  on  the 
fire,  remained  a while  in  contemplation.  Then  the  hangman  fitted 
the  rope  to  his  neck,  which  the  martyr  devoutly  kissed,  and  blessed 
with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  saying.  Glory  be  to  Thee,  O Lord.  He 
also  desired  the  executioner  to  give  him  notice  when  he  was  to  be 
turned  off,  that  he  might  die  with  the  holy  name  of  Jesus  in  his  mouth. 
They  told  him,  that  he  might  give  the  sign  himself  if  he  pleased; 

357 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i6 


but  this,  he  said,  he  would  not  do,  because  he  would  by  no  means 
hasten  his  own  death. 

After  this  he  again  made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  lifting  up  his 
hands  begged  the  Catholics  that  were  there  present  to  recommend 
his  departing  soul  to  God ; and  addressed  himself  to  his  Saviour  in 
these  words  of  the  Church,  Bone  Jesu,  Verhum  Patris^  splendor 
ceternce glorice,  &c. — Good  Jesus,  the  Word  of  the  Father,  the  bright- 
ness of  eternal  glory,  &c. ; adding  at  the  end.  Into  Thy  hands^  O Lord, 
I commend  my  spirit;  and  often  repeating  the  holy  name  of  Jesus, 
till  the  executioner  gave  him  notice.  Now,  Mr.  Tunstal,  and  turned 
him  off,  having  these  words  in  his  mouth,  Jesu,  Jesu,  have  mercy 
on  me. 

And  thus  expired  this  constant  confessor  of  Christ,  having  never 
shewn  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  the  least  token  of  fear,  nor  so 
much  as  changed  his  colour.  The  lookers  on,  who  were  very 
numerous,  and  amongst  them  many  persons  of  note,  were  all  sensibly 
affected  with  the  sight  of  his  death;  many  shed  tears,  all  spoke 
kindly  and  compassionately  of  him,  and  appeared  edified  with  his 
saintlike  behaviour.  He  was  permitted  to  hang  till  he  was  dead; 
then  was  cut  down,  bowelled,  and  quartered.  His  head  was  placed 
on  St.  Bennefs  gate  in  Norwich,  according  to  his  request,  his  quarters 
on  the  walls  of  the  city,  where  they  hung  for  some  time,  but  then 
were  privately  taken  down.  He  suffered  Jw/y  13,  1616.  The  judge 
who  condemned  him  died  before  he  had  finished  his  circuit;  and 
most  of  the  jury  came  to  untimely  ends,  or  great  misfortunes. 

The  year  1617  passed  without  any  executions  of  Catholics  for 
religion. 


[ 1618.  ] 

WILLIAM  SOUTHERNE,  Priest  * 

He  was  an  alumnus  and  priest  of  the  English  College  of  Doway, 
and  the  last  that  suffered  in  the  reign  of  King  James  the  First. 
I have  met  with  but  few  particulars  relating  to  the  life  and 
death  of  this  holy  man.  Raissius  in  his  Catalogue  of  the  priests  of 
Doway  College  who  have  suffered  in  England,  printed  at  Doway, 
1630,  p.  82,  informs  us  from  the  letters  which  the  college  had  re- 

* Ven.  William  Southerne. — From  Arnoldus  Raissius’s  Catalogue  of 
the  Douay  Martyrs;  see  also  Chalcedon’s  Catalogue  and  Knaresborough 
MSS.;  The  Albanian. 


358 


i6i8] 


WILLIAM  SOUTHERNE 


ceived  from  persons  of  undoubted  credit  on  the  spot,  that  this 
apostolic  priest  during  his  mission  was  mostly  employed  in  con- 
verting and  assisting  the  poor.  That  being  apprehended,  he  was 
condemned  to  die  for  being  a priest;  that  he  refused  the  oath  of 
allegiance;  that  when  the  sentence  of  death  was  pronounced  upon 
him,  he  fell  upon  his  knees  and  gave  hearty  thanks  to  God.  That 
after  condemnation  he  was  forced  to  lie  in  a dark  and  loathsome 
dungeon  for  six  days,  because  no  one  could  be  found  during  that 
time  who  would  perform  the  office  of  the  hangman.  That  he  suffered 
at  Newcastle;  and  that  his  head  being  set  up  on  a spear  on  one  of 
the  town  gates,  was  for  some  days  after  by  many  observed  to  smile. 

Mr.  Knaresborough  in  his  Manuscript  Collections  adds,  ‘ That 
he  has  been  told  that  Mr.  Southerners  mission  lay  chiefly  among  the 
poorer  sort  of  Catholics  at  Bassage,  in  Stajfordshire^  an  estate  belong- 
ing to  the  Fowlers  of  St.  Thomas;  and  that  he  was  seized  at  the  altar, 
and  hurried  away  in  his  vestments  to  a neighbouring  Justice  of 
Peace  who  committed  him  to  Stafford  gaol ; and  this  happening  at 
the  beginning  of  the  assizes,  he  was  immediately  prosecuted,  con- 
victed, and  sentenced.  That  he  was  carried  to  Newcastle-under- 
Lyme,  2ind^2i'S>th.QYQ?,tr2L.n^t6.  and  butchered  according  to  sentence. 
That  his  head  is  said  to  have  been  brought  back  to  Stafford  and  fixed 
upon  a spear  on  one  of  the  gates  in  terrorem.^ 

He  suffered  April  30,  1618. 

About  the  end  of  July  of  this  same  year  (as  we  learn  from  the 
Doway  Diary),  upon  occasion  of  the  treaty  of  marriage  which  was 
then  on  foot  between  Prince  Charles  and  the  Infanta  of  Spain,  at  the 
intercession  of  the  Spanish  ambassador,  no  less  than  sixty  priests, 
who  were  confined  in  divers  prisons  throughout  the  kingdom,  were 
permitted  to  exchange  their  prisons  for  perpetual  banishment,  and 
were  transported  beyond  the  seas. 

From  the  year  1618  till  the  death  of  lAing  James  the  First,  who 
died  March  the  27th,  1625,  I have  not  met  with  any  mention  of 
priests  or  others  put  to  death  in  England  for  the  Catholic  religion; 
unless  we  suppose  Father  Thomas  Dyer,  monk  of  the  venerable 
Order  of  St.  Bennet,  to  have  suffered  in  this  interval.  Certain  it  is, 
that  he  suffered  some  time  before  the  year  1630,  because  he  has 
place  in  Raissius’s  Catalogue  published  in  that  year ; and  as  he  there 
is  set  down  after  Father  Maurus  Scot,  who  was  executed  in  1612, 
I suppose  that  he  suffered  between  the  years  1612  and  1630.  But 
where,  or  when  in  particular  it  was,  I have  not  found;  nor  anything 
else  relating  either  to  his  life  or  death. 

3>0 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i6i8 


Whilst  the  match  with  Spain  was  in  agitation,  the  Catholics 
flattered  themselves  with  hopes  of  being  more  mildly  treated;  and 
we  learn  from  RushwortK s collections  (vol.  i.  p.  14),  that  the  King, 
upon  being  informed  that  the  Court  of  Spain ^ before  they  would 
consent  to  make  any  advance  in  that  affair,  expected  he  should 
propose  some  conditions  in  favour  of  his  Catholic  subjects,  despatched 
over  (anno  1620)  Sir  Walter  Ashton  with  a letter  to  the  King  of 
Spain^  ‘ promising  on  the  word  of  a king,  that  no  priest  or  lay 
Catholic  should  thenceforth  be  condemned  on  any  capital  law;  and 
that  as  to  the  laws  inflicting  pecuniary  mulcts  for  recusancy^  though  he 
could  not  at  present  rescind  them,  yet  he  promised  so  to  mitigate  their 
execution,  as  thereby  to  oblige  his  Catholic  subjects.  And  farther, 
if  the  marriage  should  take  effect,  he  promised  his  daughter-in-law 
should  find  him  ready  to  indulge  all  favours  which  she  should  re- 
quest for  those  of  her  religion.’ 

But  though  the  persecution  upon  this  occasion  relented,  this 
intermission  or  remission  was  not  of  any  long  continuance ; for  in  the 
year  1623  the  match  was  entirely  broken  off,  and  the  laws  were 
ordered  to  be  put  in  execution  against  all  priests  and  Papists  re- 
cusants. Many  priests  were  apprehended  and  committed  to  prison ; 
the  lay-gentlemen  were  obliged  all  over  the  kingdom  to  pay  their 
fyzo  per  month  for  their  recusancy,  and  the  poorer  sort  their  shilling 
every  Sunday;  and  as  to  all  other  pains  and  penalties,  death  only 
excepted,  the  persecuting  statutes  were  executed  for  the  remainder 
of  this  reign  with  as  much  severity*  as  in  any  part  of  Queen  EizahetKs 
days. 

In  the  year  1624,  Dr.  William  Bishop,  titular  Bishop  of  Chalcedon, 
departed  this  life  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age,  leaving  behind 
him  this  character.  That  he  was  both  generally  esteemed  and  loved, 
both  by  the  laity  and  clergy,  as  well  secular  as  regular.  That  he  was 
a person  of  an  apostolic  spirit  and  life,  who  had  both  laboured  and 
suffered  very  much  in  the  cause  of  the  faith;  having  been  twice 
imprisoned,  and  as  often  banished  for  his  religion;  which  he  had 
also  maintained  by  divers  learned  tracts  against  Mr.  Perkins  and 
Dr.  Abbot.  He  was  the  son  of  John  Bishop,  Esq.,  of  Broyles,  in  the 
county  of  Warwick;  was  sent  to  the  University  of  Oxford  in  the  year 
1570,  where  he  was  a student  in  Gloucester  Hall.  But  after  three  or 
four  years’  studying  there,  being  dissatisfied  with  the  Protestant 
religion,  he  not  only  left  the  university,  but  also  his  estate,  relations, 

I have  by  me  copies  of  several  letters,  representing  the  most  cruel  treat- 
ment of  the  Catholics  at  this  time,  especially  in  the  North. 

360 


WILLIAM  SOUTHERNE 


i6i8] 

and  country,  and  went  over  to  the  college  lately  instituted  at  Doway. 
Here  and  at  Rhemes  he  spent  some  years,  and  was  then  sent  to  Rome*^ 
and  after  some  time  upon  the  English  mission.  Immediately  upon 
his  landing  in  England  he  was  apprehended  and  imprisoned,  and 
some  time  after  sent  into  banishment  in  1585.  Upon  this  occasion 
he  went  to  Paris^  and  there  having  gone  through  the  usual  exercises 
of  the  schools,  he  was  made  doctor  of  Sorbon;  and  after  divers  years 
more  spent  in  apostolical  labours  upon  the  mission,  and  a second 
• imprisonment  and  banishment,  he  was  at  length,  by  Pope  Urban 
VIII.,  in  1622,  created  Bishop  of  Chalcedon.  He  died  in  or  near 
London,  Apr ilxht  13th,  1624 ; and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Richard  Smith, 
In  a manuscript  relation  concerning  this  great  man,  kept  in  the 
archives  of  the  English  College  of  Doway,  there  is  this  remarkable 
history  of  him.  That  upon  his  last  return  into  England,  after  he 
was  consecrated  Bishop  in  Flanders,  he  was  privately  advised  by  a 
principal  magistrate,  one  of  the  King’s  Privy  Council  (considering 
the  present  disposition  of  the  Parliament  and  the  fury  of  the  Puritan 
faction,  continually  making  remonstrances  against  the  growth  of 
Popery),  to  delegate  his  authority  to  some  others  in  quality  of  his 
vicars,  and  to  retire  beyond  the  seas,  at  least  for  a time,  till  the  storm 
blew  over.  But  that  he  returned  this  generous  answer,  worthy  of 
a Basil,  or  an  Ambrose:  That  he  was  not  afraid  of  the  threats  of  the 
Parliament ; that  as  he  had  twice  already  suffered  imprisonment  for 
Christ,  he  was  very  willing  to  suffer  it  a third  time;  or  if  they  should 
order  anything  worse  for  him,  he  was  ready  to  undergo  it.  That  he 
did  not  come  into  England  with  a disposition  to  run  away,  as  soon  as  he 
should  see  the  wolf  coming;  but  rather  as  a good  shepherd,  to  lay  down  his 
life  for  his  sheep. 


After  the  decease  of  King  James  the  First,  his  son  Charles,  the 
first  of  that  name,  ascended  the  throne.  This  prince  in  his  own 
nature  seems  not  to  have  been  inclined  to  persecution,  at  least  not 
so  far  as  to  come  to  the  shedding  of  blood  for  religion;  yet  such  was 
the  iniquity  of  the  times,  and  the  importunity  of  the  Parliaments, 
ever  complaining  of  the  growth  of  Popery,  and  urging  the  execution 
of  the  laws,  that  he  gave  way  to  all  manner  of  severities  against  his 
Catholic  subjects,  and  issued  out  proclamation  upon  proclamation 
for  the  executing  the  laws  against  them.  So  that  the  generality  of 
Catholics  had  a very  bad  time  of  it  under  his  government.  The 
first  that  suffered  death  by  the  penal  statutes  under  this  King  was — 
* By  the  Douay  Diary  he  was  made  priest  at  Laon  in  May,  1583. 

361 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1628 


[ 1628.  ] 

EDMUND  ARROWSMITH,  Priest,  S.J.* 

Edmund  ARROWSMITH  was  bom  (as  two  several  manu- 
scripts in  my  hands  expressly  affirm)  at  a place  called  Haddock^ 
in  the  parish  of  Winwick,  five  miles  from.  Warrington  and 
seven  from  Wigan^  in  1585.  His  father  was  Robert  Arrcwsmith,  a 
yeoman  or  farmer  in  that  country;  his  mother,  Margery^  was  a 
gentlewoman  of  the  ancient  family  of  the  Gerards.  Both  his  parents 
were  Catholics,  and  great  sufferers  for  their  religion,  as  were  also 
their  fathers  before  them.  For  Thurstan  Arrcwsmith,  grandfather 
to  our  Edmund,  after  the  loss  of  goods,  and  frequent  vexations  from 
the  pursuivants,  suffered  a long  imprisonment,  and  died  in  bonds 
a confessor  of  Christ.  And  Mr.  Nicholas  Gerard,  his  grandfather 
by  the  mother’s  side,  being  a constant  professor  of  the  Catholic 
faith,  was  by  orders  of  Sir  Thomas  Gerard,  his  own  brother,  forcibly 
carried  to  the  Protestant  Church  (at  a time  when  he  was  labouring 
under  a violent  fit  of  the  gout,  so  that  he  could  not  stir)  and  there 
placed  over  against  the  minister.  But  instead  of  joining  with  the 
minister  or  congregation  in  their  service,  he  sung  psalms  in  Latin, 
with  so  loud  a voice,  that  the  minister  could  not  be  heard,  which 
obliged  them  to  carry  him  away  out  of  church. 

As  to  the  father  and  mother  of  Mr.  Edmund,  my  Latin  manu- 
script relates,  that  after  divers  other  troubles  and  losses  sustained 
for  their  conscience,  they  had  their  house  searched  by  the  pursui- 
vants, who  with  their  swords  tried  every  bed  and  every  hole  in  which 
they  suspected  any  priest,  or  priestly  utensils  might  be  hid.  And 
then  they  and  all  their  family  were  tied  two  and  two  together,  and 
drove  to  Lancaster  gaol;  leaving  at  home  four  little  children,  one  of 
whom  was  our  Edmund,  whom  the  pursuivants  had  taken  out  of 
bed  in  their  shifts,  and  left  standing  in  the  cold,  not  suffering  any  of 
the  family  to  dress  them ; till  some  neighbours  compassionating  their 
case,  came  in  and  did  this  charitable  office  for  the  helpless  infants. 
After  this  and  some  other  imprisonments  from  which  he  redeemed 

* Ven.  Edmund  Arrowsmith. — From  a Latin  Manuscript  of  his  Life 
preserved  in  Douay  College ; from  a printed  Relation  published  a little  more 
than  a year  after  his  martyrdom  and  republished  1737 ; and  from  three  other 
Manuscripts  sent  me  from  Douay;  see  also  Foley,  Records,  ii.;  Camm, 
Forgotten  Shrines;  Gillow. 


362 


1 628] 


EDMUND  ARROWSMITH 


himself  by  money,  the  father  of  our  confessor  went  abroad  with  his 
brother  Peter,  to  be  out  of  the  way  of  these  vexations ; and  they  both 
served  for  a time  in  the  wars  in  Holland;  Peter  died  at  Brussels,  of  a 
wound  received  in  the  wars;  and  was  there  honourably  interred. 
Robert,  the  father  of  omv  Edmund,  went  to  Rhemes  or  Doway to 
visit  his  other  brother,  Dr.  Edmund  Arrowsmith,  a man  of  great  learn- 
ing and  piety,  priest  and  professor  in  the  college;  and  after  some 
time  returned  again  to  England,  and  there  made  a pious  end,  having 
foretold  his  own  death  some  time  before. 

Mrs.  Arrowsmith  being  left  a widow,  and  in  low  circumstances, 
a venerable  priest  in  that  country,  to  ease  her  burden,  took  the  boy 
Edmund  (then  called  Brian  from  the  name  by  which  he  was  chris- 
tened) into  his  service,  to  bring  him  up  to  learning.  My  Latin 
manuscript  tells  us,  that  whilst  he  frequented  the  schools  his  daily 
practice  was,  as  he  went  to  school  in  the  morning,  to  a place  about  a 
mile  distance  from  home,  to  recite  in  the  way  with  his  brethren  the 
little  hours  of  our  Lady’s  office;  and  when  he  was  coming  home  at 
night  the  vespers  and  compline.  And  that  his  first  care  after  he 
came  home  was  to  withdraw  into  his  oratory,  and  there  to  perform 
his  customary  devotions  of  iht  Jesus  Psalter,  the  Seven  Psalms,  &c. 
And  such  was  the  sweetness  of  his  temper,  and  his  comportment, 
that  even  his  Protestant  schoolmasters  were  very  fond  of  him.  At 
length,  having  tried  in  vain  to  pass  over  to  one  of  the  semi- 

naries, he  succeeded  better  in  his  attempt  to  go  into  Flanders,  where 
he  was  received  into  the  English  College  of  Doway  in  December,  1605. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Doway  he  received  the  sacrament  of 
Confirmation,  in  which  he  took  the  name  of  Edmund  (which  was  the 
name  of  his  uncle  Dr.  Arrowsmith),  and  by  this  name  he  was  ever 
after  called.  He  had  performed  here  a great  part  of  his  humanity 
studies,  when  he  was  obliged  by  the  bad  state  of  his  health  to  interrupt 
the  course  of  them,  and  to  return  to  his  native  country,  where  in  a 
short  time  he  recovered,  and  then  his  old  master  sent  him  back  to 
the  college.  Where  taking  the  usual  oath  he  was  admitted  amongst 
the  Pope’s  alumni,  and  applying  himself  close  to  his  studies,  though 
somewhat  infirm  in  health,  he  made  a great  progress  in  learning; 
but  as  his  too  great  application  threatened  a return  of  his  former 
illness,  his  superiors  thought  it  most  advisable  (he  having  now  gone 
through  a good  part  of  the  course  of  his  divinity)  to  present  him  to 
holy  orders,  and  to  send  him  into  England.  Upon  this  he  received 
all  the  lesser  orders  in  St.  Nicholas's  Church  at  Doway , June  14, 1612 ; 
and  before  the  end  of  the  same  year  was  advanced  to  the  greater 
orders  at  Arras,  and  there  made  priest  December  9;  and  on  the  17th 

363 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1628 


of  June  of  the  following  year,  1613,  he"  was  by  Dr.  Kellison^  lately 
made  President  of  the  College,  sent  upon  the  English  mission. 

In  England  he  quickly  recovered  his  health,  and  employed  his 
missionary  labours  in  his  own  country  of  Lancashire  with  great 
zeal  and  success.  The  printed  account  of  his  death,  published  in 
1630,  gives  his  character  in  short  thus:  ‘ That  he  was  a man  of  mean 
presence  but  of  great  innocency  in  his  life,  of  great  sincerity  in  his 
nature,  of  great  sweetness  in  his  conversation,  and  of  great  industry 
in  his  function.  And  that  he  was  ever  of  a cheerful  countenance — 
a most  probable  sign  of  an  upright  and  unspotted  conscience.’  A 
fellow-labourer  of  his,  in  a manuscript  which  I have  in  my  hands, 
tells  us,  to  the  same  purpose,  ‘ That  though  his  presence  was  very 
mean,  yet  he  was  both  zealous,  witty,  and  fervent,  and  so  forward 
(in  disputing  with  heretics)  that  I often  wished  him  merrily,  says 
he,  to  carry  salt  in  his  pocket  to  season  his  actions,  lest  too  much 
zeal  without  discretion  might  bring  him  too  soon  into  danger,  con- 
sidering the  vehement  and  sudden  storms  of  persecution  that  often 
assailed  us.’  My  author  goes  on:  ‘ Sometimes  I have  been  in  his 
company,  when  meeting  with  ministers  sumptuously  mounted, 
I have  had  much  ado  to  keep  him  from  disputing  with  them ; which 
if  he  had  done,  it  would  have  brought  the  whole  company  into 
danger.  In  his  travels  on  a time  he  met  with  a Protestant  gentleman, 
who  seeing  him  of  so  mean  a presence,  and  understanding  by  some 
in  company  who  and  what  he  was,  thought  he  had  got  a companion 
that  he  might  freely  jest  at  and  play  upon;  but  his  jests  were  so  re- 
torted back  upon  him,  that  he,  swearing  a great  oath,  said,  ‘ I thought 
I had  met  with  a silly  fellow,  but  now  I see  he  is  either  a foolish 
scholar  or  a learned  fool. ^ 

‘ He  took  much  pains,’  says  the  same  manuscript,  ‘ with  possessed 
persons,  yet  seldom  or  never  without  the  help  and  assistance  of  some 
of  his  brethren;  and  so  freed  many  from  their  troublesome  guests, 
and  did  much  good.’  He  laboured  about  ten  or  eleven  years  upon 
the  mission  in  quality  of  a secular  priest;  and  then  in  1624  entered 
into  the  Society  of  Jesus,  to  which  he  had  an  inclination  ever  after 
his  making  a spiritual  exercise  at  Doway,  under  the  direction  of  a 
Father  of  that  Society.  He  did  not  go  abroad  to  make  his  novice- 
ship ; but  retired  only  for  two  or  three  months  into  Essex,  which  time 
he  employed  in  a spiritual  retreat. 

‘ He  was  apprehended  (says  another  manuscript  in  my  hands, 
dated  August  16,  1631),  once  before  his  last  apprehension,  and 
imprisoned  in  Lancaster,  but  released  afterwards  upon  pardon,  with 
divers  others.  [Probably  in  1622,  when  I find  by  Mr.  Rushworth’s 

364 


EDMUND  ARROWSMITH 


1628] 

Historical  Collections,  Vol.  I.  p.  62,  the  King,  in  favour  of  the  treaty 
of  marriage  then  going  forward  with  Spain ^ released  a good  many 
priests  and  other  Catholics  out  of  prison  in  and  about  London,  and 
gave  orders  to  the  judges  to  do  the  like  in  their  respective  circuits.] 
At  that  apprehension  he  was  brought  before  Dr.  Bridgman,  Bishop 
of  Chester,  where  divers  ministers  were  at  supper  with  the  Bishop, 
who  did  all  eat  flesh,  it  being  in  Lent.  Dr.  Bridgman  upon  that 
occasion  made  his  apology  to  Mr.  Edmund  for  his  eating  flesh,  saying 
he  was  old  and  weak,  and  was  dispensed  withal.  But  who  dispenses 
with  your  lusty  ministers  there,  said  Mr.  Edmund,  for  they  have  no 
such  need  ? Both  before  and  after  supper  the  ministers  were  busy 
in  disputing  with  Mr.  Edmund,  and  one  time,  divers  of  them  urging 
him  at  once,  he  merrily  said  to  the  Bishop,  Turn  all  your  dogs  loose 
at  once  against  me,  and  let  us  have  a loose  bait.'  His  second  and  last 
apprehension  was  a little  before  the  summer  assizes  in  1628.  What 
happened  to  him  then,  with  the  whole  history  of  his  trial  and  death, 
we  shall  set  down  word  for  word  out  of  the  printed  relation  of  his 
martyrdom,  printed  in  the  following  year. 

‘ This  man  (Father  Arrowsmith),  performing  his  priestly  functions 
in  that  country,  where  afterwards  he  was  put  to  death,  and  being  in 
labour  amongst  the  rest  to  reduce  a young  man  to  a course  of  virtue, 
who  was  fallen  both  from  God  and  himself,  and  having  reproved  him 
in  particular  for  an  incestuous  marriage,  &c.,  was  so  hated  by  him, 
that  coming  once  to  suspect  to  what  place  the  priest  repaired,  he 
found  means  to  discover  him  to  a Justice  of  Peace  (Captain  Raws- 
thorn),  who  despatched  his  warrant  for  him,  and  so  he  was  appre- 
hended upon  the  highway.  He  was  committed  to  the  common  gaol 
for  not  taking  the  oaths,  and  upon  vehement  suspicion  also  that  he 
was  a priest  and  Jesuit.  This  happened  this  last  summer,  not  long 
before  the  assizes  at  which  he  was  tried.  At  the  entrance  whereof 
Sir  Henry  Yelverton  coming  to  know  that  this  prisoner  was  com- 
mitted for  this  cause,  and  being  the  judge  to  whose  turn  it  fell  to  sit 
upon  life  and  death,  he  was  not  slack  in  laying  hold  of  the  occasion, 
and  therefore  the  next  morning,  being  the  26th  of  August,  he  com- 
manded him  to  be  brought  to  the  bar.  The  prisoner  at  that  time 
was  in  conversation  with  some  friends,  and  the  under-keeper  and 
Sheriff’s  men  calling  him,  after  a quick  and  unexpected  manner, 
to  go  and  present  himself  before  the  Judge,  he  instantly  and  cheer- 
fully put  himself  upon  obedience,  and  said,  God's  holy  will  be  done. 
And  so  they  conducted  him  to  the  bar  amongst  the  felons  and  other 
malefactors. 

‘ As  soon  as  Judge  Yelverton  set  eye  upon  him,  he  sent  to  his 

365 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1628 


colleague  {Sir  Janies  Whitlock),  dt^irmg  his  assistance  in  that  service, 
and  the  jury  being  called  for  this  trial,  Judge  Yelverton  began: 
Sirrah,  are  you  a priest?  The  soldier  of  Christ  making  the  sign 
upon  himself  of  his  Captain’s  standard,  which  is  the  cross,  gave  this 
answer:  I would  to  God  I were  worthy.  The  Judge  repeated  the  same 
question,  and  he  made  this  second  answer,  I would  1 were.  Then 
the  Judge  asked  him.  Are  you  then  no  priest?  to  which  the  prisoner 
was  silent.  So  that  the  Judge  addressed  himself  to  the  jury,  and 
said.  You  may  plainly  see  he  is  a priest.  I warrant  you  he  woidd  not 
for  all  England  deny  his  order.  After  this  a minister  {Leigh  or  Lee), 
who  sat  as  a Justice  of  Peace  upon  the  bench,  and  who  formerly 
had  had  some  knowledge  of  the  priest,  went  to  whisper  in  the  Judge’s 
ear;  and  then  shortly  after  began  to  revile  the  prisoner  aloud,  de- 
claring what  a seducer  he  was,  and  that  if  some  order  were  not  taken 
with  him,  he  would  make  half  Lancashire  Papists.  By  way  of  answer 
to  the  minister  [and  to  the  Judge,  who  told  him  he  could  say  nothing 
for  his  religion],  the  prisoner  humbly  moved  that  he  might  be 
suffered  to  defend  his  faith  in  disputation,  which  he  doubted  not  by 
God’s  grace  to  perform  against  any  who  would  oppose  him.  The 
Judge  without  delay  stifled  that  proposition,  and  told  him,  That 
his  doctrine  could  not  be  maintained;  hut  that  belike  he  desired  that  they 
of  his  own  religion  shoidd  hear  him  talk.  To  which  the  prisoner 
replied.  That  he  would  not  only  defend  it  in  words,  hut  would  be  glad 
to  seal  it  with  his  blood.  The  Judge  told  him  then,  after  an  insulting 
and  savage  manner.  That  he  should  die,  and  see  his  bowels  burn  before 
his  face.  And  you,  my  Lord,  said  the  prisoner,  must  die  too. 

‘ At  this  the  Judge  was  much  enraged,  and  then  shortly  com- 
manded him  to  answer  directly,  how  he  could  justify  his  going  beyond 
the  seas,  and  taking  the  order  of  priesthood  upon  him  in  disobedience  to 
the  King's  laws.  To  which  the  prisoner  made  this  reply.  If  any  man 
can  lawfully  accuse  me,  I stand  ready  here  to  answer  him.  But  of  his 
being  a priest  no  proof  at  all  was  brought,  and  only  a servant  belong- 
ing to  the  Justice  of  Peace  who  had  committed  him,  was  there 
called,  and  he  swore.  That  the  prisoner  persuaded  him  to  be  a Catholic, 
and  told  him  that  the  religion  now  professed  in  England  was  heretical; 
and  that  it  began  but  in  Luther’s  time;  and  a youth  of  twelve  years  of 
age  or  thereabouts,  a son  to  that  same  Justice,  affirmed,  though 
without  oath,  that  the  prisoner  would  have  withdrawn  him  from 
Protestancy. 

‘ The  prisoner  hearing  this,  humbly  begged  leave  to  speak; 
which  being  granted,  he  made  a low  reverence  to  the  bench,  and 
then  began  to  this  effect:  My  Lords,  as  I was  travelling  in  this 

366 


1628] 


EDMUND  ARROWSMITH 


country,  that  very  man,  as  I take  it,  rushed  forth  upon  me  by  a 
hillside  with  a drawn  sword  in  his  hand.  His  apparel  was  mean, 
but  he  was  on  horseback.  I made  as  much  haste  from  him  as 
I could,  but  yet  being  a weak  and  sickly  man,  he  forced  me  in 
the  end  to  the  moss,  where  I left  my  horse,  and  then  I fled  with  all 
the  speed  I could  use,  but  yet  that  could  not  be  great  in  regard  I 
was  loaden  both  with  heavy  clothes  and  books,  and  other  things. 
At  length  he  came  up  to  me  at  a moss  ditch,  and  struck  at  me, 
who  had  no  other  defence  but  a little  walking  stick,  and  a dagger 
which  I drew  not ; and  as  for  the  stick  he  cut  it  close  off  at  the  hand 
by  the  blow  he  gave  me,  and  did  me  withal  some  little  hurt.  I 
asked  him  then  what  his  meaning  was,  and  whether  he  intended  to 
take  my  purse  and  my  life;  he  answered  that  perhaps  he  would; 
and  then  I fled  again  from  him,  but  he  took  me  quickly;  and  then 
came  in  this  very  youth  who  hath  offered  to  give  evidence  against 
me,  and  some  others  also  to  assist  him.  They  used  me  very  un- 
worthily, and  carried  me  first  to  an  alehouse,  and  searched  me  to 
my  very  skin,  after  a barbarous  manner,  and  offered  some  such 
other  indignities  as  modesty  forbids  me  to  relate:  but  therein  I 
hindered  them  the  best  I could,  and  that  done  they  fell  to  drink: 
and  so  they  consumed  nine  shillings  of  my  money  in  one  hour. 
And  they  told  me,  the  Justice  himself,  by  whose  warrant  they  had 
apprehended  me,  was  there  in  person,  but  that  I knew  not  how  to 
believe.  Upon  these  occasions,  my  Lords,  I began  to  find  fault 
with  this  man’s  wicked  and  rude  behaviour,  who  seemed  to  be  the 
ringleader  of  the  rest,  and  I besought  him  for  Jesus's  sake  to  give 
over  his  disorderly  life,  his  drinking,  swearing,  dissolute  talking, 
and  all  those  other  things,  whereby  he  might  offend  Almighty  God. 
Upon  my  word,  and  upon  my  life,  this,  or  to  this  effect  is  all  that  I 
said  to  him.  Let  him  look  on  me,  and  gainsay  it  if  he  can.  As 
for  that  youth,  I deny  not  to  have  told  him,  that  I hoped  when  he 
came  to  riper  years,  he  would  look  better  into  himself,  and  become 
a true  Catholic;  for  that,  and  that  alone,  would  be  the  means  to  save 
his  soul, to  which  he  made  no  answer  at  all;  and  I hope,  my  Lords, 
that  neither  they  nor  any  other  can  prove  an  ill  thing  against  me, 

‘ Upon  this  the  aforesaid  Justice  of  Peace  began  bitterly  to 
inveigh  against  him,  declaring.  How  dangerous  a seducer  he  was, 
and  earnestly  desiring  that  he  might  find  no  favour,  for  he  feared  that  if 
ever  he  got  his  liberty  again,  he  would  do  him  some  mischief.  At  this 
the  prisoner  could  not  choose  but  smile,  and  indeed  his  usual 
countenance  was  inclined  that  way.  But  now  upon  this  occasion 
both  the  judges  told  him  that  he  was  a saucy  fellow,  who  knew  no 

367 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1628 


better  manners  than  to  laugh  and  flout  at  them  who  sat  there  in  judg- 
ment for  the  King.  But  he  who  thought  of  nothing  less  than  deriding 
them,  besought  them  not  to  think  so  ill  of  him;  and  then  he  cast 
himself  upon  his  knees,  and  besought  Almighty  God  to  bless  the 
Kingy  the  honourable  Counci f that  honourable  bench ^ and  all  that 
company  there  ^ humbly  beseeching  God  of  His  infinite  mercy  to  confound 
and  root  out  heresy y that  so  we  might  be  all  of  one  religion.  To  this 
Judge  Yelverton  replied  with  much  fury.  Look  yoUy  gentlemen  of  the 
juryy  how  he  wishes  God  to  confound  us  alf  and  root  out  heresy y by 
which  he  means  our  religion. 

‘ The  prisoner  was  then  taken  from  the  bar,  with  command  that 
he  should  be  put  in  some  dark  place,  where  he  might  have  neither 
light  nor  company  to  come  to  him,  and  when  the  keeper  said  that  he 
had  no  such  place,  he  was  bidden  to  put  him  in  the  worst  he  had. 

‘ Whilst  he  was  so  remaining  there,  the  Judge  lost  no  time  in 
devising  what  indictment  he  might  form  against  him.  At  length 
he  resolved  to  draw  up  two  indictments  against  him,  one  for  being 
a priest  and  a Jesuit y upon  the  testimony  of  a mother  and  her  in- 
cestuous son,  who  wrote  thereof  to  the  Justice  when  the  priest  was 
first  examined;  the  other  for  being  a persuader  in  religion,  which 
had  no  other  ground  than  the  oath  which  the  Justice’s  man  took 
against  him  there  at  the  bar,  and  the  accusation  of  that  youth,  who 
affirmed  (but  yet  without  oath)  that  he  would  fain  have  perverted 
him  from  his  religion.  The  business  being  thus  prepared,  the 
prisoner  was  brought  again  to  the  bar,  where  Judge  Yelverton  was 
sitting  then  alone. 

‘ And  when  upon  these  indictments,  and  the  evidence  which 
before  had  been  given,  the  jury  had  found  him  guilty  of  high  treason ; 
the  Judge  rose  up,  as  the  manner  is,  and  asked  him.  What  he  could 
say  for  himself y why  he  should  not  die  according  to  the  law.  The 
prisoner  did  instantly  lift  up  his  eyes  and  hands  towards  heaven, 
and  made  no  answer  at  all  to  that  question,  but  in  silence  expected 
the  event.  And  then  the  Judge  gave  sentence  upon  him  in  the 
usual  form.  The  prisoner  as  soon  as  he  had  heard  this  sentence 
pronounced,  fell  down  upon  his  knees,  and  bowing  his  head  very 
low,  sounded  forth  Deo  gratias  with  a loud  voice ; and  then  in  English y 
God  be  thanked.  As  the  jailer  was  carrying  him  thence  to  prison, 
the  Sheriff  brought  express  command  from  the  Judge,  that  they 
should  load  him  with  the  greatest  and  heaviest  irons  in  the  castle; 
which  being  presently  put  upon  his  legs,  he  was  not  well  able  to  go, 
but  as  he  could  he  did,  and  in  the  way  recited  the  psalm  Misererey 
in  so  audible  a voice  that  many  heard  him.  When  he  was  come  into 

368 


1628] 


EDMUND  ARROWSMITH 


the  prison  they  lodged  him  in  a little  dark  hole,  where  he  could  not 
well  lie  down,  but  was  forced  to  sit,  with  leaning  only  upon  a bolster, 
which  was  then  cast  in;  and  so  he  continued  in  his  clothes  with 
heavy  bolts  on  his  legs,  from  Tuesday  about  one  or  two  of  the  clock, 
till  about  twelve,  when  he  was  fetched  out  to  execution. 

He  was  also  watched  day  and  night  by  three  or  four  of  the  Sheriff’s 
men,  for  so  the  Judge  had  commanded ; as  also  that  upon  the  for- 
feiture of  £^00  no  man  should  be  suffered  to  speak  with  him.  It 
is  thought  that  in  all  that  time  he  had  taken  very  little  sustenance, 
if  he  had  any;  for  some  that  saw  him  bowelled  averred  that  there 
was  nothing  at  all  in  his  guts  but  wind,  and  not  any  one  drop  of 
urine  in  his  bladder. 

‘ But  notwithstanding  this  strict  charge  that  none  of  his  friends 
should  speak  with  him,  the  minister  {Leigh)  who  had  so  bitterly 
inveighed  against  him  before  the  Judge,  had  privilege  enough  to  go 
to  him:  and  so  he  did  once  or  twice;  and  his  errand  was  to  dispute, 
but  nobody  forsooth  must  be  present.  The  prisoner  refused  that 
offer,  since  it  must  be  subject  to  that  condition;  as  fearing  lest  under 
colour  thereof,  some  slanders  might  be  raised  against  him  after  his 
death.  Some  of  the  minister’s  disciples  seemed  to  be  scandalised, 
for  that  he  had  refused  so  public  an  offer  of  disputation  as  was  made 
by  the  prisoner  at  the  bar,  and  that  now  he  would  seek  to  go  and 
dispute  with  him  in  private.  But  the  minister  and  such  as  were 
most  confident  with  him,  affirmed  against  all  such  surmises  that  the 
priest  was  a silly  fellow,  &c.,  though  indeed  he  was  very  well  known 
to  be  a man  both  of  ready  wit  and  solid  judgment,  and  a grounded 
scholar,  which  some  of  them  had  well  found  when  he  had  been 
apprehended  some  few  years  before. 

‘ In  the  mean  time  this  happy  prisoner,  in  his  close  dark  cell, 
employs  all  his  thoughts  towards  the  making  of  his  passage  into  a 
better  world.  The  Judge  would  have  him  die  a day  before  the 
other  condemned  persons,  a thing  unusual  at  assizes.  But  his 
lordship’s  zeal  must  be  made  appear,  Vv^ho  was  also  pleased  to  look 
on  out  of  a window  at  the  execution,  &c.  On  Thursday,  therefore, 
the  28th  of  August,  word  was  brought  to  the  happy  man,  by  the 
High  Sheriff,  that  he  must  die  within  four  hours  after,  to  whom  he 
said  with  great  devotion,  I beseech  my  Redeemer  to  make  me  worthy 
of  it!  The  Judge  commanded  that  it  should  be  done  about  noon, 
when  men  were  most  likely  to  be  at  dinner.  But  howsoever  it  fell 
out,  the  whole  place  of  his  execution  was  covered  with  great  multi- 
tudes of  people  of  all  sorts,  ages,  sexes,  and  religions,  expecting  the 
end  of  this  tragedy.  And  when  the  keeper  delivered  his  prisoner 

369  2 A 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1628 


to  the  Sheriff,  there  was  scarce  a man  or  woman  left  at  home  to  either 
take  their  dinners  or  to  keep  their  shops. 

‘ As  he  was  carried  through  the  castleyard,  there  was  a reverend 
and  worthy  priest,  his  fellow-prisoner  (Mr.  Soiithworth),  who  had 
been  condemned  for  his  function  a year  before,  and  stood  then 
reprieved,  who  shewed  himself  out  of  a great  window.  And  the 
blessed  man,  who  was  now  in  his  way  to  the  hurdle,  no  sooner  saw 
his  face,  but  he  lifted  up  his  hands  towards  him  with  great  humility 
for  absolution  (for  this  was  the  sign  whereof  they  were  both  agreed 
before),  and  so  that  priest  absolved  the  other  in  sight  of  the  people. 
Then  he  was  brought  to  the  castle  gates,  where  a Catholic  gentleman 
embraced  him  straitly,  and  kissed  him  tenderly,  till  the  High  Sheriff 
made  him  be  removed  by  force.  Then  was  the  blessed  man  laid 
and  bound  upon  the  hurdle,  but  with  his  head  towards  the  horse’s 
tail  for  greater  ignominy.  He  was  dragged  through  the  streets 
to  the  gallows,  which  was  near  a quarter  of  a mile  from  the  castle, 
no  friend  being  able  to  come  near  him,  by  reason  of  the  Sheriff’s 
halberds  and  servants,  but  only  some  ministers  were  admitted  for 
the  increase  of  his  torment.  The  executioner  went  close  before  the 
horse  and  hurdle,  with  a club  in  his  hand  in  a kind  of  barbarous 
triumph,  and  the  blessed  man  being  then  bound  on  the  hurdle, 
held  two  papers  between  his  hands,  which  were  called  duce  claves 
coeli,  the  one  of  them  containing  an  act  of  the  love  of  God,  and  the 
other  of  contrition,  which  he  used  for  the  increase  of  his  devotion. 

‘ Drawing  now  near  the  gallows,  the  horse  and  hurdle  were 
stayed;  where  the  old  limping  minister,  who  hath  been  mentioned 
so  often  before,  shewed  him  a huge  and  terrible  fire,  with  a caldron 
boiling,  so  hot  and  high  that  no  man  was  able  to  stand  near  it ; and 
he  spake  thus  to  him.  Look  you,  Mr.  Rigby  [for  this  was  the  name 
by  which  Father  Arrowsmith  was  indicted],  what  is  provided  for  your 
death;  will  you  conform  yourself  yet,  and  enjoy  the  mercy  of  the  King? 
The  blessed  man  looked  mildly  on  him,  and  said.  Good  sir,  tempt  me 
no  more;  the  mercy  which  I look  for  is  in  heaven  , through  the  death  and 
passion  of  my  Saviour  Jesus,  arid  I most  humbly  beseech  Him  to  make 
me  worthy  of  this  death.  They  dragged  him  then  to  the  ladder’s 
foot,  where  being  untied  he  prayed  about  a quarter  of  an  hour  upon 
his  knees,  but  the  Sheriff  bidding  him  then  make  haste,  he  replied, 
God's  will  be  done,  and  so  kissing  the  ladder  he  most  undauntedly 
went  up. 

‘ During  the  time  of  his  prayer  at  the  ladder’s  foot,  he  often 
repeated  those  words,  as  he  had  also  done  upon  the  hurdle:  I freely 
offer  Thee  my  death,  O sweet  Jesus,  in  satisfaction  for  my  sins;  and  1 

370 


EDMUND  ARROWSMITH 


1628] 

wish  this  little  hlood  of  mine  may  he  a sacrifice  for  them.  The  old 
minister  then  took  him  short,  and  said,  Yoil  attribute  nothing  to 
Christ's  merits  and  passion.  But  he  instantly  replied,  O sir,  say  not 
so:  Christ’s  merits  and  passion  are  ahvays  presupposed.  As  he  was 
ascending  the  ladder,  he  desired  all  Catholics  to  pray  both  with  him 
and  for  him,  in  this  last  conflict.  The  minister  untruly  made 
answer,  that  there  were  none,  and  that  he  would  pray  for  him.  But 
the  blessed  man  replied  thus.  I neither  desire  your  prayers,  nor  will 
pray  with  you;  and  if  it  he  true  which  you  say,  that  there  are  no 
Catholics  here,  I wish  I might  die  as  many  deaths  as  there  are  people 
in  this  place,  upon  cojidition  that  they  were  all  Catholics.  With  that 
he  prayed  for  His  Majesty,  and  commended  to  Almighty  God  the 
state  of  this  kingdom,  and  especially  all  his  persecutors  whom  he 
freely  forgave,  desiring  also  forgiveness  of  whomsoever  he  had 
offended.  Then  going  up  yet  higher  on  the  ladder,  he  farther  spoke 
to  this  effect.  You  gentlemen,  who  are  come  hither  to  see  my  end, 
bear  witness  with  me  that  I die  a constant  Roman  Catholic,  and  for 
Jesus  Christ's  sake:  let  not  my  death  be  a hindrance  to  your  well- 
doing, and  going  forward  in  the  Catholic  religion,  but  rather  an 
encouragement  therein:  for  Jesus'  sake  have  a care  of  your  souls, 
than  which  nothing  is  more  precious;  and  become  members  of 
the  true  Church,  as  you  tender  your  salvation;  for  hereafter  that 
alone  will  do  you  good.  I beseech  you  request  my  brethren,  for 
His  sake  who  redeemed  us  all,  to  be  careful  to  supply  my  want  and 
insufficiency,  as  I hope  they  will.  Nothing  doth  so  much  grieve 
me  as  this  England,  which  I pray  God  soon  convert.  He  prayed 
then  a little  while  out  of  a paper,  and  so  pulled  his  cap  over  his  eyes 
expecting  to  be  turned  off. 

‘ But  the  tempter  had  not  yet  done  with  him.  Sir,  said  Mr. 
Leigh,  I pray  you  accept  the  King's  mercy,  conform  yourself,  and  take 
the  oath,  and  you  shall  live:  good  sir,  you  shall  live;  I woidd  fain  have 
you  live.  Here  is  one  come  now  from  the  Judge  to  offer  you  mercy; 
you  shall  live  if  you  will  conform  yourself  to  our  religion.  The  valiant 
champion  of  Christ,  pulling  up  his  cap  from  over  his  eyes,  said, 
O sir,  how  far  am  I from  that  ? tempt  me  no  more;  I will  not  do  it,  in 
no  case,  on  no  condition.  Then  with  undaunted  courage  he  addressed 
himself  to  the  Sheriff,  persuading  him  and  all  the  rest  to  take  care 
of  their  souls;  till  some  ministers  about  him  said  muttering  by,  as 
in  the  name  of  the  rest.  We  shall  look  to  ourselves  well  enough.  Others, 
who  were  farther  off,  interrupted  him  by  crying  out.  No  more  of 
that,  no  more  of  that:  away  with  him,  away  with  him.  So  pulling 
his  cap  the  second  time  over  his  eyes,  and  fixing  himself  in  most 

37  T 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1628 


fervent  prayer  to  God,  he  was  cast  off  the  ladder,  and  was  suffered 
to  hang  till  he  was  dead.  The  last  words  which  were  heard  out  of 
his  mouth  were,  Bonejesu.  Being  dead  he  was  cut  down,  bowelled, 
and  quartered.  His  head  was  set  upon  a stake  or  pole  amongst  the 
pinnacles  of  the  castle,  and  his  quarters  were  hanged  on  four  several 
places  thereof. 

‘ Divers  Protestants,  beholders  of  this  bloody  spectacle,  wished 
their  souls  with  his.  Others  wished  they  had  never  come  there.  Others 
said  it  was  a barbarous  act  to  use  men  so  for  their  religion.,  &c.  The 
Judge  departing  the  next  day  out  of  the  town,  was  observed  to  turn 
up  and  down,  or  rather  prance  his  horse,  and  look  towards  the 
martyr’s  head,  and  not  thinking  it  to  be  conspicuous  enough,  sent 
back  a command  to  have  it  set  higher  by  six  yards  than  any  of 
the  pinnacles.’  So  far  the  printed  account  of  Father  Arrowsmith 
published  soon  after  his  death. 

His  life  published  in  1737,  adds  from  other  ancient  memoirs, 
that  the  Judge  who  condemned  him,  sitting  at  supper  on  the  23d 
of  January.,  1629-30,  felt  a blow,  as  if  some  one  had  struck  him  on 
the  head ; upon  which  he  fell  in  a rage  against  the  servant  that  waited 
behind  him;  who  protested  that  he  had  not  struck  him,  nor  did  he 
see  any  one  strike  him : a little  after  he  felt  another  blow  like  the  first ; 
and  then  in  great  terrors  he  was  carried  to  bed,  and  died  the  next 
morning. 

The  same  life  relates  that  Father  Arrowsmith  during  his  con- 
finement reconciled  to  the  Church  one  of  the  felons,  who  was  exe- 
cuted on  the  29th  of  August,  the  day  after  the  martyrdom  of  the 
holy  man ; and  that  he  died  very  penitent  and  constant  in  the  Catholic 
religion,  though  his  life  was  offered  him,  if  he  would  have  returned 
back  to  Protestancy. 

‘ There  is  a letter  extant,’  says  the  ancient  printed  relation  of 
Father  ArrowsmitK s death,  ‘ of  this  blessed  man,  the  first  he  wrote 
after  he  was  imprisoned,  which  hath  these  words:  All  particidars 
did  so  co-operate  to  my  apprehension!  and  bringing  hither,  that  I can 
easily  discern  more  than  an  ordinary  providence  of  Almighty  God 
therein.  And  surely  it  will  appear  that  whatsoever  followed  in  his 
story  could  not  but  be  guided  by  the  like  Providence,  if  these  par- 
ticulars be  considered;  upon  which  I will  here  reflect  in  a word. 
First,  the  known  clemency  of  His  Majesty,  who  hath  professed  that 
he  likes  not  to  draw  blood  in  case  of  religion;  and  the  constant 
practice  of  the  same  ever  since  his  inauguration  to  this  crown;  so 
that  I make  myself  sure,  and  it  is  since  known  to  be  most  certain, 
that  this  act  of  the  Judge  was  no  way  encouraged  by  the  King’s 

372 


1628] 


RICHARD  HERST 


Majesty.  Secondly,  when  the  blessed  man  was  flying  from  his 
persecutors  at  the  time  of  his  apprehension,  he  was  extraordinarily 
well  mounted;  and  yet  whatsoever  desire  he  had,  and  diligence  he 
used,  it  was  not  possible  to  put  his  horse  to  any  speed.  Thirdly, 
a kinsman  of  his  own,  whom  he  had  in  nature  of  a servant,  well 
known  to  be  a stout  man,  forsook  him  and  fled  away,  when  the  least 
resistance  might  have  preserved  him.  And  fourthly,  when  he  was 
studying  his  course  of  divinity  in  the  Seminary  of  Doway^  he  had 
twice  in  several  sicknesses  been  even  in  the  very  agony  of  death, 
and  had  twice  received  Extreme  Unction^  but  yet  was  delivered  at 
those  times,  and  reserved  to  this  most  glorious  and  victorious  end.’ 

Father  Arrowsmith  suffered  at  Lancaster,  August  the  28th,  1628; 
cetatis  forty-three,  Missionis  fifteen,  Societatis  five. 


RICHARD  HERST,  Layman.^ 

The  day  after  Father  Arrowsmith  suffered,  a lay  Catholic 
named  Richard  Herst  was  also  executed  in  the  same  place; 
condemned  by  the  same  judge  under  the  colour  of  wilful 
murder;  but  in  truth  and  in  the  sight  of  God,  for  the  profession  of 
the  Catholic  faith.  His  case  is  thus  related  by  the  same  author, 
from  whom  we  have  transcribed  our  account  of  the  death  of  Mr. 
Arrowsmith. 

‘ Richard  Herst  being  a recusant  convict,  warrants  went  out  to 
arrest  him  and  carry  him  before  the  Bishop  of  Chester.  This 
warrant  was  put  into  the  hands  of  one  Christopher  Nor  cross,  a pursui- 
vant belonging  to  that  Bishop ; and  he  associated  one  Wilkinson  and 
one  Dewhurst  as  assistants  to  himself  in  that  service.  This  latter, 
besides  his  meanness,  was  of  so  infamous  a life,  as  that  at  the  selfsame 
time  the  officer  of  the  parish  had  a warrant  in  his  hands  for  the 
apprehending  and  carrying  him  to  the  house  of  correction  for  his 
lewdness.  Herst  was  then  actually  holding  the  plough,  and  a youth 
belonging  to  him  drove  it,  and  a maid  of  his  was  leading  a harrow 
in  the  same  field.  Nor  cross  and  the  other  two  advanced  towards 
him  with  the  warrant;  and  Wilkinson  struck  at  him  with  a staff. 
Whereupon  the  maid  ran  hastily  towards  the  house  crying  out  that 
they  were  killing  her  master  in  the  field ; and  hereupon  both  herself 
and  her  mistress,  a man-servant  and  one  Bullen  (who  happened  to 

* Ven.  Richard  Herst. — From  the  Relation  of  his  death,  published  in 
1630  and  1737;  see  Gillow. 


373 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1628 


be  at  the  house  at  that  time)  were  all  coming  on  to  help  Herst.  When 
Wilkinson  and  Dewhurst  perceived  this,  they  made  towards  that 
new  company,  and  Wilkinson  struck  the  servant  down,  as  also  the 
other  who  came  with  him.  In  this  confusion  the  maid  gave  Dew- 
hurst a blow  on  the  head,  who  partly  on  that  occasion,  partly  also 
to  apply  himself  close  to  Wilkinson^  made  more  haste  than  good 
speed,  and  ran  so  disorderly  over  the  hard  ploughed  lands,  as  that 
he  fell  down,  and  broke  his  leg.  Of  which  hurt  growing  worse  and 
worse,  and  the  same  striking  up  into  his  body,  being  far  from  good 
remedies, he  died  about  the  end  of  thirteen  days;  before  which  time 
the  hurt  of  his  head  was  grown  quite  whole.  And  the  poor  wretch 
declared  at  his  death,  both  how  much  it  afflicted  him  that  he  had 
been  employed  in  such  a business,  and  that  he  came  to  his  death 
by  no  other  hurt  but  his  fall,  which  was  verified  afterwards  by  the 
oath  of  two  witnesses.  And  it  is  both  true  and  certainly  known 
(and  nothing  was  so  much  as  offered  to  prove  the  contrary)  that  at 
the  time  when  the  maid  gave  Dewhurst  that  blow  upon  the  head, 
Herst  was  distant  both  from  him  and  her  above  thirty  yards,  and 
that  withal  he  gave  no  direction  or  encouragement  at  all  that  any 
such  thing  should  be  done.’ 

Thus  stood  the  case;  and  how  this  should  be  made  a wilful 
murder  in  Herst,  ’tis  hard  to  conceive,  yet  so  were  matters  managed, 
the  same  Judge  Yelverton  (who  has  been  lately  spoken  of  in  the 
story  of  Father  Arrowsmith)  especially  concurring  thereunto,  that, 
contrary  to  all  shew  of  truth  and  justice,  the  man  was  condemned 
to  die,  and  was  executed,  August  29.  ’Tis  true  his  life  was  promised 
him  if  he  would  take  the  oath;  but  he  refused  to  live  upon  any 
such  conditions  as  were  inconsistent  with  his  conscience.  The  day 
before  he  was  to  suffer,  he  was  called  upon  to  go  with  the  other 
prisoners  to  church  to  hear  a sermon;  but  he  assured  them,  that  if 
he  had  a thousand  lives  he  would  rather  lose  them  all  than  go 
willingly  there.  But  the  High  Sheriff  ordered  him  to  be  dragged 
thither  by  force,  whilst  he  on  his  part  made  all  the  resistance  that 
he  could,  though  to  his  very  great  hurt;  being  trailed  upon  the 
ground  by  his  legs  over  a ragged  and  stony  way  for  twenty  or  thirty 
rods  from  the  prison  to  the  church.  When  he  was  there  he  cast 
himself  upon  the  ground,  and  thrust  his  fingers  into  his  ears  that  he 
might  not  hear  their  doctrine.  But  when  he  was  to  go  back  again 
to  prison,  he  went  very  merrily,  telling  some  Catholics  whom  he 
met  in  the  way.  They  have  tortured  my  body, hut  I thank  God  they  have 
not  hurt  my  sold. 

Two  of  his  friends  found  means  to  see  him  that  evening  and 

374 


1628] 


RICHARD  HERST 


stayed  with  him  in  prison  till  midnight,  in  prayer  and  spiritual 
conversation,  who  also  returned  to  him  the  next  morning.  To  them 
he  seemed  to  be  very  desirous  to  be  dissolved,  and  to  be  with  Christ; 
for  he  would  be  often  saying.  They  stay  long;  when  do  you  think 
they  will  come?  As  soon  as  the  Sheriff  was  come  to  the  prison, 
which  was  about  one  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  to  take  all  the  prisoners 
out  to  execution,  he  read  the  dead-warrant,  wherein  all  their  names 
who  were  to  die  were  inserted,  and  among  the  rest  that  of  Mr.  Arrow- 
smith,  at  the  hearing  of  whose  name  Mr.  Herst  said.  You  have  already 
sent  him  to  heaven;  and  I hope  I shall  not  be  long  after  him,  for  I trust 
much  in  his  prayers.  And  looking  up  towards  the  top  of  the  castle, 
where  the  priest’s  head  was  placed,  the  officer  asking  what  he  looked 
at  1 I look,  said  he,  at  the  head  of  that  blessed  martyr  whom  you 
have  sent  before  to  prepare  the  way  for  us;  meaning  himself  and  the 
other  who  had  been  reconciled  in  prison.  In  the  way  to  execution, 
he  gave  some  alms  according  to  his  small  ability,  as  he  had  done 
before  to  the  poor  prisoners  in  the  castle;  and  being  met  in  the 
street  by  Mr.  King,  the  vdcar  of  the  town,  who  questioned  him  about 
his  faith,  he  answered,  I believe  according  to  the  faith  of  the  holy 
Catholic  Church.  The  vicar  demanded  further  of  him,  how  he 
meant  to  be  saved  ? He  answered  with  his  usual  cheerfulness. 
Not  by  your  religion,  Mr.  King.  But  he  further  asking  him,  whether 
he  meant  to  be  saved  by  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ  ? he  sharply 
replied,  Will  you  be  accounted  a divine,  and  ask  me  such  a 
question  ? 

In  the  way  to  execution  he  carried  in  his  hand  a picture  of  Christ 
crucified,  on  which  he  had  his  eyes  fixed;  and  frequently  repeated 
to  himself  short  ejaculatory  prayers.  When  he  came  in  sight  of  the 
gallows,  he  said,  Gallows,  thou  dost  not  affright  me;  and  coming  to 
the  place  he  kissed  the  post.  Some  few  ministers  were  there  to 
importune  him  again  in  point  of  religion,  but  he  regarded  them  not. 
The  Sheriff  telling  him  he  was  to  be  the  first  man  to  die,  he  most 
earnestly  and  devoutly  recommended  himself  to  the  merciful  hands 
of  God;  begging  the  prayers  and  intercession  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
his  angel  guardian,  and  all  the  saints,  especially  St.  John  Baptist, 
it  being  the  day  of  his  decollation.  And' looking  up  at  the  execu- 
tioner who  was  busy  in  fastening  the  rope,  but  knew  not  readily 
how  to  do  it  right,  he  merrily  called  him  by  his  name,  and  said, 
Tom,  I think  I must  come  and  help  thee.  Such  was  his  courage  and 
serenity  of  mind  upon  the  very  brink  of  death.  Then  ascending 
the  ladder,  after  divers  short  speeches  of  devotion,  and  repeating 
three  or  four  times  the  holy  names  oi  Jesus  and  Mary,  he  was  turned 

375 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1628 


off,  and  so  passed  from  this  mortal  life  to  a happy  immortality, 
August  29,  1628. 

The  following  declaration  of  his  case  was  written  by  himself 
not  long  before  he  died: — 

‘ Whereas  I have  been  an  humble  petitioner  to  His  excellent 
Majesty  for  a pardon  for  the  death  of  one  Henry  Dewhurst,  and  his 
gracious  pleasure  was  that  I should  have  a legal  trial  before  that  my 
pardon  could  pass;  and  I trusting  in  the  innocency  of  my  cause 
yielded  my  body,  and  put  myself  in  trial  before  Judge  Yelverton^ 
who  did  inform  the  jury  that  I was  a recusant  and  had  resisted  the 
Bishop’s  authority,  and  that  it  must  be  found  murder  for  an  example. 
And  whereas  the  jury,  after  learning  the  matter,  was  not  willing  to 
find  murder  in  me,  three  of  them,  whereof  the  foreman  of  the  jury 
was  one,  went  to  the  judge  to  his  chamber  after  dinner,  who  took  the 
foreman  by  the  hand,  and  told  him  they  must  find  it  murder  for  an 
example.  This  did  one  of  the  jury  testify  unto  me  when  I came 
from  the  bar,  and  did  report  to  divers  of  my  friends,  and  he  was 
one  of  the  three  that  went  to  the  judge.  And  now  whereas  the 
judge  hath  certified  my  lord  keeper  that  it  was  so  foul  a murder  as 
he  did  never  hear  of,  upon  which  certificate  my  pardon  is  stayed, 
and  my  life  I am  certain  to  lose  for  the  fact;  wherefore,  for  the 
satisfaction  of  the  world,  and  the  clearing  of  my  friends,  who  have 
sued  for  my  pardon,  and  especially  for  the  Queen’s  excellent  Majesty, 
who  hath  been  an  earnest  suitor  for  my  life;  the  man  had  no  hurt 
but  only  in  his  leg,  which  was  found  to  be  the  cause  of  his  death,  and 
he  confessed  on  his  deathbed  that  he  broke  it  himself.  And  this 
was  given  in  evidence  before  the  coroner,  as  may  appear  by  the 
coroner’s  verdict  and  the  examination  of  witnesses  taken  before 
Sir  Ralph  Ashton  and  the  coroner,  which  verdict  and  examination 
will  appear  contrary  to  the  judge’s  certificate;  and  that  the  man 
had  no  mortal  wound  but  only  in  his  leg,  and  that  I never  gave  him 
stroke,  nor  was  within  five  or  six  rods  of  him  when  he  received  his 
hurt.  All  this  will  appear  to  be  true  by  examinations  and  depositions 
taken  before  Sir  Ralph  Ashton  and  the  coroner,  which  was  all  the 
evidence  that  came  against  me  at  the  assizes.  All  this  I declare 
only  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  world,  &c.  All  this  I take  on  my 
death,  as  I hope  to  be  saved,  and  for  no  hope  of  life.’  So  far  the 
declaration.  The  like  is  found  in  a letter  written  by  him  about  the 
same  time  to  a person  of  honour. 

He  wrote  also  three  letters  to  his  ghostly  father  a little  before 
his  death.  In  the  first  he  delivers  himself  in  the  following  words : — 

‘ Dear  and  Reverend  Sir, — I received  your  letter  with  news  of 

376 


1628] 


RICHARD  HERST 


death,  at  which  I am  not  much  dismayed,  I thank  my  Lord  and 
Saviour.  The  more  malicious  my  enemies  are,  the  greater  is  my 
comfort;  for  I do  constantly  believe  that  my  religion  is  the  cause 
of  their  malice,  and  my  greatest  desire  is  to  offer  my  blood  in  so 
good  a cause.  And  although  my  flesh  be  timorous  and  fearful,  I 
yet  find  great  comfort  in  spirit  in  casting  myself  upon  my  sweet 
Saviour  with  a most  fervent  love,  when  I consider  what  He  hath 
done  and  suffered  for  me,  and  my  greatest  desire  is  to  suffer  with 
Him.  And  I had  rather  choose  to  die  a thousand  deaths  than  to 
possess  a kingdom  and  live  in  mortal  sin;  for  there  is  nothing  so 
hateful  to  me  as  sin,  and  that  only  for  the  love  of  my  Saviour.  I do 
most  constantly  believe  that  He  hath  afflicted  me  to  save  me ; and  I 
trust  I shall  die  truly  humbled,  for  the  which  I desire  your  good 
prayers  that  I may  persevere  to  the  end;  for  of  myself  I can  do 
nothing  without  His  grace.’ 

In  the  second  he  writes  thus:  ‘ Now  I am  preparing  for  my  soul, 
for  the  which  I most  humbly  desire  your  good  prayers ; and  likewise 
I desire  you  to  commend  my  case  to  the  prayers  of  some  good  priests 
and  Catholics.  And  I do  freely  offer  myself  into  the  hands  of  my 
sweet  Saviour,  neither  desiring  life  nor  death,  but  according  to  His 
blessed  will,  hoping  that  He  will  dispose  all  things  for  the  good  of 
my  soul.’ 

In  the  third,  written  upon  the  very  day  of  his  execution,  he 
speaks  thus:  ‘ Dear  and  reverend  sir,  now  I take  my  last  leave.  I 
am  now  dying,  and  am  as  willing  to  die  as  ever  I was  to  live,  I thank 
my  Lord  and  Saviour,  who  I trust,  will  never  fail  me.  I have 
comfort  in  Christ  Jesus  and  His  blessed  Mother,  my  good  angel, 
and  all  the  blessed  saints;  and  I am  much  comforted  in  the  valiant 
and  triumphant  martyr  that  is  gone  before  me,  and  I do  much  trust 
in  his  good  prayers.  How  I have  been  used  you  will  hear,  and 
likewise  what  I had  offered  to  me  if  I would  have  taken  the  oath. 
I hope  my  friends  will  truly  understand  that  my  greatest  desire  is  to 
suffer,  and  I would  I had  as  many  lives  to  offer  as  I have  committed 
sins.  Now,  dear  sir,  prepare  yourself  also  to  suffer,  and  animate 
your  ghostly  children  in  suffering.  Once  again  I desire  you  to  say 
and  to  procure  some  Masses  for  my  sinful  soul,  and  if  it  please  God 
to  receive  me  into  His  kingdom  I shall  not  be  unmindful  of  you  and 
of  all  my  good  friends.  I pray  you  remember  my  poor  children, 
and  encourage  my  friends  about  my  debts ; and  let  it  appear  that  my 
greatest  worldly  care  is  to  satisfy  them  as  far  as  my  means  will  extend. 
Once  again  adieu : I desire  to  be  dissolved  and  to  be  with  Christ 
Jesus.  I trust  we  shall  once  meet  in  heaven  to  our  eternal  comfort. 

377 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1640 


Now  I take  my  last  leave  this  execution  day,  about  eight  of  the 
clock,  and  commit  you  to  Christ  Jesus.’ 

These  letters  were  published,  with  the  relation  of  his  death,  in 
1630.  He  left  behind  him  six  young  children,  and  his  wife  big  with 
child. 

From  this  year  till  1641,  I find  no  more  blood  shed  for  religious 
matters,  though  as  to  other  penalties  they  were  frequently  inflicted 
upon  priests  and  other  Catholics;  severe  proclamations  were  issued 
out  against  them,  heavy  fines  laid  upon  them,  and  the  prisons  filled 
with  them;  insomuch  that  in  the  compass  of  one  year  alone,  there 
were  at  least  twenty-six  priests  of  divers  orders  seized  and  committed 
to  that  one  prison  alone  called  the  Clinks  to  speak  nothing  of  those 
that  were  elsewhere  confined. 


In  the  year  16^0,  John  Goodman^  priest,  was  tried  and  condemned 
on  account  of  exercising  his  priestly  functions ; his  case  has  something 
so  particular  in  it,  that,  though  he  was  not  executed,  he  deserves  a 
place  in  these  Memoirs. 


[ 1640.  ] 

JOHN  GOODMAN,  Priest  * 

JOHN  GOODMAN  was  born  in  the  diocese  of  Bangor,  in  North 
Wales,  from  whence  he  is  c2WQ6.Bangoriensis,m  the  Diary  of  Doway 
College.  He  was  the  son  of  William  Goodman,  was  brought 
up  in  the  Protestant  religion,  and  sent  to  the  University  of 
Oxford,  where  he  spent  a long  time  in  his  studies,  and  was  at  length 
made  a minister  after  the  Protestant  manner.  But  growing  dis- 
satisfied with  his  religion  by  the  remonstrances  of  some  friends,  he 
left  both  his  gown  and  his  country,  and  going  beyond  the  seas,  was 
at  Paris  received  into  the  Church  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Richard 
Ireland,  then  residing  there,  and  by  him  recommended  to  Dr. 
Kellison,  the  President  of  Doway  College,  where  he  arrived  February 
the  1 2th,  1621,  and  was  admitted  amongst  the  alumni  of  the  college. 
In  the  year  1622,  September  the  24th,  I find  him  presented  to  the 
four  lesser  orders,  which  he  received  at  Cambray,  from  the  Arch- 

* Ven.  lohn  Goodman.— From  the  Douay  Diary,  and  Mr.  Nalson  (a 
Protestant  historian)  in  his  Impartial  Collections;  see  also  Catholic  Eticyclo- 
pcedia;  De  Marsys,  ii. 


378 


1640] 


JOHN  GOODMAN 


bishop  of  that  see.  After  which  time  he  continued  studying  divinity 
in  the  college  till  May  the  6th,  1624,  when  he  went  from  Doway 
to  St.  Omer's^  in  order  to  be  received  into  the  Society  of  Jesus  and 
to  make  his  noviceship  at  Watten.  But  whether  his  health  would 
not  suffer  him  to  go  on,  or  what  other  reason  it  might  be,  the  sequel 
of  his  history  ever  presents  him  as  a secular  priest.  I have  not 
found  where  he  finished  his  studies,  or  where  he  was  ordained  priest, 
for  I meet  with  his  name  no  more  in  the  Doway  Diary  or  catalogues. 

In  England,  after  his  coming  over  upon  the  mission,  he  behaved 
himself  in  such  manner  as  to  be  remarkable  for  his  zeal,  so  that 
William  Prynne,  in  his  Royal  Popish  Favourite,  calls  him  a noted 
priest.  He  was  apprehended  in  1635,  but  discharged  upon  giving 
bond  for  his  appearance,  of  which  the  same  author  loudly  complains 
in  a small  tract,  entitled.  Hidden  Works  of  Darkness  brought  to  Public 
Light.  He  was  taken  up  again  in  1639,  and  committed  to  the 
Gatehouse,  from  whence  he  was  again  released  by  a warrant  from 
Secretary  Windebank,  September  17,  1639.  But  was  retaken  not 
long  after,  and  brought  to  his  trial  and  condemned  in  the  beginning 
of  1640. 

The  following  account  is  taken  from  Mr.  Nalson’s  Impartial 
Collections , Vol.  I.,  p.  738. 

‘ Monday,  January  the  25th. — Mr.  Hide  reports  from  the  con- 
ference with  the  Lords,  the  King’s  message  about  Goodman  the 
priest,  and  the  expulsion  of  the  priests  2in(l  Jesuits,  as  follows: 

‘ His  Majesty  having  informed  himself  by  the  Recorder  of  the 
names  and  natures  of  the  crimes  of  the  persons  convicted  at  the 
last  sessions,  and  there  finding  that  John  Goodman  was  condemned 
for  being  in  orders  of  a priest  merely  ,2Ln(l  was  acquitted  of  the  charge 
of  perverting  the  King’s  people  in  their  belief,  and  had  never  been 
condemned  or  banished  before;  His  Majesty  is  tender  in  matters 
of  blood  in  cases  of  this  nature,  in  which  Queen  Elizabeth  and 
King  James  have  been  often  merciful.  But  to  secure  his  people, 
that  this  man  should  do  no  more  hurt,  he  is  willing  that  he  be 
imprisoned  or  banished,  as  their  lordships  shall  advise;  and  if  he 
return  into  the  kingdom  to  be  put  to  execution  without  delay.  And 
he  will  take  such  fit  course  for  the  expulsion  of  other  priests  and 
Jesuits  as  he  shall  be  counselled  unto  by  your  lordships,  &c. 

‘ The  effect  of  the  aforesaid  conference  of  the  Lords  and  Commons 
was,  that  the  Lords  at  their  petition  resolved  to  concur  with  the 
Commons  in  a joint  remonstrance  to  His  Majesty,  both  that  Good- 
man might  be  executed,  and  the  laws  put  in  execution  against  all 
other  priests  and  Jesuits. 


379 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1640 


‘ Friday,  January  the  29th. — This  day  the  two  Houses  waited 
upon  His  Majesty  with  their  remonstrance,  which  the  Lord  Keeper, 
Littleton^  delivered  to  the  King,  and  was  in  the  following  words: — 

‘ May  it  please  your  Majesty  ^ 

‘ Your  loyal  subjects,  the  Lords  and  Commons,  humbly  repre- 
sent to  your  gracious  consideration,  that  Jesuits  and  priests  ordained 
by  authority  from  the  See  of  Rome  remaining  in  this  realm,  by  a 
statute  made  in  the  27th  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  are  declared  traitors, 
and  to  suffer  as  traitors. 

‘ That  it  is  enacted  in  the  first  year  of  King  James,  that  all  statutes 
made  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  against  priests  and  Jesuits  be 
put  in  execution.  And  for  a farther  assurance  of  the  due  execution 
of  these  laws,  the  statute  of  the  third  year  of  King  James  invites  men 
to  the  discovery  of  the  offenders  by  rewarding  them  with  a considerable 
part  of  the  forfeiture  of  the  recusanfs  estate;  so  that  the  statute  of 
Queen  Elizabeth  is  not  only  approved,  but  by  the  judgments  of 
several  Parliaments  in  the  time  of  King  James  of  happy  memory 
adjudged  fit  and  necessary  to  be  put  in  execution.  That  the  putting 
these  laws  in  execution  tendeth  not  only  to  the  preservation  and 
advancement  of  the  true  religion  established  in  this  kingdom,  but 
also  the  safety  of  your  Majesty's  person,  and  the  security  of  the 
Government,  which  were  the  principal  causes  of  the  making  of  the 
laws  against  priests  and  Jesuits,  &c. 

‘ Then  they  proceed  to  inform  His  Majesty,  that  some  priests 
and  Jesuits  had  been  executed  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  and 
King  James.  That  the  reprieve  of  John  Goodman,  the  priest,  had 
given  great  disgust  to  the  city  of  London.  That  it  was  found  that 
the  said  Goodman  had  been  twice  formerly  committed  and  dis- 
charged; that  his  residence  afterwards  in  or  about  London,  was  in 
absolute  contempt  of  His  Majesty’s  proclamation;  that  he  hath  been 
some  time  a minister  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  consequently 
he  is  an  apostate ; and  they  humbly  desire  that  a speedy  course  may 
be  taken  for  the  due  execution  of  the  laws  against  priests  and  Jesuits. 
And  lastly,  that  Goodman  the  priest  be  left  to  the  justice  of  the  laws. 

‘ Wednesday,  February  the  3rd. — This  day  the  two  Houses  were 
ordered  to  attend  His  Majesty  in  the  banqueting-house  at  Whitehall, 
where  he  delivered  himself  in  these  words. 

‘ Having  taken  into  my  serious  consideration,  the  late  remon- 
strance of  the  Houses  of  Parliament,  I give  you  this  answer. 

‘ I take  in  good  part  your  care  of  the  true  religion  established  in 
this  kingdom,  from  which  I will  never  depart.  It  is  against  my  mind 

380 


1640] 


JOHN  GOODMAN 


that  Popery  or  superstition  should  any  way  increase;  and  I will 
restrain  the  same  by  causing  the  laws  to  be  put  in  execution.  I am 
resolved  to  provide  against  the  Jesuits  and  priests,  by  setting  forth 
a proclamation  with  all  speed,  commanding  them  to  depart  the 
kingdom  within  one  months  &c. 

‘ Lastly,  concerning  Jo/zw  Goodman  the  priest;  I will  let  you  know 
the  reason  why  I reprieved  him.  That,  as  I am  informed,  neither 
Queen  Elizabeth,  nor  my  father  did  ever  avow  that  any  priest  in  their 
time  was  executed  merely  for  religion,  which  to  me  seems  to  be  this 
particular  case.  Yet  seeing  that  I am  pressed  by  both  Houses  to 
give  way  to  his  execution;  because  I will  avoid  the  inconveniency 
of  giving  so  great  a discontent  to  my  people,  as  I conceive  this  mercy 
may  produce;  therefore  I remit  this  particular  cause  to  both  Houses. 
But  I desire  them  to  take  into  their  consideration  the  inconveniency 
which,  as  I conceive,  may  fall  upon  my  subjects,  and  other  Protes- 
tants abroad;  especially  since  it  may  seem  to  other  States  to  be  a 
severity;  which  having  thus  represented,  I think  myself  discharged 
from  all  ill  consequences  that  may  ensue  upon  the  execution  of  this 
person.’  So  far  the  king. 

The  next  day  His  Majesty  communicated  to  the  House  of  Lords 
a petition  sent  to  him  by  Mr.  Goodman,  of  the  following  tenor: — 

‘ To  the  King^s  most  excellent  Majesty. 

‘ The  humble  petition  of  John  Goodman  condemned,  humbly  sheweth: 
That  whereas  your  Majesty’s  petitioner  hath  been  informed  of  a 
great  discontent  in  many  of  your  Majesty’s  subjects,  at  the  gracious 
mercy  your  Majesty  was  freely  pleased  to  shew  unto  your  petitioner, 
by  suspending  the  execution  of  the  sentence  of  death  pronounced 
against  your  petitioner,  for  being  a Roman  priest ; these  are  humbly 
to  beseech  your  Majesty  rather  to  remit  your  petitioner  to  their 
mercy,  than  to  let  him  live  the  subject  of  so  great  discontent  in  your 
people  against  your  Majesty;  for  it  hath  pleased  God  to  give  me  the 
grace  to  desire  with  the  prophet.  That  if  this  storm  be  raised  for  my 
sake,  I may  be  cast  into  the  sea,  that  others  may  avoid  the  tempest. 

‘ This  is,  most  sacred  sovereign,  the  petition  of  him  that  should 
esteem  his  blood  well  shed,  to  cement  the  breach  between  your 
Majesty  and  your  subjects  upon  this  occasion.  testor 

‘ John  Goodman.’ 

This  uncommon  greatness  of  mind,  as  it  very  much  moved  the 
king,  so  it  seems  to  have  softened  the  Parliament  into  some  senti- 

381 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1641 


ments  of  humanity  towards  the  prisoner.  For  certain  it  is  that  we 
hear  no  more  of  this  affair;  only  we  find  that  Mr.  Goodman,  instead 
of  a more  quick  despatch  at  Tyburn,  was  permitted  to  linger  away  in 
prison  by  a more  tedious  martyrdom ; and  that  he  died  a confessor 
of  Christ  on  the  common  side  of  Neivgate,  in  some  part  of  the  year 

1645- 


[ 1641.  ] 


This  year  two  pidests  were  put  to  death  for  the  exercise  of  their 
functions,  and  divers  others  were  sentenced  to  die.  The  first  was 


WILLIAM  WARD,  alias  WEBSTER,  Priest.^ 

WILLIAM  WARD,  whose  true  name  was  Webster,  was  born 
at  Thornby  in  Westmoreland,  and  educated  in  the  Catholic 
religion.  He  performed  his  studies  abroad  in  the  English 
College  at  Doway,  where  I find  him  admitted  to  the  college  oath  in 
1605,  and  ordained  priest,  and  sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1608. 
The  best  and  fullest  account  that  I have  met  with  of  this  holy  man 
is  in  a manuscript  relation,  written  by  a priest  who  was  his  intimate 
acquaintance  and  ghostly  child;  only  that  he  is  in  a mistake,  when  he 
affirms  him  to  have  been  made  priest  in  the  English  Seminary  at 
Rhemes;  for  the  Seminary  had  been  removed  from  Rhemes  to  Doway 
fifteen  years  before  Mr.  Ward  was  made  priest.  The  account  of 
him  sent  by  way  of  letter,  is  as  follows : — 

‘ Sir, — In  the  way  of  an  exact  story  I cannot  undertake  to  tell 
you  the  entire  life  of  Mr.  William  Webster,  alias  Ward,  born  at  Thornby 
in  Westmoreland;  but  this  I can  say  that  I had  a perfect  knowledge 
of  the  man  for  many  years  together,  and  had  the  happiness  to  be  his 
ghostly  child  divers  years  before  myself  was  priest,  and  divers  years 
after.  He  was  made  priest  in  the  English  Seminary  at  Rhemes,  in 
Champagne,  above  forty  years  before  his  martyrdom,  and  was  ever 
known  to  be  of  an  excellent  spirit,  exceeding  zealous  in  God’s  service ; 
not  only  exemplary  in  himself,  but  exhorting  others  to  exemplarity 
of  life ; and  his  zeal  was  so  great  in  this  kind  that  he  got  the  repute 

* Yen.  William  Ward,  vere  Webster. — From  a Manuscript  relation  by  a 
priest  who  calls  himself  Mr.  Ward’s  ghostly  child,  and  from  the  Douay 
Diary;  see  also  De  Marsys,  ii. 


382 


1641] 


WILLIAM  WARD 


of  a rigid  ghostly  father.  And  albeit  many  great  persons  made  use 
of  him  in  that  way,  nevertheless,  he  yielded  nothing  to  their  great- 
ness, but  was  rather  more  severe  to  them  than  to  meaner  persons; 
and  however  his  plainness  and  round  language  did  not  always  please 
them,  yet  his  spirit  was  so  good,  that  he  made  impressions  on  their 
souls,  even  then  when  they  would  scarce  lend  him  patient  ears. 
And  I have  known  many  great  personages  profess,  that  albeit  they 
could  not  please  him  in  conforming  themselves  to  that  religiousness 
in  their  lives  which  he  required  of  them,  nevertheless,  they  would 
rather  make  use  of  him  for  their  ghostly  father,  and  were  better 
pleased  with  him  in  that  way,  than  with  any  other  that  was  less  plain 
and  more  indulgent  to  them. 

‘ It  was  ordinary  with  him  to  threaten  those  that  were  worldly 
in  plain  terms  with  hell  fire,  and  to  tell  them  they  must  make  a 
stricter  account  of  their  actions  in  the  next  world  than  they  did  here ; 
that  heaven  was  not  so  cheap  as  they  thought,  but  must  be  bought 
at  a dearer  rate  than  they  seemed  to  value  it  at ; that  it  was  not  easy 
to  be  saints  in  heaven  if  we  were  not  first  saints  here,  and  by  a perfect 
charity  united  to  Almighty  God. 

‘ He  did  not  use  to  preach  set  sermons,  though  his  whole  life  was 
a continual  preaching;  but  in  confessions,  wherein  he  spent  most 
of  his  time,  he  would  exhort  much  to  virtue  and  the  love  of  God, 
and  dissuade  from  vice  and  the  vanity  of  the  world;  and  seldom 
spared  a threat  of  damnation  if  the  party  were  vain,  as  many  of  his 
penitents  have  told  me  themselves.  And  he  gave  this  reason  for 
it,  that  he  found  the  fear  of  damnation  to  work  stronger  with  world- 
lings for  their  repentance  than  the  better  motive  of  the  pure  love  of 
Almighty  God. 

‘ And  however  some  men  held  him  to  be  passionate,  because 
his  speech  was  earnest  and  his  face  somewhat  fiery  upon  any  fervent 
speaking,  yet  those  that  knew  he  was  truly  vir  doloriim,  being  in 
perpetual  pain  of  two  infirmities,  which  for  many  late  years  hung 
upon  him,  a corroding  fistula  and  an  extremity  of  toothache,  never 
being  free  from  the  actual  molestation  of  the  one  of  these  at  least, 
and  commonly  afflicted  with  both  at  once  in  a high  degree;  and 
knowing  that  he  had  besides  in  his  soul  not  only  a perpetual  fire  of 
burning  charity,  but  a passionate  yet  holy  hatred  against  sin,  which 
made  him  with  eagerness  inveigh  against  sinners,  according  to  that 
of  the  holy  prophet,  Irascimini  et  nolite  peccare.  Those,  I say, 
which  knew  this  were  of  a contrary  opinion,  and  did  not  think  the 
man  to  be  so  choleric  as  his  hasty  speech  made  others  believe  he  was, 
but  were  edified  at  his  spiritual  zeal  to  see  it  exceed  his  corporal  pain 

383 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1641 


and  give  him  leave  to  take  pains  in  reprehending  others,  when  he 
had  more  reason  to  have  been  indulgent  to  himself.  And  I do 
profess  that  for  my  own  particular  I had  this  opinion  of  his  zeal  and 
pure  intention  in  all  his  actions,  that  even  when  he  did  things  which 
others  conceived  to  be  odd,  I durst  not  but  attribute  it  to  a holy 
simplicity;  and  was  much  edified  at  many  passages  in  his  life,  which 
I knew  divers  did  not  stick  to  laugh  at  and  make  themselves  merry 
withal.  And  whereas  some  censorious  people  presumed  to  accuse 
him  of  avarice,  because  his  diet  was  ever  spare  and  his  apparel 
homely,  though  he  had  means  enough  to  wear  good  clothes  and  make 
better  fare;  yet  this  blessed  man,  the  day  before  he  died,  purged 
himself  of  this  aspersion,  and  made  profession  to  a good  poor 
Catholic  and  friend  of  his,  that  the  sole  and  true  reason  why  he  did 
wear  no  better  clothes,  nor  covet  better  diet  than  he  used  himself 
to,  was  only  by  reason  he  did  in  his  own  conscience  not  think  himself 
worthy  of  better,  and  this  he  spake  with  such  an  edifying  simplicity 
as  would  have  put  a scruple  into  any  man  not  to  have  believed  him. 
Besides,  the  holy  man  was  ever  charitable  to  the  poor,  which  argued 
no  love  in  him  to  riches,  and  he  left  what  he  had  gathered  up  to 
pious  uses.  It  was  admirable  to  see  the  austerity  of  this  good  man’s 
life,  who,  albeit  he  was  never  free  from  pain,  and  always  observed 
a sparing  diet,  as  was  said  before,  whence  he  must  of  necessity  be 
exceeding  weak;  nevertheless,  he  did  with  great  rigour  keep  all 
Vigils,  Embers,  Fridays  throughout  the  year,  and  Lent,  insomuch 
as  all  the  Lent  long  he  never  eat  white  meat  all  his  lifetime,  not- 
withstanding he  was  eighty  years  old  and  upwards. 

‘ And  this,  amongst  other  his  virtues,  to  me  seemed  rare,  that 
in  all  the  time  I knew  this  holy  man,  I could  never  hear  him  relate 
any  passage  or  speak  of  any  subject,  but  it  either  began  or  ended  with 
a memory  of  Almighty  God’s  service,  if  his  whole  speech  were  not 
upon  that  theme.  Insomuch  that  it  may  truly  be  said  of  him,  that 
his  lamp  of  charity  and  love  towards  God  was  ever  burning,  and  that 
no  blast  of  human  commerce  was  able  to  blow  it  out,  but  still  it 
blazed  and  gave  light  to  those  whose  lamps  were  extinguished,  and 
many  times  lighted  them  again  by  enkindling  in  their  souls  a devo- 
tion, whom  if  he  found  key-cold  towards  Almighty  God’s  service, 
yet  he  left  them  with  ardent  desire  to  serve  God  better  than  they 
had  done  formerly.  This  to  my  own  confusion  and  His  honour 
hath  often  happened  to  myself,  and  I have  heard  divers  others 
affirm  the  same;  for  the  truth  is,  no  man  that  would  look  fixedly 
upon  him  and  observe  well  his  comportment  could  go  out  of  his 
company  without  much  edification — so  composed  an  aspect  he 

384 


1641] 


WILLIAM  WARD 


had,  so  grave  a speech,  so  religious  a carriage,  so  incessant  a zeal, 
that  a man  might  see  he  had  always  God  in  his  mind  and  his  own 
soul  in  his  hand:  Aninia  mea  in  manibus  meis  semper.  As  if  every 
one  of  his  thoughts,  words,  and  deeds  had  been  a matter  that  con- 
cerned his  soul’s  salvation,  as  in  truth  it  was  to  him,  and  is  to  every 
one  of  us,  if  we  reflect  (as  he  did)  well  upon  ourselves. 

‘ It  was  remarkable  to  see  how  soon  Almighty  God  was  pleased 
to  make  trial  of  this  His  servant’s  constancy.  The  holy  man,  when 
he  was  sent  in  mission  into  England  for  the  conversion  of  souls,  had 
the  fortune,  by  contrary  winds,  to  be  landed  in  Scotland  as  he  was 
going  to  the  northern  part  of  England,  and  being  upon  suspicion 
apprehended  for  a priest,  was  cast  into  the  dungeon,  where  for  three 
years  together  he  did  not  see  the  sun,  yet  in  this  desolate  place  he 
continued  a zealous  and  constant  professor  of  his  faith  and  a stout 
confessor.  After  three  years’  durance,  being  released  out  of  this 
dungeon  and  coming  into  England,  it  was  not  long  ere  he  was  taken 
and  put  in  prison  again,  insomuch  that  he  had  been  in  several  prisons 
of  the  several  counties  of  England;  and,  as  I have  been  credibly 
told,  of  forty  and  odd  years  that  he  was  priest,  he  had  been  a prisoner 
about  twenty  of  them  at  several  times,  and  had  been  banished  more 
than  once  or  twice.  Yet  so  the  zeal  of  Almighty  God  had  eaten  up 
the  man,  that  he  would  never  leave  exposing  himself  to  danger  of 
death  for  the  gaining  of  souls  to  God’s  holy  truth  and  the  Catholic 
religion. 

‘ And  it  seems  that  he  was  by  God’s  singular  providence  ordained 
to  die  a martyr,  who  had  lived  so  long  so  glorious  a confessor.  For 
some  few  days  before  he  was  taken  and  condemned  to  death,  a 
nephew  of  his  and  a priest,  being  careful  of  his  old  uncle,  and 
solicitous  how  to  secure  him  in  these  dangerous  times,  came  above 
fifty  miles  on  purpose  up  to  London  to  convey  his  uncle  into  a private 
house  in  the  country,  where  he  might  lie  sheltered  till  the  storm  of 
persecution  was  blown  over,  which  the  Parliament  had  newly  raised, 
banishing  by  proclamation  3\\  Jesuits,  priests,  and  seminarists,  menac- 
ing death  to  those  that  should  be  found  in  any  of  His  Majesty’s 
dominions  after  the  7th  of  April,  1641.  But  no  persuasion  of  the 
nephew,  no  entreaty  of  any  other  friend,  could  prevail  with  the  holy 
man  to  retire  himself,  whom  Almighty  God,  it  seems,  did  more 
strongly  persuade  to  stay  in  London,  out  of  zeal  to  his  many  penitents 
which  were  there.  And  what  better  proof  that  it  was  an  holy  instinct 
which  made  him  stay,  than  that  within  few  days  after  the  blessed 
martyr  was  dogged  by  a pursuivant  to  his  lodgings,  and  at  eleven 
o’clock  at  night  was  taken  out  of  his  bed,  carried  to  prison,  arraigned, 

385  2 B 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1641 


condemned,  and  executed,  all  within  the  space  of  eleven  days.  In 
brief,  the  remarkable  virtues  in  this  saint  were  profound  humility- 
apostolical  poverty,  zeal  of  souls,  holy  simplicity,  approved  fortitude 
and  perfect  charity. 

The  manner  of  his  taking^  imprisonment,  arraignment,  condemnation,  and  going 

to  execution. 

‘ He  was  apprehended  upon  Thursday  night  about  midnight 
being  the  15th  of  July,  1641,  in  the  house  of  one  John  Wollam,  a 
nephew  of  his  and  a poor  Catholic,  by  Thomas  May  hew,  commonly 
called  Mayo,  a pursuivant,  in  virtue  of  a general  warrant  under  the 
hand  of  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons;  and  by  this  Mayo 
was  brought  directly  to  the  prison  of  Newgate,  without  any  order  from 
Justice  of  Peace  or  other  officer  that  had  power  to  commit  him, 
where  he  remained  till  the  sessions  following,  which  began  at  the 
Old  Bailey  within  six  days  after  his  imprisonment,  viz.,  Wednesday, 
the  2 1 St  oijuly. 

‘ Upon  Friday,  the  23d  oijuly  next  ensuing,  he  w^as  indicted  and 
arraigned  upon  the  statute  of  taking  orders  of  priesthood  by  authority 
of  the  Church  of  Rome.  The  evidence  brought  against  him  was  this 
Mayo  aforesaid,  who  first  professed  himself  to  have  been  a Roman 
Catholic  about  nineteen  years  past,  then  testified  that  about  the  same 
time  he  had  made  his  confession  to  this  Mr.  Ward,  had  absolution 
from  him,  heard  his  Mass,  and  received  the  Sacrament  at  his  hands. 
And  Sir  Thomas  Gardener,  the  Recorder,  demanding  of  Mayo  wffiat 
ornaments  Mr.  Ward  had  on  when  he  said  Mass,  the  impudent 
fellow  being  ready  at  his  lie  said.  He  had  on  an  alb,  a stole,  a maniple, 
a vestment,  and  such  other  things  as  belong  to  a priest;  but  as  it 
seems  the  thing  he  affirmed  was  false,  so  he  could  not  tell  the  colour 
or  quality  of  the  vestments. 

‘ There  were  two  more  who  pretended  to  give  evidence  against 
him  that  he  was  a Roman  priest,  but  the  one  of  them  said  so  little 
to  the  purpose,  that  it  was  not  worth  the  noting,  and  so  he  who  gave 
me  this  relation,  being  present  at  the  bar,  doth  not  remember  what 
it  was,  but  affirms  it  was  nothing  to  the  purpose.  The  other  witness 
testified  that  about  seven  years  since,  he  had  apprehended  Mr. 
Ward,  carried  him  to  the  Gatehouse,  and  took  from  him  a spiritual 
book  wherein  were  his  faculties  from  the  See  of  Rome. 

‘ Aftertheseevidencesgiveninby  the  three  witnesses,  the  Recorder 
asked  Mr.  Ward,  and  bid  him  answer  directly,  whether  he  was  a 
priest  or  no  ? He  answered,  no  man  was  bound  to  accuse  himself, 
but  required  that  it  should  be  proved  against  him,  if  they  desired  to 

386 


1641] 


WILLIAM  WARD 


know  the  truth  thereof ; and  then  professed  openly  before  the  bench 
that  what  Mayo  had  testified  was  most  false ; whereupon  the  Recorder 
demanded  of  him  if  at  least  those  faculties  which  had  been  taken 
about  him  were  his,  and  he  answered  he  knew  of  no  such  thing. 

‘ Nevertheless  upon  these  evidences  the  jury  found  him  guilty, 
and  the  same  day,  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  judges  had  dined,  he 
was  sent  for  from  the  prison  to  the  bar,  where  the  Recorder  pro- 
nounced sentence  of  death  against  him  in  the  usual  manner. 

‘After  this  sentence  he  was  brought  back  to  Newgate,  whither  he 
went  most  cheerfully,  and  there  prepared  himself  for  his  death, 
which  was  to  be  upon  Monday  following,  being  the  26th  of  July 
1641 . And  it  was  wonderful  to  see  with  what  alacrity  of  countenance 
and  speech  he  resigned  himself  unto  the  holy  will  of  Almighty  God, 
professing  an  ardent  desire  to  suffer  for  His  sake,  and  declaring  that 
if  any  one  should  attempt  to  procure  his  reprieve  or  pardon,  he  would 
hinder  it  if  he  could. 

‘ Upon  Sunday,  which  was  the  day  before  he  died,  he  desired 
conference  with  a priest  in  the  same  prison,  which  lasted  for  some 
hours,  and  was  sometimes  interrupted  with  tears  of  joy  both  in  the 
one  and  in  the  other.  In  which  tears  the  holy  martyr  expressed  his 
hearty  desire  of  suffering  for  his  blessed  Saviour’s  sake,  and  so 
prettily  intermingled  his  joys  with  sighs,  as  if  his  humility  had  told 
him  he  was  not  worthy  of  so  great  a crown  of  his  unworthy  labours 
as  was  this  of  martyrdom,  and  ever  expressed  a fear  to  be  deprived 
of  his  highest  hopes,  out  of  an  unworthiness,  which  he  conceived  in 
himself  of  so  great  an  honour.  And  to  all  such  as  came  that  day  to 
visit  him,  he  expressed  signs  of  an  excessive  joy,  that  he  had  lived 
so  long  as  to  come  to  this  desired  end. 

‘ The  26th  of  July,  1641,  which  was  the  day  of  his  suffering, 
being  Monday,  he  said  Mass  very  early  in  the  morning  with  great 
devotion  and  comfort,  administered  the  Holy  Sacrament  to  some 
lay  Catholics  which  were  his  fellow-prisoners,  and  after  thanks- 
giving, cqmmunicated  to  the  priest  that  was  with  him  the  day  before 
certain  things  which  he  desired  should  be  executed  after  his  death ; 
and  gave  him  some  money  to  be  distributed  amongst  the  poor 
Catholics  in  prison,  as  also  a twenty-shilling  piece  to  give  to  Mr. 
Johnson,  the  master  keeper  of  Newgate,  whom  he  willed  him  to  thank 
for  his  kind  usage  towards  him. 

‘ And  it  was  noted  by  all  who  came  this  morning  to  him,  especially 
by  the  priest,  that  his  countenance,  which  was  ever  grave,  was  at 
this  instant  more  than  ordinarily  gracious  and  sweet,  as  if  it  had 
received  an  outward  beauty  from  the  inward  grace  which  was  then 

387 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1641 


no  doubt  abundant  in  his  soul.  And  as  the  priest  and  devout 
Catholics  who  were  with  him  in  his  chamber,  had  newly  done  pre- 
paring him  for  his  journey  to  the  gallows,  by  putting  him  on  a clean 
cap,  band,  and  cuffs,  which  were  points  of  great  finery  in  him  that 
affected  a contemptible  attire  (though  then  as  going  to  his  wedding, 
and  so  he  was  content  to  put  on  vestes  nuptiales)  instantly  one  of  the 
keepers  of  the  prison  knocked  at  the  door  to  know  if  he  was  ready, 
for  that  the  sledge  was  come  for  him;  whereat  the  blessed  man,  as  if 
he  had  listened  for  the  glad  tidings,  made  answer  himself  with  a 
cheerful  voice,  saying.  Yes,  I am  ready.  And  within  a short  time 
after  another  of  the  keepers  came  for  him  and  told  him  he  must  go 
a little  about  by  the  leads;  because  though  he  had  favour  shown 
him  not  to  be  lodged  after  his  condemnation  in  the  common  dungeon, 
yet  now  he  was  to  go  to  execution,  he  must  pass  the  ordinary  way 
through  the  common  gaol  to  the  sledge. 

‘ The  holy  man  obeyed  readily,  following  the  keeper  as  if  he  had 
been  his  good  angel;  and  when  he  came  up  to  the  leads,  was  stayed 
there  a pretty  while,  because  the  rest  of  the  prisoners  that  were  to 
suffer  as  malefactors  the  same  day,  were  in  the  chapel,  through  which 
he  was  to  pass,  receiving  their  communion,  as  the  custom  is;  the 
martyr  being  told  as  much,  smiled,  and  passing  through  the  chapel 
said.  Is  this  their  chapel?  And  here  the  keeper,  whose  nam.e  was 
MeareSy  was  to  deliver  him  to  another  keeper  called  Snelling  whose 
office  it  was  to  carry  the  prisoner  down  to  the  sledge.  And  this 
Meares,  taking  his  leave  of  the  holy  man,  said  to  him.  Sir,  I hope  w^e 
shall  one  day  meet  in  heaven;  whereunto  the  good  man  answered. 
No,  in  truth  shall  we  not,  unless  you  become  a Catholic,  and  this 
truth  I am  now  ready  to  seal  with  my  blood. 

' After  this  he  encountered  with  a woman,  prisoner  in  that  place, 
whom  he  understood  to  be  allied  to  Sir  Philip  Knevet;  her  he  exhorted 
to  become  a Catholic,  and  to  lead  a virtuous  life,  using  many  effectual 
speeches  to  that  purpose. 

‘ It  was  now  about  eight  o’clock  in  the  morning,  when  the  holy 
martyr  being  laid  on  his  back  upon  the  sledge,  was  drawm  from  the 
prison  by  four  horses  to  Tyhurn;  but  as  he  passed  up  Holhorn,  he 
cast  a special  eye  upon  such  houses  as  he  had  acquaintance  in,  and 
with  a cheerful  countenance,  as  well  as  he  could,  his  hands  being 
pinioned,  he  gave  them  his  benediction. 

‘ As  he  was  going  to  execution,  a penitent  of  his  w^ent  by  him 
bitterly  weeping;  to  whom  the  martyr  spake,  saying.  Why  weep 
you,  child  } The  party  answered.  For  you,  sir;  wffien  instantly  the 
martyr  said.  Weep  not  for  my  death,  for  I can  yet  live  if  I please; 

388 


1641] 


WILLIAM  WARD 


but  it  is  my  joy  to  die  for  this  cause,  and  therefore  you  have  no 
reason  to  weep. 

‘ And  to  another  he  said,  with  signs  of  great  joy,  that  he  was 
infinitely  happy  to  be  able  to  lay  down  that  life  voluntarily  now, 
which  by  course  of  nature  he  could  not  hope  to  keep  one  month 
longer. 

‘ Of  his  Comportment  at  Tyhurn. 

‘ When  he  came  to  the  place  of  execution,  the  Sheriff  of  Middlesex, 
whose  office  is  to  attend  in  such  cases,  spake  unto  the  holy  man, 
asking  him  if  he  had  anything  to  say  before  he  died  ? W^hereupon 
he  answered  immediately,  that  he  had  to  declare  to  all  the  world 
the  cause  of  his  death,  which  was  purely  the  point  of  religion;  for 
he  was  innocent  of  any  crime  that  could  deserve  death.  Moreover 
he  said,  Mr.  Sheriff,  I give  you  and  all  this  company  to  understand, 
that  whereas  I am  condemned  and  brought  hither  to  die  for  being  a 
Romish  priest,  even  that  hath  not  been  proved  against  me ; so  I have 
received  hard  usage  in  this  sentence;  nevertheless,  I shall  here  do 
you,  and  all  those  that  had  a hand  in  my  death,  this  right  at  least 
to  declare  that  which  was  never  proved,  viz.,  that  I am  a Romish 
priest,  and  have  been  so  about  forty  years,  God  be  praised  for  it. 
And  since  I am  condemned  for  being  such,  Mr.  Sheriff,  I here  make 
profession  to  all  those  that  are  here  present,  that  I do  not  only  die 
willingly  for  this  cause,  but  think  myself  infinitely  happy,  and 
honoured  highly  therein,  since  it  is  to  die  for  my  Lord  and  Master 
Jesus  Christ.  Here  the  Sheriff  asked  him  of  what  religious  order 
he  was  ? who  answered,  I am  of  the  Apostles’  order,  I give  God 
thanks  for  it;  and  I do  rejoice  to  receive  that  superabundant  reward 
of  my  poor  labours,  which  the  holy  apostles  of  our  blessed  Saviour 
received  of  theirs,  though  mine  have  been  far  inferior  and  less  than 
theirs  were.  Hereunto  the  Sheriff  replied,  saying.  You  die  not  for 
point  of  religion,  but  for  seducing  the  King’s  liege  subjects.  To 
this  the  holy  martyr  answered,  he  had  seduced  none,  but  reduced 
or  converted  many,  the  which  he  was  glad  of,  and  did  wish  he  could 
not  only  have  converted  more,  but  even  all  England;  because  there 
was  no  other  saving  faith  than  that  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church ; 
and  as  for  this  faith  I die  myself  most  willingly,  so  I say  unto  you  all, 
that  will  hope  for  salvation,  you  must  die  in  the  same  faith  at  least, 
if  not  for  it.  The  Sheriff  seeing  the  good  Eleazar  so  stout  in  this 
point  was  willing  to  divert  him  from  it,  and  asked  him  what  his  true 
name  was,  whether  it  were  Ward,  or  not;  and  whether  he  was  any- 
thing allied  to  the  Bishop  of  Gloucester?  To  which  he  answered 

389 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1641 

that  his  true  name  was  not  Ward,  but  William  Webster;  and  for  the 
Bishop,  he  was  not  allied  to  him,  and  so  fell  upon  the  profession  of 
his  faith  again,  saying,  Mr.  Sheriff,  I have  no  relation  to  that  Bishop, 
but  have  ever  professed  this  religion  which  I now  die  for;  and  if  I 
had  a thousand  lives,  I should  most  willingly  lose  them  all  for  the 
same  cause.  Here  the  Sheriff,  being  willing  that  he  should  do 
anything  rather  than  inculcate  so  much  to  the  people  the  profession 
of  the  Roman  faith,  interrupted  him  again,  and  said,  Mr.  Webster, 
have  you  any  prayers  to  say  ? The  blessed  man  told  him,  I have 
said  my  prayers  already;  but  this  sufficed  not  the  Sheriff,  who 
fearing  he  would  fall  upon  the  former  subject,  asked  him  the  second 
time.  Have  you  any  more  prayers  to  say  1 To  this  the  saint 
answered.  Yes,  Mr.  Sheriff,  and  if  it  please  you  to  give  me  leave  I 
shall  say  them;  when  instantly  he  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  made  a 
quarter  of  an  hour’s  silent  prayer  with  a grave  composed  countenance ; 
and  when  the  Sheriff  saw  the  good  man  stir,  either  supposing  he  had 
done  his  prayers,  or  not  being  willing  to  give  him  any  longer  time, 
he  said  unto  him  with  a loud  voice,  Mr.  Webster,  have  you  anything 
else  now  to  say  ? To  which  demand  the  martyr  answered,  Y^es, 
Mr.  Sheriff,  I have  this  to  say  more,  that  I pray  heartily  to  God  to 
bless  the  King  and  Queen,  the  royal  issue  and  State,  and  all  the 
people  of  this  realm;  and,  Mr.  Sheriff,  I would  bequeath  some  small 
tokens  ere  I die  amongst  poor  Catholics ; but  I can  see  none  of  them 
here.  With  that  the  people  cried  out.  Give  it  to  the  hangman  that 
he  may  favour  you,  at  which  the  saint  smiled,  saying,  Alas!  alas! 
he  favour  me  ! see  the  fire  and  faggots,  the  halter  and  the  gallows,  what 
favour  can  he  do  me  ? Nor  do  I desire  to  lose  the  merit  of  suffering 
in  this  cause.  Which  said,  he  gave  unto  the  Sheriff  forty  shillings, 
beseeching  him  to  distribute  that  small  sum  of  money  amongst  the 
poorer  sort  of  Catholics,  the  saint  himself  giving  to  the  hangman 
two  shillings  and  sixpence.  Which  is,  said  he,  for  thy  good  office 
thou  art  to  do  me.  And  looking  about  him  a little,  he  espied  the 
carman  who  had  driven  the  hurdle  to  the  gallows,  and  gave  him 
two  shillings.  Which  is,  said  he,  for  thy  pains  too,  though  thou  be 
no  Catholic.  This  done,  he  threw  an  inkhorn,  and  handkerchief, 
and  some  other  things  left  in  his  pocket,  amongst  the  people;  and 
then  immediately  composed  himself  to  die,  recommending  his  soul 
to  his  blessed  Saviour,  and  crying  out  in  these  words,  Jesu,  Jesu, 
Jesu,  receive  my  soul,  he  ended  this  life.  He  hung  till  he  was  dead, 
because  they  stripped  him  hanging,  then  cut  him  down,  dragged 
him  by  the  heels  on  his  back  to  the  fire,  there  dismembered  and 
beheaded  him,  ripped  up  his  belly,  plucked  out  his  heart  and  his 

390 


1641] 


WILLIAM  WARD 


bowels,  and  cast  them  into  the  fire,  &c.,  setting  up  his  head  and 
quarters  upon  several  gates  and  places  of  the  city.  But  by  God’s 
special  providence  the  heart  of  this  glorious  martyr  was  preserved 
from  the  fire,  by  reason  it  slid  down  upon  the  edge  of  a sloping 
stick,  and  so  fell  into  the  embers,  where  it  was  rather  covered  than 
consumed,  and  by  this  accident  was  found. 

‘ A person  of  great  quality.  Count  Egmond  by  name,  hearing  by 
a servant  of  his  who  was  present  at  the  action,  that  an  holy  priest 
had  suffered  martyrdom  that  morning,’ — being  the  26th  of  July^ 
1641, — ‘ asked  his  servant  if  he  had  brought  any  relic  of  the  martyr 
away  with  him,  who  told  him.  Yes,  and  gave  him,  as  he  said,  the  very 
handkerchief  which  the  saint  had  cast  out  of  his  pocket.  The  Count, 
taking  it  with  reverence,  kissed  it;  but  finding  no  blood  upon  the 
same,  gave  the  servant  his  own  handkerchief,  commanding  him  to 
run  back  instantly  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  to  dip  that  in  some 
of  the  martyr’s  blood,  if  he  could  find  any.  The  servant,  posting 
away,  came  back  to  the  gallows,  made  diligent  search  for  some  of  the 
blood,  but  finding  it  was  all  scraped  up  by  the  zeal  of  other  pious 
Catholics  who  had  been  before  him,  takes  his  stick,  and  rubbing  up 
the  ashes  where  the  bowels  of  the  martyr  had  been  burnt,  finds  a 
lump  of  flesh  all  parched  and  singed  by  the  fiery  embers  wherein  it 
lay  covered,  and  hastily  wrapped  up  what  he  had  found  in  the 
handkerchief  which  his  lord  had  given  him,  not  having  time  to  shake 
off  the  fiery  coals  or  hot  ashes,  by  reason  that  some  malicious  persons 
who  stood  by,  and  saw  this  fellow'  stooping,  and  taking  somewhat 
out  of  the  fire,  demanded  of  him  what  he  took  thence  ? The  man 
nimbly  slipped  over  a park  pale,  and  run  from  them  who  would  have 
laid  hands  on  him;  whereupon  divers  horsemen  passing  that  w'ay, 
and  hearing  a great  number  of  foot  cry  Stop^  stop,  stop  (as  the  ill 
custom  of  our  nation  is,  every  man  making  himself  an  officer  and 
hangman  rather  than  fail),  out  of  officious  curiosity  in  such  cases,  rid 
hard  round  the  park  pale,  hoping  at  the  next  gate  to  encounter  with 
this  poor  man,  who  was  pursued  by  a clamorous  and  still  increasing 
company  of  footmen  who  continually  kept  sight  of  him.  The  man 
perceiving  himself  so  beset  on  all  sides  and  pursued,  resolved  not  to 
lose  the  relic  whatever  became  of  himself,  dropped  it,  as  he  ran,  in 
a bush,  and  took  special  mark  upon  the  bush  with  his  eye,  w'here  he 
left  it,  resolving  to  come  another  time  and  fetch  what  now  he  could 
not  safely  carry  any  farther.  And  this  he  did  with  such  dexterity, 
making  no  stop  at  all,  but  feigning  a small  trip  or  stumble,  and  yet 
seeming  suddenly  to  recover  himself,  ran  on,  drawing  his  pursuers 
after  him  to  delude  them  and  thereby  to  save  the  relic.  In  brief, 

39^ 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1641 


this  poor  man  recovered  the  skirts  of  the  town  ere  he  was  overtaken, 
and  there  being  apprehended  was  carried  before  officers,  yet  by  the 
power  of  his  lord  was  fetched  off  upon  security  given  that  he  should 
be  forthcoming;  and  so  went  early  next  morning  to  the  place  where 
he  had  dropped  the  relic,  and  found  it  in  the  handkerchief  which 
he  .had  wrapped  it  in,  and  in  the  same  place  where  he  had  left 
it.  In  which  circumstance  it  is  remarkable  that  the  handkerchief 
was  not  burnt  by  any  of  the  fiery  coals  or  hot  ashes  which  might  hang 
upon  the  flesh  when  he  took  it  out  of  the  fire.  And  bringing  this 
home  to  his  lord,  upon  diligent  search  what  it  should  be,  they  found 
by  incision  it  was  the  very  heart  of  the  holy  martyr,  and  it  remained 
fifteen  days  untainted.  After  which  time  the  count,  who  keeps  it 
as  his  greatest  jewel,  caused  it  to  be  embalmed,  not  that  he  did  it 
to  preserve  it  from  corruption,  which  it  seemed  no  way  to  incline 
to,  but  for  reverence  and  religion  to  so  rich  a relic:  Quia  pretiosa  in 
conspectu  Domini  mors  sanctorum  ejus. 

‘ And  it  may  serve  for  an  example  to  all  good  Christians,  that  their 
special  devotions  and  duties  to  their  particular  patrons  are  exercises 
not  only  pleasing  to  God  and  His  saints,  but  infinitely  profitable 
to  souls.  For  whereas  this  man  of  God  w’as  ever  singularly  devoted 
to  St.  Ann,  the  mother  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  keeping  her 
feast  every  year  with  more  than  ordinary  solemnity,  and  this  com- 
monly in  the  houses  of  some  of  his  penitents,  virtuous  women  who 
bare  that  name;  see  the  high  reward  he  received  of  this  his  devotion, 
that  Almighty  God  bestowed  the  crown  of  martyrdom  upon  him 
on  the  Feast  of  St.  Ann,  the  26th  of  Jw/jy,  1641 ! as  if  that  blessed  saint 
had  been  ambitious  to  wait  upon  God’s  martyr,  and  put  the  trium- 
phant crown  upon  his  head  with  her  own  hands,  who  had  so  devoutly 
and  so  constantly,  for  many  years  together,  on  this  her  festival  day, 
solemnized  her  praises.’  So  far  the  manuscript. 


EDWARD  BARLOW,  Priest,  O.S.B.^ 

Edward  barlow,  called  in  religion  Father  Ambrose,  was 
born  at  Manchester  in  1585,  of  pious  and  Catholic  parents, 
of  the  ancient  family  of  Barlozc  of  Barlow.  His  father  was  that 
constant  confessor  of  Christ,  Alexander  Barlow,  Esq.,  who  made  it 

* Ven.  Edward  Barlow. — From  two  Manuscript  relations  kept  by  the 
English  Benedictines  at  Douay,  one  of  them  being  a letter  of  his  brother, 
F.  Rudesind  Barlow,  to  the  Abbot  and  Monks  of  Cellanova,  dated  January  i, 
1642;  see  also  De  Marsys,  ii.;  Gillow. 

392 


641] 


EDWARD  BARLOW 


his  care  to  give  this  his  son  a Catholic  and  liberal  education.  By 
these  means  his  tender  mind,  which  had  already  a happy  sweetness 
of  temper,  and  an  inclination  to  piety  and  learning,  was  improved, 
and  strongly  established  in  the  true  faith  and  the  love  of  God. 
When  he  was  twelve  years  old  he  was  taken  from  school  to  be  page 
to  a relation,  a person  of  quality.  But  as  he  grew  up,  and  con- 
sidered the  emptiness  and  vanity  of  the  transitory  toys  of  this  life, 
and  the  greatness  of  things  eternal,  he  took  a resolution  to  withdraw 
himself  from  the  world,  and  to  go  abroad,  in  order  to  procure  those 
helps  of  virtue  and  learning  which  might  qualify  him  for  the  priest- 
hood, and  enable  him  to  be  of  some  assistance  to  his  native  country. 

The  place  he  made  choice  of  for  his  studies  was  the  university 
of  Doway,  which  had  been  recommended  to  him  by  fame,  and  by 
the  testimony  of  many  learned  and  pious  priests  who  had  studied 
there.  Here  meeting  with  two  other  young  gentlemen  of  equal 
age,  and  of  the  same  inclinations,  he  chose  them  for  his  chamber 
fellows,  and  with  them  frequented  the  humanity  schools  at  Anchin 
College,  under  the  Fathers  of  the  Society,  as  the  alumni  of  the 
English  Seminary  all  did  during  Dr.  Worthington's  presidency. 
When  he  h'ad  finished  his  humanity,  he  was  sent  by  the  aforesaid 
Dr.  Worthington  {August  23,  1610),  from  the  English  College  of 
Doway  to  that  of  Valladolid,  where  he  went  through  his  course  of 
philosophy  and  part  of  his  divinity ; for  before  he  had  finished  the 
latter,  he  followed  his  brother  Dr.  Rudesind Barlow  to  Doway 
he  received  the  habit  of  St.  Bennet;  and  after  making  his  noviceship 
at  a house  then  belonging  to  the  English  congregation,  near  St. 
Malo  in  Little  Brittany,  he  was  professed  at  Doway  in  1615.  And 
being  now  thirty  years  old,  and  otherwise  very  well  qualified  by 
virtue  and  learning  for  the  apostolic  calling,  he  was  presented  by  his 
superiors  not  long  after  his  profession,  to  the  holy  order  of  priest- 
hood, and  sent  upon  the  English  mission,  to  which  he  found  himself 
strongly  invited  by  an  inward  call. 

The  seat  of  his  missionary  labours  was  his  native  country  of 
Lancashire,  ‘ where,’  says  Mr.  Knareshorough,  ‘ his  memory  is  held 
in  great  esteem  to  this  day  by  the  Catholics  of  that  county,  for  his 
great  zeal  in  the  conversion  of  souls,  and  the  exemplary  piety  of  his 
life  and  conversation.’  ’Tis  scarce  to  be  expressed  what  wonderful 
blessings  the  Almighty  gave  to  the  labours  of  this  His  faithful  servant, 
who  made  it  his  constant  business  to  join  the  care  of  his  own  soul 
with  that  of  his  flock,  and  to  preach  full  as  much  by  example  as  by 
words.  Such  was  the  fervour  of  his  zeal,  that,  as  my  author  says, 
he  thought  the  day  lost  in  which  he  had  not  done  some  notable  thing 

393 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1641 

for  the  salvation  of  souls.  Night  and  day  he  was  ever  ready  to  lay 
hold  of  all  occasions  of  reclaiming  any  one  from  error ; and  whatever 
time  he  could  spare  from  his  devotions,  he  employed  in  seeking 
after  the  lost  sheep  and  in  exhorting,  instructing,  and  correcting 
sinners;  and  omitted  no  opportunity  of  preaching  the  Word  of  God. 
But  then  he  never  neglected  the  care  of  his  own  sanctification.  He 
celebrated  Mass,  and  recited  the  office  with  great  reverence  and 
devotion;  had  his  fixed  hours  for  mental  prayer  which  he  never 
omitted,  and  found  so  much  pleasure  in  this  inward  conversation 
with  God  (from  which  he  received  that  constant  supply  of  heavenly 
light  and  strength),  that  when  the  time  came  on,  which  he  had 
devoted  to  this  holy  exercise,  he  was  affected  with  a sensible  joy, 
as  much  as  worldlings  would  be  when  going  to  a feast.  He  had 
also  a great  devotion  to  the  rosary  which  he  daily  recited,  and 
recommended  much  to  his  penitents ; and  was  very  tenderly  affected 
with  the  sacred  mysteries  of  the  Incarnation,  Passion,  and  Resurrec- 
tion of  the  Son  of  God  (which  he  there  contemplated),  and  was  much 
devoted  to  His  blessed  Mother.  He  often  meditated  on  the  suffer- 
ings of  his  Redeemer,  with  his  arms  extended  in  the  form  of  a cross, 
and  these  meditations  enkindled  in  his  soul  a desire  of  suffering  for 
Christ,  a happiness  for  which  he  daily  prayed. 

He  had  a great  contempt  of  the  world  and  its  vanities ; and  a very 
humble  opinion  of  himself,  joined  with  a great  esteem,  love  and 
veneration  for  the  virtues  of  others.  He  was  always  afraid  of 
honours  and  preferments,  and  had  a horror  of  vainglory,  which  he 
used  to  call  the  worm  or  moth  of  virtues;  and  which  he  never  failed 
to  correct  in  others,  at  sometimes  in  a jocose  way,  at  others  seriously, 
according  to  the  temper  of  the  persons.  He  industriously  avoided 
feasts  and  assemblies,  and  all  meetings  for  merry  making;  as  liable 
to  dangers  of  excess,  idle  talk,  and  detraction.  He  had  no  regard 
for  temporal  interest;  and  refused  (though  desired  by  many)  to 
live  in  great  families,  where  he  might  be  well  accommodated  with 
all  things;  choosing  rather  to  live  in  a private  country-house,  where 
the  poor,  to  whom  he  had  chieffy  devoted  his  labours,  might  have 
at  all  times  free  access  to  him ; to  whom  also  he  plentifully  imparted 
both  spiritual  and  corporal  alms,  according  to  his  ability.  He  would 
never  have  a servant  till  forced  to  it  by  sickness;  never  used  a horse, 
but  made  his  pastoral  visits  always  on  foot.  His  apparel  was  mean; 
neither  would  he  ever  wear  a sword,  or  carry  a watch.  He  allowed 
himself  no  manner  of  play  or  pastime;  and  avoided  all  superffuous 
talk  and  conversation,  more  especially  with  those  of  the  fair  sex, 
how  virtuous  or  qualified  soever ; and  when  the  business  of  his  calling 

394 


641] 


EDWARD  BARLOW 


obliged  him  to  make  any  stay  in  such  company,  he  kept  his  eyes 
fixed  on  the  ground,  and  would  not  look  them  in  the  face.  Being 
asked  one  day  by  a lady  of  quality,  why  he  so  much  avoided  the 
company  of  women,  since  he  himself  was  born  of  a woman  } He 
replied.  For  that  very  reason  I avoid  the  company  of  women,  because 
I was  born  of  a woman;  signifying  that  the  corruption  of  concupi- 
scence, which  from  our  very  birth  is  entailed  upon  us  by  original 
sin,  was  what  made  him  look  upon  himself  obliged  to  use  those 
precautions. 

He  boarded  with  an  honest  country  farmer,  where  his  diet  was 
chiefly  whitemeats  and  garden  stuff;  for  he  seldom  eat  flesh,  unless 
by  occasion  of  company  that  came  to  visit  him.  He  drank  only 
small  beer,  and  that  very  sparingly;  and  always  abstained  from  wine: 
being  asked  the  reason  why  he  did  so,  he  alleged  the  saying  of  the 
wise  man.  Wine  and  women  make  the  wise  apostatise.  He  was  never 
idle,  but  was  always  either  praying,  studying,  preaching,  administer- 
ing the  sacraments,  or  (which  he  used  sometimes  to  divert  himself 
with)  painting  pictures  of  Christ  or  His  blessed  Mother.  He  was 
sometimes  applied  to,  to  exorcise  persons  possessed  by  the  devil, 
which  he  did  with  good  success.  He  had  a great  talent  in  composing 
of  differences,  and  reconciling  such  as  were  at  variance;  and  was 
consulted  as  an  oracle  by  the  Catholics  of  that  country  in  all  their 
doubts  and  difficulties.  He  feared  no  dangers  when  God’s  honour 
and  the  salvation  of  souls  called  him  forth ; and  has  sometimes  when 
engaged  in  such  expeditions,  passed,  even  at  noonday,  through  the 
midst  of  enemies,  without  apprehension.  And  when  some  people 
would  desire  him  to  be  more  cautious  he  would  turn  them  off  with  a 
joke;  for  he  was  usually  very  cheerful  and  pleasant  in  conversation; 
so  that  they  who  knew  him  best,  thought  he  was  in  this  regard  not 
unlike  the  celebrated  Sir  Thomas  More.  Yet  he  was  very  severe  in 
rebuking  sin,  so  that  obstinate  and  impenitent  sinners  were  afraid 
of  coming  near  him.  Nothing  more  sensibly  afflicted  him,  than 
when  he  saw  any  one  going  astray  from  the  right  path  of  virtue 
and  truth,  more  especially  if  it  were  a person  of  whom  he  had  con- 
ceived a good  opinion,  or  had  great  hopes.  Upon  these  occasions 
he  would  at  first  be  almost  oppressed  with  melancholy,  till  recollect- 
ing himself  in  God,  and  submitting  to  His  wise  providence  justly 
permitting  evil,  to  draw  greater  good  out  of  it,  he  recovered  again 
his  usual  peace  and  serenity. 

Some  months  before  his  last  apprehension  (for  he  was  several 
times  a prisoner)  hearing  that  some  persons,  whom  he  loved  as  his 
own  soul,  were  in  a resolution  of  doing  something  very  wicked,  which 

395  ^ 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1641 


was  like  to  be  the  ruin  of  many  souls,  he  was  so  strongly  on  a sudden 
affected  with  it,  that  it  flung  him  into  a fit  of  the  dead  palsy  which 
took  away  the  use  of  one  side,  and  put  him  in  danger  of  his  life; 
what  added  very  much  to  his  cross  was,  the  fear  lest  his  poor  children 
whom  he  had  begotten  to  Christ,  should  now  be  left  destitute  of 
spiritual  assistance.  And  whereas  his  convulsions  and  pains  seemed 
to  have  brought  him  to  death’s  door,  he  had  this  additional  affliction, 
that  no  priest  could  be  found  to  administer  the  Holy  Sacraments  to 
him.  In  these  extremities  God  Almighty  was  pleased  to  comfort 
him ; and  being  in  a manner  out  of  himself,  he  broke  forth  into  these 
words:  ‘ Lord,  Thy  will  be  done;  a due  conformity  of  our  will  to 
Thine,  is  to  be  preferred  to  the  use  of  the  sacraments,  and  even  to 
martyrdom  itself.  I reverence  and  earnestly  desire  Thy  sacraments ; 
and  I have  often  wished  to  lay  down  my  life  for  Thee,  in  the  pro- 
fession of  my  faith;  but  if  it  be  pleasing  to  Thy  infinite  wisdom,  by 
this  illness  to  take  me  out  of  the  prison  of  this  body  half  dead  already. 
Thy  will  be  done.’  Whilst  he  was  in  these  dispositions,  God  was 
pleased  to  send  him  a priest  of  the  Society  of  Jesus  to  assist  him ; as 
he  himself  had  twelve  years  before  exercised  the  same  charity  to 
Father  Arrowsmith  in  prison  before  his  last  conflict;  at  which  time 
that  confessor  of  Christ  is  said  to  have  foretold  that  he  should  be  the 
next  to  follow  him.  At  least  this  is  certain,  by  the  testimony  of 
Mr.  Barlow  himself,  in  a letter  to  his  brother  Rudesind  (who  quotes 
it  in  his  manuscript  relation)  dated  out  of  prison.  May  17,  1641, 
that  Father  Arrowsmith  ‘ the  night  before  he  suffered,  when  as  yet 
Mr.  Barlow  had  not  heard  of  his  suffering,  came  to  his  bedside,  and 
told  him:  I have  already  suffered;  you  shall  also  suffer;  speak  but 
little,  for  they  will  be  upon  the  watch  to  catch  you  in  your  words.’ 

On  the  eves  before  the  principal  festivals  of  the  year,  whilst 
Mr.  Barlow  was  in  health,  the  Catholics  resorted  to  him  from  distant 
places,  and  passed  the  night  after  the  manner  of  the  Primitive  Church, 
in  watching,  prayer,  and  spiritual  colloquies;  whilst  for  his  part 
he  was  employed  almost  all  the  night  in  hearing  confessions.  On  the 
next  day  he  treated  them  all  with  a dinner,  where  he,  and  some  of 
the  more  honourable  sort  of  his  flock,  served  them  that  were  poor, 
and  waited  upon  them,  and  then  dined  off  their  leavings.  When 
he  sent  them  home,  he  gave  each  of  them  a groat  in  alms;  and  when 
all  had  dined,  he  distributed  what  remained  to  the  poor  of  the  parish. 
His  zeal  had  made  him  as  well  known  in  all  that  neighbourhood, 
as  the  very  parson  of  the  parish.  Some  reprehended  him  for  going 
about  so  publicly;  to  whom  he  replied.  Let  them  fear  that  have 
anything  to  lose^  which  they  are  unwilling  to  part  with;  which  was  not 

396 


1641] 


EDWARD  BARLOW 


his  case,  who  had  set  his  heart  upon  nothing  in  this  world;  and  was 
even  desirous  to  lay  down  his  life  for  God’s  cause.  He  could  not 
be  persuaded  by  his  friends  to  retire  farther  off  from  danger,  to  a 
house  of  a kinsman  of  his  in  Cheshire;  being  desirous,  if  it  pleased 
God,  to  shed  his  blood  at  Lancaster. 

He  was  beginning  to  recover  of  his  illness,  but  was  as  yet  very 
weak,  when  he  was  apprehended,  on  Easter  Day,  1641 , in  the  follow- 
ing manner,  according  to  the  account  which  he  himself  sent  out  of 
prison  to  his  brother  Rudesind.  A neighbouring  minister  who  had 
with  him  at  church  a numerous  congregation,  instead  of  entertaining 
them  on  that  solemn  day  with  a sermon  and  prayers  as  usual,  pro- 
posed to  them  as  a work  more  worthy  their  zeal  for  the  gospel,  to 
go  along  with  him  to  apprehend  Barlow,  that  noted  Popish  priest, 
whom  they  would  now  be  sure  to  find  in  the  midst  of  his  flock; 
whereas  were  they  to  stay  till  church  time  was  over,  they  would  miss 
the  opportunity.  They  realized  the  proposition,  and  being  about 
400  in  number,  armed  with  clubs  and  swords,  followed  the  parson, 
marching  in  front  in  his  surplice,  to  the  house  where  Mr.  Barlow 
having  finished  Mass,  was  making  an  exhortation  to  his  people, 
about  100  in  number,  on  the  subject  of  patience.  The  Catholics 
that  were  within,  as  soon  as  they  perceived  the  house  was  besieged, 
would  have  persuaded  the  man  of  God  to  hide  himself,  there  being 
more  than  one  private  place  for  that  purpose  in  the  house,  but  he 
would  by  no  means  consent  to  secure  himself,  and  leave  his  sheep 
to  the  mercy  of  these  wolves.  Wherefore  exhorting  them  all  to 
constancy,  and  putting  them  in  mind  that  these  light  and  momentary 
tribulations  would  work  in  them  an  eternal  weight  of  glory;  and 
telling  them  withal  how  ready  he  was  for  his  part  to  suffer  all  things 
for  Christ,  he  ordered  them  to  open  the  doors.  The  mob  im- 
mediately rushed  in,  crying  out.  Where  is  Barlow?  where  is  Barlow? 
he  is  the  man  we  want;  and  laying  hands  upon  him,  they  secured  him, 
letting  the  rest  go  upon  giving  caution  for  their  appearance.  In  the 
meantime  they  searched  the  whole  house,  and  broke  open  Mr. 
Barlow^ s chest,  in  hopes  of  finding  money;  but  see  the  wonderful 
providence  of  our  Lord  ! though  there  was  a considerable  sum  of 
money  there,  which  had  been  lately  sent  him  by  some  charitable 
gentlemen  to  be  given  to  the  poor;  and  though  they  rummaged,  and 
turned  over  all  his  clothes,  and  other  things,  yet  they  could  not  find 
this  bag;  for  which  providence  Mr.  Barlow  was  very  thankful,  and 
gave  proper  orders  afterwards  for  the  disposing  of  the  money  accord- 
ing to  the  intention  of  the  donors. 

Mr.  Barlow  being  now  in  the  hands  of  this  mob  and  their  minister 

397’ 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [164 


(who,  it  seems,  had  acted  in  this  whole  affair  without  any  warrant) 
was  carried  by  them  the  same  day  before  a Justice  of  Peace,  who 
sent  him  guarded  by  sixty  armed  men  to  Lancaster  Castle.  Some 
of  his  flock  would  have  attempted  to  rescue  him  in  the  way  out  of 
their  hands,  but  he  earnestly  entreated  them  not  to  think  of  it.  He 
was  carried  to  gaol  in  a sort  of  a triumph  by  this  armed  mob,  who 
insulted  over  him,  and  treated  him  with  contempt,  which  was  to  him 
a subject  of  joy,  though  at  this  time  he  was  as  yet  so  weak,  that  he 
could  not  sit  on  horseback  without  one  behind  him  to  support  him. 
He  was  kept  in  prison  from  Easter  till  the  summer  assizes,  and  in 
the  mean  time,  instead  of  being  weakened  or  cast  down  by  his  suffer- 
ings he  wonderfully  recovered  his  strength  and  health.  He  would 
not  hear  of  the  propositions  made  by  his  friends  of  using  their 
interest  to  have  him  removed  up  to  London^  or  sent  into  banishment, 
as  many  others  had  been;  but  desired  them  to  be  easy  and  not  to 
concern  themselves  about  him,  for  that  to  die  for  this  cause  [viz.^ 
for  being  a Catholic  priest)  was  to  him  more  desirable  than  life;  that  he 
must  die  some  time  or  other,  and  could  not  die  a better  death.  To  some 
also  upon  this  occasion  he  imparted  in  confidence  the  vision  which 
he  had  of  Father  Arrowsmith.  In  prison  he  often  entertained 
himself  with  the  book  of  Boetius,  De  Consolatione,  which  the  jailer 
taking  notice  of,  took  the  book  away;  at  which  Mr.  Barlow  smiling, 
said.  If  you  take  this  little  book  away,  I will  betake  myself  to  that 
great  book  from  which  Boetius  learned  his  wholesome  doctrine,  and 
that  book  you  can  never  take  away  from  me;  and  this  is  what  he  con- 
tinually practised  by  mental  prayer.  My  author  adds  that  when  any 
one  came  to  visit  him  in  prison,  he  would  not  suffer  the  time  to  be 
lost  in  vain  or  worldly  talk,  but  entertained  the  party  with  such 
discourses  only  as  were  for  his  instruction  and  edification. 

After  above  four  months’  imprisonment,  his  trial  came  on,  on 
the  7th  of  September,  before  Sir  Robert  Heath,  who  is  said  to  have 
had  instructions  from  the  Parliament,  if  any  priest  were  convicted 
at  Lancaster,  to  see  the  law  executed  upon  him,  for  a terror  to  the 
Catholics  who  were  numerous  in  that  county.  The  indictment 
being  read,  Mr.  Barlow  freely  acknowledged  himself  a priest,  and 
that  he  had  exercised  his  priestly  functions  for  above  twenty  years 
in  this  kingdom.  The  Judge  asked  him  why  he  had  not  obeyed 
the  King’s  proclamation  commanding  all  priests  to  depart  the  realm 
before  the  yth  of  April  last  past  ? Mr.  Barlow  answered  that  several 
persons  there  present,  and  especially  they  who  had  brought  him  to 
prison,  very  well  knew  that  he  was  then  so  weak,  by  a long  and  grievous 
illness,  that  he  was  no  ways  in  condition  to]^obey  the  proclamation. 

398 


641] 


EDWARD  BARLOW 


The  Judge  asked  him  what  he  thought  of  the  justice  of  those 
laws  by  which  priests  were  put  to  death.  He  answered  that  all  laws 
made  against  Catholics  on  account  of  their  religion  were  unjust  and 
impious;  For  what  law,  said  he,  can  be  more  unjust  than  this,  by 
which  priests  are  condemned  to  suffer  as  traitors,  merely  because 
they  are  Roman,  that  is,  true  priests  } For  there  are  no  other  true 
priests  but  th.t  Roman,  and  if  these  be  destroyed  what  must  become 
of  the  Divine  law  when  none  remain  to  preach  God’s  Word  and 
administer  His  sacraments  ? Then,  said  the  Judge,  what  opinion 
have  you  of  the  makers  of  those  laws,  and  of  those  who  by  their 
office  see  them  put  in  execution  } Mr.  Barlow  replied.  If,  my  Lord, 
in  consequence  of  so  unjust  a law,  you  should  condemn  me  to  die, 
you  would  send  me  to  heaven  and  yourself  to  hell.  Make  what 
judgment  you  please,  said  the  Judge,  of  my  salvation;  for  my  part, 
though  the  law  has  brought  you  hither  as  a criminal  and  a seducer 
of  the  people,  I shall  not  pass  so  uncharitable  a sentence  upon  you. 
I am  no  seducer,  said  Mr.  Barlow,  but  a reducer  of  the  people  to  the 
true  and  ancient  religion.  The  Judge,  as  he  afterwards  acknow- 
ledged, was  astonished  at  the  constancy  of  his  answers,  and  his 
intrepidity,  and  put  him  in  mind  that  his  life  was  in  his  hands,  and 
that  it  was  in  his  power  to  acquit  him  or  condemn  him;  And  don’t 
you  know  and  acknowledge,  said  he,  that  I sit  here  as  your  judge  ? 
I know,  said  the  prisoner,  and  acknowledge  you  judge,  but  in  such 
causes  only  as  belong  to  the  temporal  court  and  tribunal;  but  in 
spiritual  matters  and  in  things  belonging  to  the  court  of  conscience, 
be  pleased  to  take  notice  that  I am  judge,  and  therefore  I tell  you 
plainly,  that  if  by  that  unjust  law  you  sentence  me  to  die,  it  will  be 
to  my  salvation  and  your  damnation.  Upon  this  the  Judge  directed 
the  jury  to  bring  him  in  guilty;  and  the  next  day  pronounced 
sentence  upon  him  in  the  usual  form.  Mr.  Barlow  heard  the  sen- 
tence with  a cheerful  and  pleasant  countenance,  and  said  aloud. 
Thanks  he  to  God;  and  then  prayed  heartily  to  the  Divine  Majesty 
to  forgive  all  that  had  any  ways  been  accessory  to  his  death.  The 
Judge  applauded  his  charity  in  this,  and  granted  him  what  he 
petitioned  for,  viz.,  a chamber  to  himself  in  the  castle,  where,  for 
the  short  remainder  of  his  time,  he  might,  without  molestation, 
apply  himself  to  his  devotions,  and  prepare  for  his  exit. 

On  Friday,  the  loth  of  September,  he  was  brought  out  to  suffer 
according  to  sentence,  and  laid  upon  the  hurdle,  on  which  he  was 
drawn  to  the  place  of  execution,  carrying  all  the  way  in  his  hand  a 
cross  of  wood  which  he  had  made.  When  he  was  come  to  the  place, 
being  taken  off  the  hurdle,  he  went  three  times  round  the  gallows, 

399 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [164 


carrying  the  cross  before  his  breast,  and  reciting  the  penitential 
psalm  Miserere.  Some  ministers  were  for  disputing  with  him  about 
religion,  but  he  told  them  it  was  an  unfair  and  an  unseasonable 
challenge,  and  that  he  had  something  else  to  do  at  present  than  to 
heark^  n to  their  fooleries.  He  suffered  with  great  constancy  accord- 
ing to  sentence,  and  so  passed  from  short  labours  and  pains  to  eternal 
rest  and  joy,  in  the  fifty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  the  twenty-fifth  of  his 
religious  profession,  and  the  twenty-fourth  of  his  priesthood  and 
mission. 


Seven  Priests  and  Confessors. 

IN  the  December  following  the  execution  of  Mr.  Barlow,  I find 
seven  priests  at  once  condemned  in  the  sessions  at  the  Old 
Bailey,  to  be  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered,  for  their  character 
and  priestly  functions.  They  were  condemned  on  the  8th  of 
December,  and  were  to  have  been  executed  on  the  13th.  At  the 
desire  of  the  French  ambassador,  the  King  being  willing  to  have  them 
reprieved  and  banished,  sent  a message  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament 
to  know  their  thoughts  upon  the  matter.  This  message  being  sent, 
December  tht  nth,  from  the  Lords  to  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
there  read,  it  was  singly  voted  upon  these  following  priests : ‘ Resolved 
that  John  Mammon,  John  Rivers  alias  Abbot,  Walter  Coleman,  and 
N.  Turner,  priests,  shall  be  put  to  execution  according  to  law.’ 
See  Nalson^s  Impartial  Collections , Vol.  IL,  pp.  731 , 732,  &c.  How- 
ever, His  Majesty  having  been  pleased  to  grant  his  reprieve  to  all 
the  seven,  on  the  Tuesday  following,  December  the  14th,  both  Houses 
agreed  to  join  in  a petition  that  His  Majesty  would  take  off  the 
reprieve,  and  order  all  the  seven  to  be  executed.  To  which  His 
Majesty,  on  December  the  i6th,  returned  his  answer,  that  he  would 
take  the  matter  into  consideration. 

This  reprieve  of  the  condemned  priests,  who  were  shortly  after 
reduced  to  the  number  of  six,  by  the  death  of  one  of  them,  was 
perpetually  objected  to  the  King  by  the  Parliament;  till  His  Majesty, 
answering  from  York  their  petition  concerning  the  magazine  of  Hull, 
&c.,  told  them,  ‘ Concerning  the  six  condemned  priests,  it  is  true 
they  w'ere  reprieved  by  our  warrant,  being  informed  that  they  were 
(by  some  restraint)  disabled  to  take  the  benefit  of  our  former  pro- 
clamation. Since  that  we  have  issued  out  another  for  the  due 
execution  of  the  laws  against  Papists,  and  have  most  solemnly 
promised,  upon  the  word  of  a King,  never  to  pardon  any  priest 

400 


1641]  SEVEN  PRIESTS  AND  CONFESSORS 


without  your  consent,  who  shall  be  found  guilty  by  law — desiring 
to  banish  these  (the  six),  having  herewith  sent  warrants  to  that 
purpose,  if  upon  second  thoughts  you  do  not  disapprove  thereof. 
But  if  you  think  the  execution  of  these  persons  so  very  necessary 
to  the  great  and  pious  work  of  reformation,  we  refer  it  wholly  to  you, 
declaring  hereby,  that  upon  such  your  resolution  signified  to  the 
ministers  of  justice,  our  warrant  for  their  reprieve  is  determined, 
and  the  law  to  have  its  course.’  So  far  the  King.  And  my  Lord 
Clarendon^  in  his  Flistory,  Vol.  I.,  part  2,  p.  490,  tells  us  that  this 
unexpected  answer  did  not  a little  disturb  the  Parliament,  because 
the  King, by  referring  the  matter  to  them,  removed  the  scandal  from 
himself  and  laid  it  at  their  doors.  And  certain  it  is  that  we  hear  no 
more  of  this  affair,  and  that  these  condemned  priests  were  all  suffered 
to  linger  away  their  lives  in  Newgate,  th.ou^  no  less  than  eight  of  their 
brethren  were  executed  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom  within  the 
compass  of  that  one  year  1642. 

It  remains  that  w^e  should  here  put  down  the  chief  particulars 
w^e  have  been  able  to  discover  concerning  these  seven  condemned 
priests.  And  first,  as  to  their  order:  Father  Angelas  Mason,  in  his 
preface  to  his  Certamen  Seraphicum,  tells  us,  that  excepting  Father 
Coleman,  who  was  a Franciscan,  all  the  rest  were  either  of  the  secular 
clergy  or  of  the  venerable  Order  of  St.  Bennet,  Then  as  to  other 
particulars,  to  begin  with  those  that  were  first  by  Parliament  voted 
to  die — 

1.  John  Hammon,  or  Hammond,  was  a priest  of  Doway  College, 
ordained  and  sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1625.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  learning  and  merit,  a leading  man  amongst  his  brethren, 
a member  of  their  chapter,  and  superior  of  the  secular  clergy  in  the 
West  of  England. 

2.  John  Rivers,  alias  Ahhot,  a Londoner,  was  also  a priest  of  Doway 
College.  He  was  ordained  in  1612,  at  which  time  I find  he  left  the 
college  in  order  to  enter  into  the  Society  of  Jesus.  But  this  design 
proved  ineffectual;  for  by  the  account  of  Father  Angelas,  above 
quoted,  when  he  w^as  condemned  to  die  he  was  still  a secular  priest. 

3.  Walter  Coleman  was  descended  of  a good  family  in  Stafford- 
shire, who  going  abroad  studied  his  humanity  in  the  English  College 
of  Doway;  then  returning  home  after  some  years  spent  among  his 
friends,  being  disgusted  with  the  pleasures  and  vanities  of  the 
world,  he  determined  to  leave  all  and  to  follow  Christ  in  a life  of 
poverty,  humility,  and  mortification.  Upon  this  he  entered  among 
the  English  Franciscans  in  their  convent  at  Doway,  where  he  was 
called  Father  Christopher  of  St.  Clare.  He  died  in  Newgate  in  1645. 

40  T 2 c 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1641 


He  was  author  of  a small  poem  called  The  Duel  of  Death.  See  more 
of  him  in  Certamen  Seraphiciim  ^ p.  184,  ^c. 

4.  John  Turner  was  a priest  of  the  English  College  of  Doway, 
ordained  and  sent  upon  the  mission  in  1625.  He  seems  to  have 
survived  all  the  rest  in  prison,  and  consequently  to  have  endured 
the  longer  martyrdom. 

5.  The  other  three  (whose  names  are  not  recorded  in  Mr.  Nalson^s 
Collections),  were,  as  far  as  I can  gather  from  other  records,  Mr. 
Henry  Myners^  who  died  prisoner  of  the  common  side  of  Newgate; 
Father  Lawrence  Mabhs,  O.S.B.,  who  died  prisoner  in  the  same 
gaol  anno  1641 ; and  Father  Peter  Wilford,  O.S.B.,  called  in  religion 
Father  Boniface,  who  died  in  the  same  prison  March  12,  1646, 
being  fourscore  years  of  age  or  upwards.  B.  W[eldon],  in  his  manu- 
script, says  ninety. 

Father  Mason,  in  his  Certamen  Seraphicum,  p.  192,  speaking  of 
Father  Coleman,  gives  this  short  eulogium  of  all  his  six  companions: 
— That  they  had  all  laboured  for  a long  time  upon  the  mission  with 
great  fruit  in  gaining  souls  to  God;  that  they  had  suffered  all  the 
incommodities  of  a prison  for  many  years ; that  they  are  condemned 
merely  on  account  of  their  priesthood;  and  that  they  received  the 
sentence  of  death  with  great  joy,  giving  God  thanks  that  they  were 
thought  worthy  to  suffer  in  His  cause. 


[ 1642.  ] 

THOMAS  REYNOLDS,  alias  GREEN,  Priest  * 

Thomas  Reynolds,  whose  true  name  was  Green,  was 
born  in  the  city  of  Oxford,  towards  the  beginning  of  Queen 
ElizahetHs  reign;  and  as  great  numbers  of  the  brightest  and 
most  hopeful  young  men  in  both  universities  in  those  days,  dis- 
liking the  new  religion,  went  abroad  to  be  educated  in  the  old,  for 
which  afterwards  a great  many  of  them  laid  down  their  lives;  Mr 
Reynolds  followed  their  footsteps,  and  going  over  to  Rhemes  to 
the  English  Seminary  then  residing  in  that  city,  after  some  time 
spent  in  his  studies  there,  was  advanced  to  holy  orders;  and  being 

* Ven.  Thomas  Reynolds,  vere  Green. — From  Mr.  Ireland’s  Douay 
Diary;  a Manuscript  relation  by  Father  Floyd,  S.J.;  another  Manuscript 
in  the  Collections  of  Mr.  Knaresborough;  and  Chifletius,  in  his  Palmes  Cleri 
Anglicani,  printed  at  Antwerp  in  1645  ; see  also  De  Marsys,  ii. ; Acts  of  E.  M. 

402 


1 6 42] 


THOMAS  REYNOLDS 


now  deacon,  was  on  the  17th  of  September,  1590,  in  the  company 
of  several  others  sent  from  Rhemes  into  Spain,  the  seminaries  in  that 
kingdom  being  then  usually  supplied  from  the  College  at  Rhemes. 
Mr.  Reynolds  was  made  priest  at  Seville,  and  from  thence  was  sent 
upon  the  English  mission.  He  had  been  above  fifty  years  in  holy 
orders,  when  he  was  called  forth  to  suffer,  and  in  that  space  of  time 
had  weathered  many  a storm.  I find  his  name  amongst  the  forty- 
seven  priests  sent  from  divers  prisons  into  banishment  in  1606. 
But  he  quickly  returned  again  to  his  post;  he  was  therefore  again 
apprehended,  in  or  about  the  year  1628,  about  fourteen  years  before 
his  death;  and  was  then  brought  to  his  trial,  and  condemned;  but 
by  the  Queen’s  interest  was  reprieved;  yet  so  as  still  to  remain  a 
prisoner.  ’Tis  true,  I find  his  name  in  Mr.  Prynne’s  Hidden  Works 
of  Darkness,  &c.,  amongst  those  priests  who  in  1635,  upon  giving 
bond  for  their  appearance,  were  permitted  to  go  out  of  prison;  and 
in  consequence  of  this  permission  he  was  often  abroad  amongst  his 
friends  till  in  June,  1641,  (the  factious  in  the  Parliament  being  now 
very  clamorous  against  the  reprieving  of  priests),  he  was  seized  and 
committed;  and  in  the  January  following,  without  any  new  trial 
or  provocation,  was  brought  down  to  his  former  sentence,  and 
executed. 

He  was  a man,  says  my  author,  Chiflet,  p.  37,  of  a most  religious 
comportment  in  his  whole  life,  who,  for  a long  course  of  years,  had 
preached  virtue  and  godliness  to  his  countrymen,  no  less  by  his 
example  than  by  his  words;  and  he  was  now  far  advanced  in  age, 
[being  about  eighty].  As  to  his  body,  he  was  fat  and  corpulent, 
yet  very  infirm  through  past  labours  and  sufferings.  As  to  his 
temper,  he  was  remarkably  mild  and  courteous;  and  in  the  many 
years  he  had  laboured  in  the  vineyard  of  his  Lord,  he  had  reaped 
much  fruit  in  gaining  many  souls  to  God.  He  was  naturally  timorous ; 
and  therefore  when  he  was  so  unexpectedly  called  upon  to  prepare 
himself  to  die,  distrusting  in  his  own  strength,  he  earnestly  impor- 
tuned heaven  for  the  grace  of  constancy  and  perseverance,  by  long 
and  fervent  prayer,  in  which  he  employed  a good  part  of  the  night 
before  his  martyrdom;  and  begged,  to  this  same  end,  the  prayers 
of  other  priests  and  servants  of  God.  And  the  Divine  Majesty 
was  pleased  to  hear  him,  and  in  such  manner  to  favour  him  with 
His  grace,  as  to  banish  all  his  fears,  and  fill  his  soul  with  wonderful 
fortitude  and  vigour;  so  that  he  was  surprised  to  find  this  change  in 
himself,  and  could  not  forbear  extolling  the  mercies  of  God  towards 
him,  and  the  wondrous  operations  of  His  powerful  grace  in  so  poor, 
frail,  and  infirm  an  old  man.  On  the  morning  before  he  was  to  die, 

403 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


he  celebrated  the  sacred  mysteries;  and  then  cheerfully  obeyed  the 
summons  of  the  officers  who  called  for  him  in  order  to  execution. 

What  follows  is  mostly  transcribed  from  two  manuscript  relations, 
of  which  I have  copies  in  my  hands. 

‘ He  {Mr.  Reynolds)  came  forth  of  Newgate,  and  put  off  his  hat 
to  the  Sheriff,  then  went  up  to  the  sledge  and  lay  down ; but  lifting 
himself  up  again,  he  saluted  them  that  were  about  him  and  gave  his 
blessing  to  all  Catholics  that  were  present.  Mr.  Roe,  a Benedictine, 
presently  followed,  and  did  in  the  same  manner,  and  they  embraced 
each  other  on  the  hurdle.  It  was  the  21st  of  January,  1641,  being 
Friday,  the  Feast  of  St.  Agnes,  that  these  two  courageous  soldiers 
of  Jesus  Christ  were  called  out  to  fight.  They  were  drawn  on  one 
hurdle  by  four  car-horses;  the  way  being  very  deep  and  plashy,  so 
that  their  faces,  bands,  and  clothes,  were  much  spattered  with  dirt. 
In  the  mean  time  it  is  almost  incredible  how  much  both  Protestants 
and  Catholics  were  moved  to  tears  at  the  sight  of  them,  and  what 
shew  of  zeal  the  Catholics  made  towards  these  blessed  martyrs. 
For  in  the  streets  they  went  up  to  the  hurdle  where  they  lay,  some 
kissing  their  hands, some  their  garments,  others  craving  their  blessing 
publicly;  others  saying.  Courage,  valiant  soldiers  of  Christ;  and  the 
martyrs  on  the  other  side  bade  them  lojiwWy  far ezv ell,  saying.  They 
more  esteemed  it  to  be  drawn  up  Holhorn  on  a sledge  for  this  cause, 
than  if  they  were  riding  in  the  best  coach  the  King  had,  and  that  they 
were  going  to  a marriage  feast. 

‘ They  arrived  about  eleven  o’clock  at  the  place  of  execution, 
where  Mr.  Reynolds  having  the  Sheriff’s  permission,  spoke  bravely 
for  half  an  hour’s  space;  and  amongst  other  things  said,  that  if  he 
had  as  many  lives  as  there  are  bright  stars  in  the  firmament,  he 
would  most  willingly  give  them  all  for  this  cause.  That  he  had 
conversed  with  all  sorts  of  people,  having  been  a priest  in  England 
almost  forty  years,  yet  none  could  ever  accuse  him  so  much  as  of  a 
word  tending  to  treason  or  disloyalty;  that  he  had  only  laboured  to 
reduce  strayed  souls  to  the  fold  of  the  Catholic  Church,  to  which 
as  he  had  reduced  some,  so  he  wished  that  every  one  of  them  had 
been  a thousand.  He  also  told  them  that  God’s  vengeance  hung 
over  England  for  their  seditious  treacheries,  &c.  Here  the  Sheriff 
asked  him  what  he  meant  ? I do  not  mean,  said  he,  the  Parliament ; 
I will  not  censure  nor  meddle  with  their  actions  but  beseech  Almighty 
God  to  bless  them,  and  to  send  the  Holy  Ghost  to  teach  them,  to  do 
what  is  best  for  the  kingdom,  and  the  Catholic  Church;  and  withal 
he  excused  the  King  for  having  any  hand  in  his  blood,  and  prayed 
for  him,  for  the  Queen,  the  royal  issue,  and  the  whole  kingdom. 

404 


1642] 


THOMAS  REYNOLDS 


‘ I pray  God,  said  he,  that  they  (the  King  and  Parliament),  may 
settle  all  things  to  His  honour  and  glory,  and  that  England  may  be  a 
flourishing  kingdom.  I desire  all  whom  I have  offended  to  forgive 
me,  as  I forgive  all  the  world  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  and  all 
those  who  have  a hand  in  the  effusion  of  my  innocent  blood ; I pray 
God  that  it  may  not  be  laid  to  their  charge,  and  that  it  may  not  cry 
to  heaven  for  vengeance,  and  lie  heavy  upon  the  kingdom.  And 
God  forgive  them,  to  please  whom  I was  so  suddenly  called  away. 
And  God  bless  you,  Mr.  Sheriff,  and  reward  you  for  your  goodness 
towards  me,  and  for  your  patience  in  bearing  with  my  tediousness, 
and  grant  you  His  grace  to  make  you  a glorious  saint  in  heaven,  &c. 
Here  the  Sheriff  answered  in  a low  voice.  And  I commend  myself 
to  you. 

‘ All  this  he  spoke  with  such  an  undaunted  courage,  a cheerful 
aspect,  and  at  the  same  time  with  such  an  air  of  meekness  and 
humility,  as  drew  tears  from  the  eyes  of  many;  and  though  the  crowed 
was  extraordinary  great,  the  attention  and  silence  was  such  as  might 
rather  be  expected  in  a church  than  upon  this  occasion.  The  Sheriff 
w'ho  had  all  this  time  stood  uncovered,  and  showing  by  his  own  wet 
cheeks  a deep  concern  for  the  prisoner,  turned  towards  my  Lord 
Rich  and  some  other  persons  of  distinction,  and  with  a great  feeling 
and  concern  protested,  that  he  had  never  seen  in  his  whole  life  a 
man  die  like  him,  and  that  for  his  own  part  he  did  truly  pity  his 
condition. 

‘ Mr.  Reynolds  having  finished  his  discourse,  kneeled  down, 
disposing  himself  for  prayer.  When  Mr.  Roe  (a  man  courageous 
and  valiant^  says  Father  Floyd)  rising  up,  and  looking  about  him, 
said  with  some  surprise,  Here's  a jolly  company  ! I know  you  come 
to  see  me  die ; my  fellow  here  hath  in  great  measure  spoke  what  I 
would  have  said.  However,  I shall  repeat  the  words  I used  at  the 
bar.  I say,  then,  here  again,  for  a man  to  be  put  to  death  for  being 
a priest,  this  being  the  most  sacred  and  highest  order  in  the  world, 
is  an  unjust  and  tyrannical  law.  I say,  that  law  of  the  27th  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  which  condemns  a man  to  death  for  being  a priest  only, 
is  a wicked,  unjust,  and  tyrannical  law — a law*  not  to  be  found  even 
amongst  the  Turks,  or  elsew^here  in  the  whole  universe,  England 
excepted.  Here  the  Sheriff'  said,  Mr.  Roe,  I must  not  suffer  you  to 
vilify  the  laws;  I am  here  to  see  justice  done,  and  cannot  hear  you 
make  these  reflections  upon  the  laws  and  judicial  proceedings  of  the 
nation.  Whereupon  Mr.  Roe  desisted,  recommending  himself  to 
the  prayers  of  all  such  as  w^ere  of  his  religion,  forgiving  from  his 
heart  all  persons  whatsoever,  and  earnestly  begging  forgiveness  of 

40  c; 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


all.  This  done  he  prepared  himself  for  execution,  shewing  in  his 
behaviour  the  whole  time  an  unparalleled  contempt  of  death. 

‘ Then  the  cart,  wherein  were  three  felons  (one  of  which  had 
been  privately  reconciled  by  Mr.  Roe  the  da}^  before,  and  gave  great 
signs  of  penitence),  was  placed  under  the  gallows,  and  the  two 
confessors  were  ordered  to  get  into  it,  which  they  did  with  joy;  and 
having  there  embraced  each  other  for  the  last  time,  they  betook 
themselves  to  their  private  devotions.  While  the  executioner  was 
fastening  the  ropes,  Mr.  Reynolds  called  to  him.  Friend,  says  he,  pray 
let  all  be  secure,  and  do  thy  duty  neatly;  I have  been  a neat  man  all 
my  life. 

‘ After  some  time  employed  in  mental  prayer  they  rose  up ; and 
Mr.  Roe  espying  one  of  the  turnkeys  of  the  Fleet,  where  he  had 
formerly  been  a prisoner.  Friend,  says  he,  smiling,  I find  thou  art 
a prophet;  thou  hast  told  me  often  that  I should  be  hanged,  and  truly 
my  unworthiness  was  such  I could  not  believe  it;  but  I see  thou  art  a 
prophet. 

‘ While  the  ordinary  of  Newgate  was  praying  with  the  felons,  the 
two  priests  recited  the  Miserere  psalm  alternatim,  Mr.  Reynolds  be- 
ginning and  Mr.  Roe  answering ; and  having  recited  the  whole  psalm 
and  paused  a short  time,  they  repeated  it  a second  time,  Mr.  Roe 
giving  out  the  first  verse,  Mr.  Reynolds  answering.  The  executioner 
coming  to  cover  their  faces,  Mr.  Roe  told  him  he  had  disposed  of  his 
handkerchief;  But,  says  he,  I dare  look  death  in  the  face. 

‘ In  fine,  after  some  devout  recommendations  of  their  souls  to 
their  Saviour,  the  servants  of  God,  as  the  cart  was  drawn  away, 
saluted  the  people  with  great  signs  of  joy  and  alacrity,  and  so  passed 
to  a better  world.  They  hung  till  they  were  fully  dead,  in  their 
clothes,  and  afterwards  were  quartered.  Many  present  dipped  their 
handkerchiefs  in  their  blood;  others  gathered  up  the  bloody  straws 
and  what  they  could  get  else,  going  to  London  with  their  spoils. 
The  Catholics  then  present  (many  in  number)  seemed  even  beside 
themselves  with  fervour  and  zeal;  and  into  them  that  were  absent 
their  glorious  example  hath  put  life  and  alacrity.  Yea,  a Protestant 
said.  It  would  be  long  enough  before  any  of  our  religion  would  die  as 
these  men  do  for  their  faith;  they  would  sooner  turn  to  a hundred  religioiis. 
Another  Protestant  that  frequents  our  house  [they  are  the  words  of 
Father  Floyd's  MN.],  having  no  handkerchief  about  him,  dipped  his 
glove  within  and  without,  and  brought  it  to  us,  and  could  not  for 
weeping  relate  what  the  good  man  said;  and  added,  that  many 
Protestants  wept,  even  the  Sheriff  himself.  A 'Protestant  lord,  to 
my  knowledge,  said  that  he  was  unwilling  they  should  be  put  to 

406 


1642] 


BARTHOLOMEW  ROE 


death,  and  that  it  would  be  the  cause  that  two  thousand  more  Papists 
would  rise  for  these  two  priests ; and  that  he  did  not  doubt  but  when 
Mr.  Ward  was  executed  a thousand  were  made  Papists.  It  is  likely, 
continues  the  manuscript,  that  the  seven  condemned  priests  will 
shortly  also  be  executed,  notwithstanding  the  King’s  reprieve;  for 
now  the  Parliament  proceeds  against  priests  upon  their  own  authority, 
without  asking  the  King’s  leave.  God  give  them  constancy,  and 
make  us  partakers  of  their  merits.’  So  far  the  manuscript. 

They  suffered  at  Tyburn^  January  21,  1641-2. 


BARTHOLOMEW  ROE,  Priest,  O.S.B.'* 

Bartholomew  roe,  who  in  religion  was  called  Father 
Alban,  was  born  in  Suffolk,  of  a gentleman’s  family,  and  was 
from  his  infancy  brought  up  in  the  Protestant  religion.  After 
having  gone  through  his  grammar  studies  in  his  own  country,  he  was 
sent  to  the  university  of  Cambridge,  and  there  for  some  time  applied 
himself  with  good  success  to  higher  learning ; till  going  to  visit  some 
friends  at  St.  Albans,  as  Providence  would  have  it,  he  was  there  told 
of  one  David,  an  inhabitant  of  that  town,  lately  convicted  and  cast 
into  prison  for  a Popish  recusant,  and  was  desirous  to  go  and 
talk  with  the  prisoner,  making  no  question  but  that  he  could  con- 
vince him  of  the  errors  and  absurdities  of  the  Romish  tenets,  for  he 
had  a sharp  and  ready  wit,  and  a tongue  well  hung,  and  withal  was 
full  of  conceit  of  his  own  religion,  and  with  false  ideas  of  the  Catholic 
doctrine.  To  the  prison  therefore  he  went,  and  entered  into  dis- 
course with  the  prisoner  upon  the  subject  of  his  religion,  who,  though 
a mechanic,  yet  was  not  ill  read  in  controversy,  so  that  he  was  able 
to  maintain  his  cause  against  all  the  oppositions  of  our  young 
university  man,  and  even  pushed  him  so  hard  upon  several  articles 
that  Mr.  Roe  soon  perceived  he  had  taken  a Tartar,  and  knew  not 
which  way  to  turn  himself.  In  conclusion,  he  who  came  to  the 
attack  with  so  much  confidence  of  victory  left  the  field  with  confusion, 
beginning  now  to  stagger  and  diffide  in  the  cause. 

From  this  time  Mr.  Roe  was  very  uneasy  in  mind  upon  the  score 
of  religion;  nor  did  this  uneasiness  cease,  till  by  reading  and  con- 
ferring with  Catholic  priests  he  was  thoroughly  convinced  of  his 

* Ven  Bartholomew  Roe. — From  a Manuscript  relation  kept  by  the 
English  Benedictines  at  Douay,  and  other  Memoirs  in  my  hands;  see  also 
Weldon’s  Chronicle',  De  Marsys,  ii.;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

407 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


errors,  and  determined  to  embrace  the  ancient  faith.  And  having 
found  the  treasure  of  God’s  truth  himself,  he  was  very  desirous  to 
impart  the  same  to  the  souls  of  his  neighbours;  and  to  this  end 
resolved  to  go  abroad,  that  he  might  enter  into  holy  orders,  and  so 
return  home  well  qualified  by  virtue  and  learning  to  preach  to  others 
the  true  way  of  salvation.  Being  therefore  reconciled  to  the  Church, 
he  passed  over  into  Flanders,  and  entered  himself  a convictor  in  the 
English  College  of  Doway,  as  appears  by  the  records  of  that  house. 
But  after  some  time  he  removed  from  thence  to  Dieulwart  in 
Lorraine^  where  he  took  the  habit  of  St.  Bennet^  amongst  the  English 
monks  of  that  venerable  order ; and  having  given  general  satisfaction 
to  all  the  religious  during  the  year  of  his  probation,  he  was  admitted 
to  his  solemn  profession;  and  after  some  time  presented  to  holy 
orders.  And  being  judged  by  his  superiors  thoroughly  qualified, 
by  a long  practice  of  all  religious  virtues,  for  the  apostolic  functions, 
he  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission. 

Here  he  took  great  pains  in  preaching,  conferring  with  Pro- 
testants, &c.,  and  gained  many  souls  to  Christ  and  His  Church;  his 
zsal  and  charity  making  him  proof  against  all  personal  dangers, 
where  he  thought  he  could  be  serviceable  to  the  soul  of  his  neighbour. 
After  some  time  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  pursuivants,  and  was 
committed  to  the  New  Prison,  which  was  then  in  Maiden  Lane^ 
and  for  a long  time  endured  great  hardships  there ; till  by  the  media- 
tion of  Count  Gondomar^  the  Spanish  ambassador,  he  was  taken  out 
of  prison,  and  with  many  other  priests  sent  into  banishment.  On 
this  occasion  he  went  to  Douay,  to  visit  his  brethren  in  their  convent 
of  St.  Gregory,  and  remained  with  them  for  about  four  months; 
and  then  returned  again  upon  the  English  mission,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days,  and  that  for  the  most  part  in  prison. 

For  after  he  had  laboured  for  about  two  years  more  with  his 
usual  zeal,  he  fell  a second  time  into  the  hands  of  the  adversaries 
of  his  faith,  and  was  then  committed  a close  prisoner  to  a filthy  gaol 
at  St.  Albans,  the  very  place  where  he  had  received  the  first  favour- 
able impressions  of  the  Catholic  faith.  His  confinement  here  was 
very  strict,  and  his  want  even  of  necessaries  so  very  great,  that  he 
verily  believed  he  must  have  perished  through  cold  and  hunger, 
if  a special  providence  had  not  interposed.  But  after  about  two 
months,  by  the  means  of  some  friends,  he  was  sent  for  up  to  town, 
where  he  was  something  better  accommodated  in  the  prison  of  the 
Fleet,  and  wanted  not  opportunity  (which  he  improved  to  the  best) 
during  the  seventeen  years  of  his  confinement,  of  being  beneficial 
to  the  souls  of  many  who  resorted  to  him ; and  even  for  the  latter  part 

408 


1642] 


BARTHOLOMEW  ROE 


of  the  time,  he  seems  to  have  had  the  liberty,  as  several  others  of  his 
character  had  in  King  Charles's  days,  of  going  abroad  upon  his 
parole^  and  attending  to  the  calls  of  his  ministry.  In  the  mean  time, 
he  suffered  much  from  frequent  illnesses,  and  violent  fits  of  the 
stone  (for  which  he  was  cut  more  than  once),  all  which  he  endured 
with  invincible  patience  and  courage;  being  remarkably  cheerful 
and  facetious  even  in  the  midst  of  his  sufferings.  He  was  also  very 
industrious  in  animating  such  as  applied  to  him  to  the  practice  of 
mental  prayer;  instructing  them  in  this  holy  exercise,  both  by  word 
of  mouth,  and  by  several  pious  tracts,  which  he  translated  out  of 
other  languages  into  English^  some  of  which  he  caused  to  be  published 
in  print,  others  he  left  behind  him  in  manuscript. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  long  persecuting  Parliament,  being 
in  conversation  with  one  of  his  brethren,  he  told  him  that  war  was 
at  hand,  and  that  it  was  time  to  be  prepared  for  the  conflict;  and  so 
it  happened;  for  not  long  after,  he  was  apprehended,  and  committed 
to  Newgate,  and  within  a few  days  brought  upon  his  trial  at  the  Old 
Bailey.  The  chief  witness  against  him  was  a fallen  Catholic,  whom  he 
had  formerly  assisted.  He  pleaded  not  guilty,  but  boggled  at  being 
tried  by  his  country,  that  is,  by  the  twelve  ignorant  jurymen,  as  being 
unwilling  that  they  should  be  concerned  in  the  shedding  of  his 
innocent  blood.  The  Judge  upon  that  occasion  told  him  what 
punishments  the  law  had  ordained  for  such  as  refused  to  plead, 
which  he  must  look  for,  if  he  persisted  to  decline  being  tried  by  his 
country.  Mr.  Roe  generously  replied.  My  Saviour  has  suffered  far 
more  for  me,  than  all  that;  and  I am  willing  to  suffer  the  worst  of 
torments  for  His  sake.  The  Judge  bid  him  think  better  of  it,  and 
sent  him  back  to  prison. 

The  next  day,  after  he  had  taken  advice  of  some  grave  and 
learned  priests, he  was  brought  again  to  the  bar,  and  consented, after 
the  example  of  so  many  other  confessors  of  Christ,  to  be  tried  by 
his  country.  The  jury  went  aside,  and  quickly  returned  declaring 
him  guilty  of  the  indictment,  viz.,  of  high  treason,  on  account  of  his 
priestly  character  and  functions,  and  the  Judge  pronounced  sentence 
upon  him  according  to  the  usual  form,  which  he  heard  with  a serene 
and  cheerful  countenance ; and  then  making  a low  reverence,  returned 
thanks  to  the  Judge  and  to  the  whole  bench  for  the  favour,  which  he 
esteemed  very  great,  and  which  he  had  greatly  desired;  And  how 
little,  said  he,  is  this  which  I am  to  suffer  for  Christ,  in  comparison 
with  that  far  more  bitter  death  which  He  suffered  for  me  ! He  then 
acknowledged  himself  to  be  a priest,  but  withal  loudly  condemned 
those  laws  by  which  the  priests  were  put  to  death ; and  made  a proffer 

40() 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


to  maintain  by  disputation  in  open  court,  against  any  opponent 
whatsoever,  the  Catholic  faith,  which  he  for  thirty  years  had 
laboured  to  propagate,  and  was  now  about  to  seal  with  his  blood. 
This  the  judges  would  not  hear  of,  but  sent  him  back  to  prison, 
wondering  at  his  constancy  and  intrepidity. 

During  the  few  days  he  remained  in  prison,  between  his  con- 
demnation and  execution,  his  soul  seemed  always  full  of  joy  at  the 
prospect  of  his  approaching  happiness.  Great  numbers  came  to 
visit  him,  and  not  one  of  them  who  did  not  depart  highly  edified  with 
his  comportment  and  conversation.  On  the  day  that  he  was  to  be 
executed,  he  found  means  to  celebrate  Mass  in  prison  early  in  the 
morning,  which  he  did  with  singular  devotion;  and  after  Mass  made 
a short  but  pathetic  exhortation  to  the  Catholics  that  were  present, 
giving  them  his  last  benediction,  and  desiring  of  them  that  as  often 
as  in  passing  through  the  city,  they  should  see  that  hand  of  his  fixed 
on  one  of  the  gates,  or  in  crossing  the  water  should  see  his  head  on 
London  Bridge^  they  would  remember  those  lessons  which  he  had 
preached  to  them  of  the  necessity  of  holding  fast  the  Catholic  faith, 
and  of  leading  a Christian  and  holy  life. 

When  he  was  admonished  that  the  officers  of  justice  waited  for 
him  below,  he  readily  obeyed  the  summons,  and  walked  down  the 
steps  with  an  edifying  composure,  and  a modest  cheerfulness  in  his 
looks,  saluting  the  Sheriff  and  all  the  people  with  great  civility. 
Then  coming  up  to  the  hurdle  and  taking  Mr.  Reynolds  by  the  hand, 
who  was  already  placed  on  it,  and  with  his  usual  facetiousness  feeling 
his  pulse,  asked  him  . How  he  found  himself  now.  In  very  good  heart, 
said  Mr.  Reynolds,  blessed  be  God  for  it,  and  glad  that  I am  to  have 
for  my  companion  in  death  a person  of  your  undaunted  courage.  Then 
after  mutual  salutations,  Mr.  Roe  being  also  fastened  on  the  hurdle, 
they  were  drawn  to  Tyburn,  as  we  have  already  seen  in  the  acts  of 
Mr.  Reynolds. 

When  they  arrived  at  Tyburn,  they  made  their  last  confessions  to 
each  other,  and  after  mutual  embraces  and  congratulations,  getting 
up  into  the  cart  they  kissed  the  ropes,  and  put  them  on  as  their  last 
stoles  in  which  they  were  to  offer  their  last  sacrifice;  and  heartily 
recommended  themselves  to  the  prayers  of  all  Catholics.  We  have 
already  taken  notice  of  the  last  speech  of  Mr.  Reynolds  (during  which 
Mr.  Roe  was  busy  in  preparing  for  death  one  of  the  malefactors 
whom  he  had  reconciled  in  prison),  and  how  Mr.  Roe  was  hindered 
by  the  Sheriff  from  proceeding  in  his  discourse  to  the  people,  upon 
which  occasion  he  begged  leave  to  speak  a word  or  two  to  the  Sheriff 
himself,  who  told  him  he  might.  Pray,  sir,  said  Mr.  Roe,  if  I will 

410 


1642] 


JOHN  LOCKWOOD 


conform  to  your  religion,  and  go  to  church,  will  you  secure  me  my 
life  ? That  I will,  said  the  Sheriff,  upon  my  word ; my  life  for  yours 
if  you  will  but  do  that.  See,  then,  said  Mr.  Roe,  turning  to  the 
people,  what  the  crime  is  for  which  I am  to  die,  and  whether  my 
religion  be  not  my  only  treason.  Other  particulars  relating  to 
Mr.  Roe's  death  have  been  recorded  above.  He  recommended  his 
soul  to  God  when  the  cart  was  about  to  be  drawn  away ; and  he  was 
observed  whilst  he  was  hanging,  to  hold  for  some  time  his  hands 
joined  before  his  breast,  and  twice  separating  them  a little,  to  join 
them  again  as  one  employed  in  prayer. 

When  he  was  cut  down  and  stripped,  in  order  to  be  quartered, 
a certain  writing  was  found  about  him,  perhaps  the  speech  which 
he  designed  to  have  spoken,  which  the  Sheriff  immediately  laid  hold 
of,  and  is  said  to  have  laid  before  the  Parliament;  but  what  in  par- 
ticular were  the  contents  of  it  we  have  not  been  informed. 


JOHN  LOCKWOOD,  alias  LASSELS,  Priest  * 

JOHN  LOCKWOOD  was  eldest  son  of  Christopher  Lockwood, 
Esq.,  of  Soresby  in  the  county  of  York,  by  N.  Lassels  his  wife, 
daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Lassels  of  Brackenbrough,  in  the  same 
county.  He  was  born  in  1555,  according  to  the  Doway  Diary, 
which  gives  him  no  more  than  eighty-seven  years  of  age  when  he 
suffered  (though  I have  before  me  some  relations  which  affirm  that 
he  was  at  that  time  ninety-six  years  old).  He  had  exercised  his 
priestly  functions,  according  to  the  same  Diary,  for  the  space  of 
forty-four  years  before  his  martyrdom;  so  it  is  likely  he  did  not  retire 
out  of  England  till  late.  Whenever  it  was,  we  are  assured  that  he 
voluntarily  quitted  an  estate  of  four  hundred  a year,  to  devote 
himself  to  the  service  of  God  and  his  neighbours  in  the  quality  of  a 
priest  and  of  a missioner;  and  that  at  a time,  and  in  a kingdom, 
where  he  could  look  for  nothing  else  in  that  quality  but  labours  and 
dangers,  prisons  and  death. 

He  performed  his  studies  abroad,  partly  in  the  College  of  Doway 
or  Rhemes,  and  partly  in  that  of  Rome;  but  at  Rome  he  was  made 
priest,  as  appeared  from  his  answer  in  Court,  when  being  charged 
with  being  a Roman  priest,  he  answered,  that  it  was  right  enough 

* Ven.  John  Lockwood,  alias  Lassels. — From  the  Douay  Diary,  by 
Mr.  Ireland;  and  from  the  Manuscript  Collections  of  Mr.  Knaresborough ; 
see  also  Gillow,  De  Marsys,  ii, 

411 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


expressed  in  his  regard,  For  indeed,  said  he,  I was  ordained  priest  at 
Rome.  He  was  twice  at  least  a prisoner  for  his  faith  before  his  last 
apprehension;  for  I find  in  Molanus,  that  he  was  sent  from  prison 
into  banishment  in  1610;  and  after  his  return  upon  the  mission  was 
retaken  again,  and  then  brought  upon  his  trial  and  condemned  to  die, 
but  was  reprieved  and  kept  in  prison.  How  long  he  was  confined 
at  this  time  I have  not  found,  nor  how  he  escaped  out  of  prison; 
probably  he  was  discharged,  as  many  others  were,  either  upon 
occasion  of  the  marriage-treaty  with  Spain,  or  by  the  interest  of 
Queen  Henrietta  Maria.  He  was  apprehended  for  the  last  time  at  a 
place  called  the  Wood-end,  the  house  of  Mrs.  Catenby,  a Catholic 
widow,  where  the  old  gentleman  had  lived  for  some  years.  He  was 
cultivating  his  little  garden  when  the  bloodhounds  rushed  in  upon 
him,  and  easily  secured  their  prey.  The  pursuivants  were  in- 
habitants of  a neighbouring  market  town  called  Thirsk ; their 
leader  was  one  Ciithbert  Langdale,  and  he  and  another  wretch,  to 
fill  up  the  measure  of  their  iniquities,  appeared  witnesses  against  him 
at  the  York  assizes,  and  took  away  the  life  of  the  good  old  man. 

Some  odd  circumstances  bordering  upon  cruelty,  which  accom.- 
panied  the  commitment  and  condemnation  of  Mr.  Lockwood, 
especially  considering  his  great  age,  and  the  peaceable  and  inoffensive 
disposition  of  the  man,  gave  much  offence  not  only  to  Catholics  but 
to  many  of  the  more  moderate  Protestants;  insomuch,  that  even  to 
this  day,  says  Mr.  Knaresborough,  his  execution  is  mentioned  in 
Yorkshire  with  pity  and  compassion.  Though  as  for  his  own  part, 
it  appears  by  the  sequel  of  the  story,  that  he  was  well  satisfied  with 
the  orders  of  Providence,  and  did  even  joyfully  take  up  his  cross  to 
follow  his  dying  Saviour.  He  took  leave  of  his  friends  with  a wonder- 
ful evenness  of  mind,  and  manifestly  shewed  by  his  behaviour  that 
he  was  not  under  the  least  concern  at  his  commitment  or  the  con- 
sequences of  it. 

The  great  difficulty  was  how  to  convey  the  prisoner  to  York. 
They  set  him  on  horseback,  but  through  weakness  and  age  he  was 
not  able  to  ride.  ‘ Upon  this  Cuthbert  gets  on  behind  and  supports 
his  feeble  charge;  but  neither  would  this  contrivance  long  succeed; 
the  poor  old  man  after  a short  trial  fainted  away,  and  had  like  to  have 
disappointed  the  priest-catcher  of  his  reward.  When  he  was  a little 
recovered  they  jogged  on  again,  but  again  the  old  gentleman  grew 
very  sick,  and  plainly  told  his  governor  that  he  could  no  longer  sit 
on  horseback.  Then  yon  shall  lie  on  horseback,  quoth  Cuthbert,  for 
to  York  Castle  you  are  sent,  and  to  York  Castle  you  shall  go,  with  leave 
of  the  Lord.  Accordingly  they  laid  the  prisoner  on  the  horse, 

412 


1642] 


JOHN  LOCKWOOD 


Cuthbert  still  riding  behind,  with  one  hand  managing  the  beast  and 
his  prisoner  with  the  other.  And  thus  moving  on  by  easy  marches, 
after  many  a halt,  and  many  a sick  fit,  and  fainting  away,  he  brought 
his  charge  alive  to  York,  where  they  made  an  odd  appearance  in  the 
streets,  and  had  many  lookers  on.  A passage  well  remembered,’ 
says  Mr.  Knareshorough,  (from  whom  we  have  transcribed  it),  ‘ and 
spoke  of  to  this  day  by  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  that  city,  with 
indignation  and  horror.’ 

Cuthbert  having  now  performed  his  task,  and  delivered  up  his 
prisoner  to  the  jailer,  was  making  haste  homeward,  when  Mr.  Lock- 
wood  very  friendly  called  to  him,  and  at  the  same  time  pulling  out 
his  purse,  ‘ Hark  you,  Cuthbert  ' says  the  old  gentleman,  ‘ I have 
e’en  given  you  a great  deal  of  trouble  in  bringing  me  to  this  happy 
place;  here,  take  that  angel  for  your  pains , and  the  Lord  be  with  you.’ 
And  five  shillings  more  he  gave  to  the  under  priest-catcher  for  his 
share  in  the  trouble,  and  so  they  took  leave  of  each  other,  and  parted 
very  good  friends. 

At  the  next  assizes  Mr.  Lockwood,  with  his  fellow-prisoner 
Mr.  Catherick,  was  tried  and  condemned,  and  though  they  were  for 
a short  time  reprieved  by  the  King,  the  clamours  of  the  Parliament 
against  reprieving  priests  were  such  at  that  tim^e,  that  His  Majesty, 
though  as  it  is  thought  very  much  against  his  inclinations,  signed 
the  dead  warrant  for  their  execution.  And  accordingly  on  the 
13th  of  April,  1642,  the  King  and  the  Prince  of  Wales,  with  many 
lords  and  persons  of  distinction,  being  then  at  the  manor  in  York, 
Mr.  Lockwood  and  Mr.  Catherick  were  laid  on  a hurdle,  and  drawn 
through  the  streets  of  York  to  the  place  of  execution,  to  suffer 
according  to  sentence. 

After  some  time  employed  in  private  devotions,  the  Sheriff 
appointed  Mr.  Catherick  to  w'alk  up  the  ladder.  He  moved  towards 
it  in  obedience  to  orders,  but  shewed  by  his  countenance  that  the 
fears  of  death  had  encompassed  and  oppressed  his  soul,  which 
Mr.  Lockwood  observing  stepped  forward,  and  planting  himself  at 
the  foot  of  the  ladder,  ‘ Mr.  Sheriff,’  says  he,  ‘ under  favour  the 
place  is  mine;  I am  his  senior  by  many  years,  and  therefore  with 
leave  I challenge  it  as  my  right  to  mount  the  ladder  first.’  Then 
applying  himself  to  Mr.  Catherick,  ‘ My  dear  brother  in  Jesus  Christ 
and  fellow- sufferer,’  says  he,  ‘ take  courage.  We  have  almost  run 
our  race ; shall  we  faint  and  be  tired  when  in  sight  of  the  prize  ? 
Oh  let  us  run  in  spirit  to  our  Saviour  in  the  garden  and  call  upon 
Him  in  His  agony  and  bloody  sweat.  O blessed  Lord  Jesus  ! who 
submittedst  Thyself  to  death,  for  the  example  and  comfort  of  Thy 

413 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


servants  at  the  hour  of  their  deaths,  be  near  us,  we  beseech  Thee, 
at  this  moment;  moderate  our  fears,  strengthen  our  faith,  and  con- 
firm our  hopes,  that,  in  obedience  to  Thy  call,  we  may  go  forth  to 
meet  Thee  readily  and  cheerfully,  and  thankfully  drink  of  Thy 
chalice,  how  bitter  soever  to  nature.  O Jesus  ! sweeten  it  by  Thy 
grace ; help  Thy  poor  servants  that  call  upon  Thee,  that  we  may  here 
lay  down  our  lives  in  obedience  to  Thy  holy  will,  and  in  defence 
of  Thy  holy  religion,  with  constancy  and  perseverance.  Lord  Jesus, 
once  more  we  recommend  ourselves  in  this  dreadful  hour  to  Thee  ! 
Help  us  by  Thy  powerful  grace,  that  Thou,  O Lord,  mayest  be 
glorified  in  our  deaths,  and  Thy  Church  and  people  edified.’ 

This  done,  the  holy  man  began  to  climb  up  the  ladder  as  well 
as  he  could;  but  finding  himself  out  of  breath,  he  made  a halt,  and 
turning  to  the  Sheriff  with  a smiling  countenance — ‘ Good  Mr. 
Sheriff,’  says  he,  ‘ have  a little  patience  with  me.  Indeed,  this  same 
climbing  a ladder  is  a piece  of  hard  service  for  an  old  man  of  four- 
score and  seven.  However,  I will  do  my  best,  for  who  would  not 
take  thus  much  pains,  Mr.  Sheriff,  to  get  heaven  at  the  journey’s 
end Then  he  began  again  to  ascend, and  with  the  help  of  two  men, 
whom  he  rewarded  with  a shilling  each,  he  arrived  at  the  top  of  the 
ladder.  Here,  pausing  a while  to  recover  his  breath,  he  inquired  of 
Mr.  Catherick,  How  he  did?  ‘ In  good  heart,’  replies  he,  ‘ blessed 
be  God  ! and  ready  to  suffer  with  constancy  the  death  His  providence 
has  allotted  me.  Yes,  my  dear  father,  I am  willing  and  ready  to 
follow  you,  thanks  be  to  my  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus,  who  by  His 
grace  has  strengthened  me,  and  by  your  good  example  has  en- 
couraged me.’ 

Mr.  Lockwood,  overjoyed  to  see  his  companion  thus  disposed, 
prepared  himself  immediately  for  his  end,  and  after  a few  words  of 
edification  to  the  people,  and  earnestly  desiring  the  prayers  of  the 
Catholics,  and  exhorting  them  to  constancy  and  patience  in  their 
sufferings,  he  employed  a few  minutes  in  silent  prayer,  and  then 
delivered  himself  up  to  the  executioner ; and  whilst  with  hands  and 
eyes  lifted  up  towards  heaven,  he  cried  oMt,  Jesus,  my  Saviour  ! Jesus, 
my  Redeemer,  receive  my  soul ! Jesus , he  to  me  a Jesus  ! the  executioner 
flung  him  off,  and  he  soon  expired. 

When  he  was  cut  down  in  order  to  be  bowelled  and  quartered, 
the  hangman  it  seems  scrupled  at  the  butchery  part,  and  for  a time 
flatly  refused  it;  and  even  taking  a rope,  threatened  to  hang  himself, 
rather  than  imbrue  his  hands  in  innocent  blood.  But  being  at  last 
prevailed  upon  by  a wicked  woman  to  undergo  the  drudgery,  he 
fell  to  work  like  a fury,  cutting,  slashing,  and  tearing  the  bodies  and 

414 


1642] 


EDMUND  CATHERICK 


bowels  as  well  of  Mr.  Lockwood  as  of  Mr.  Catherick,  hashing  their 
entrails  into  small  parts,  and  flinging  them  like  a madman  amongst 
the  crowd.  The  heads  and  quarters  of  the  two  priests  were  disposed 
on  the  several  gates  or  bars,  as  they  term  them,  of  the  city;  and 
Mr.  Lockwood^ s head  was  fixed  on  the  north  gate  called  Bootham 
Bar,  close  by  the  King’s  palace  at  the  manor,  where  His  Majesty 
then  resided ; insomuch  that  it  was  not  possible  for  him  to  come  out 
of  the  palace  gate,  or  even  look  out  from  the  east,  but  old  EleazaBs 
bloody  head  was  before  his  eyes,  which  must  have  affected  his  mind 
with  some  troublesome  remembrances. 


EDMUND  CATHERICK,  Priest.^ 

He  was  descended  from  the  Cathericks  of  Carlton,  an  ancient 
family  in  the  North  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  not  far  from  Rich- 
mond. He  performed  his  studies  in  the  English  College  of 
and  being  there  made  priest,  was  sentupon  th.e^  English  mission 
about  the  year  1635,  being  then  thirty  years  old.  He  stands  with  a 
fair  character  in  the  College  Diary,  and  is  particularly  commended 
for  his  extraordinary  meekness  and  for  his  zeal  and  labours  in  the 
mission.  [R.  D.  Lockwood  eadem  hora  secutus  est  R.  D.  Edmundus 
Catherick,  alias  Huddlestone,  Eboracensis,  in  passione  socius,  eo  quod 
Sacerdos  esset.  Vir  mitissimus , et  hujus  collegii  alumnus,  annos  hahens 
37,  quorum  7 in  vinea  Anglicana  operarius  strenuus  impenderat.  Diar. 
MSS.  R.  D.  Ireland,  ad  annum  1642.] 

After  seven  years’  labouring  in  the  vineyard  of  his  Lord,  he  was 
apprehended  on  the  road,  not  far  from  Watlass,  and  was  carried  by 
the  pursuivants  before  Justice  Dodsworth,  who  had  married  a near 
kinswoman  of  Mr.  Catherick,  to  whom  it  seems  the  good  man  some 
time  before  (having  been  invited  as  a kinsman  to  his  house)  had  in 
private  candidly  owned  that  he  was  a priest;  so  that  Mr.  Catherick 
being  now  brought  before  him,  the  justice,  without  more  ado  com- 
mitted him  to  York  Castle,  and  afterwards  appeared  as  evidence 
against  him,  making  oath  that  the  prisoner  had  owned  himself  a 
priest  in  his  hearing.  And  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  people  of  that 
neighbourhood  even  to  this  day,  says  Mr.  Knaresborough  in  his 
manuscript  collections,  that  Mr.  Dodsworth  and  his  family  for  some 

* Ven.  Edmund  Catherick. — From  Mr.  Knaresborough’s  Collections, 
De  Marsys,  ii. 


415 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


years  after  felt  the  guilt  of  Mr.  Catherick^s  blood  very  heavy  upon 
them  in  a long  series  of  surprising  and  dire  disasters. 

He  was  condemned  merely  for  being  a priest.  His  behaviour 
at  the  place  of  execution  was  very  religious  and  devout.  He  em- 
ployed the  whole  time  in  prayer,  while  Mr.  Lockwood  was  upon  the 
ladder,  and  by  his  looks  and  reverend  posture  plainly  shewed  that 
his  applications  to  God  were  full  of  affection  and  fervour.  When 
Mr.  Lockwood  was  turned  off,  Mr.  Catherick  was  ordered  up  the 
ladder,  and  he  cheerfully  obeyed.  His  former  fears  were  now  quite 
dissipated,  and  a great  calm  and  tranquillity  had  succeeded  in  his 
soul.  When  he  was  upon  the  ladder  he  again  betook  himself  to 
prayer,  earnestly  desiring  all  Catholics  there  present  to  pray  with 
him  and  for  him.  He  spoke  little,  saying  ‘ there  was  no  need  of  it, 
for  that  his  trial  being  lately  past,  whereat  many  of  the  company 
were  present,  they  could  all  bear  him  witness  that  he  was  tried  and 
condemned  for  his  priesthood ; and  that  for  this  only,  and  for  no  other 
treason,  he  was  brought  thither  to  suffer  death.  He  prayed  for  the 
King,  his  royal  consort,  and  their  issue,  that  God  in  His  mercy 
would  shower  down  His  blessings  upon  them,  and  send  a right 
understanding  betwixt  his  Majesty  and  his  Parliament.  Then  he 
prayed  for  his  persecutors,  especially  the  person  who  was  chiefly 
concerned  in  his  death,  that  God  would  bring  him  to  a sense 
of  his  crime  and  a speedy  repentance;  adding  that  for  his  own 
part  he  freely  forgave  him,  as  heartily  as  he  expected  and  hoped 
for  mercy  and  pardon  of  his  own  manifold  sins  at  the  hands 
of  God.’ 

And  now,  recollecting  himself  again  for  a few  minutes,  with  eyes 
and  hands  lifted  up  to  heaven,  he  said.  Lord,  I obey.  Be  near  me, 
O Lord ! My  sold  hath  trusted  in  Thee,  let  me  not  he  confounded  for 
ever.  Then  pulling  a cap  over  his  eyes  he  delivered  himself  to  the 
executioner,  who  soon  after  turned  him  off  the  ladder,  and  he  calmly 
expired,  April  13,  1642.  His  head  was  placed  upon  Micklegate  Bar. 
His  bowels,  or  rather  the  fragments  of  them,  were  buried  on  Toft 
Green. 


MR.  WILKS,  alias  TOMSON,  Priest,  Confessor. 

A LITTLE  while  after  the  execution  of  Mr.  Lockwood  and 
Mr.  Catherick,  another  priest  of  the  secular  clergy  died  in 
York  Castle  under  sentence  of  death.  His  name  was  Wilks, 
though  he  was  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Tomson.  He  was 

416 


1642] 


EDWARD  MORGAN 


born  at  Knaresborough  in  Yorkshire,  was  taken  at  Malton  upon  a 
market-day,  and  set  in  the  stocks  to  be  gazed  at  by  the  people  almost 
the  whole  day,  till  a cutler  of  the  town  making  oath  that  he  knew 
him  to  be  Lord  Evers  his  priest,  he  was  sent  to  York  Castle,  tried, 
and  convicted,  but  died  before  execution. 


EDWARD  MORGAN,  alias  SINGLETON, 

Priest.* 

Edward  Morgan  was  bom  in  Flintshire,  of  North  Wales, 
and  was  educated  in  the  English  College  of  Doway.  From 
hence  he  was  sent  into  Spain  (as  appears  by  the  account  he 
gave  of  himself  to  the  people  at  the  place  of  execution),  and  there 
was  made  priest  at  Salamanca.  From  Spain  he  went  to  Rome, 
and  from  Rome  he  came  upon  the  English  mission.  In  England, 
after  some  time,  he  was  apprehended  and  committed  to  the  Fleet 
prison,  where  he  remained  confined  for  fourteen  or  fifteen  years, 
suffering  much  from  the  loathsomeness  of  the  place,  and  the  want 
of  all  necessaries,  more  particularly  during  the  two  last  years,  with 
this  additional  aggravation  to  his  sufferings,  that  some  were  pleased 
to  give  it  out  that  he  was  mad;  which  slander  he  willingly  forgave, 
amongst  many  other  injuries  which  he  had  to  suffer  from  the  malice 
of  his  adversaries. 

At  length  he  was  brought  upon  his  trial  in  this  Parliamentary 
persecution,  and  was  condemned  barely  on  account  of  his  being  a 
priest  ordained  beyond  the  seas,  and  remaining  in  this  kingdom 
contrary  to  the  statute  of  Elizabeth  the  27th.  No  other  crime  was 
so  much  as  objected  to  him.  The  sentence  af  death  was  pronounced 
upon  him  in  the  usual  form,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason,  on  the 
23d  of  April,  being  the  Feast  of  St.  George  the  martyr,  the  patron 
saint  of  England;  which  sentence  he  received  with  remarkable 
cheerfulness  and  even  joy.  Many  Protestants  as  well  as  Catholics 
came  to  see  him  in  prison  after  condemnation;  and  whereas  the 

* Ven.  Edward  Morgan,  alias  Singleton. — From  the  Douay  Diary; 
from  a Latin  Manuscript  by  an  eye-witness  of  his  death,  sent  me  from 
St.  Omers;  and  from  Chifletius’  Palmce  Cleri  Anglicani,  printed  at  Antwerp, 
1645,  who  declares  in  his  Epistle  Dedicatory  to  the  Bishop  of  Antwerp  that 
he  received  all  his  information  either  from  eye-witnesses,  or  from  such 
as  were  informed  by  eye-witnesses;  see  also  Foley,  Records,  iv.,  v. ; De 
Marsys,  ii. 

2 D 


417 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


former  proposed  to  him  their  queries  and  their  objections  against 
the  Catholic  religion,  it  was  wonderful  with  what  solidity,  charity, 
and  modesty  he  answered  all  their  queries  and  refuted  all  their 
objections:  so  that  on  the  one  hand  they  found  themselves  quite 
overwhelmed  with  the  weight  of  his  arguments,  and  on  the  other  so 
taken  with  his  charitable  and  modest  way  of  treating  religious  con- 
troversies that  they  could  not  help  having  a great  respect  for  him, 
and  a great  compassion  for  his  case.  And  ’tis  affirmed  that  these 
conferences  were  of  no  small  service  to  the  souls  of  several  of  them. 

As  to  the  Catholics,  many  of  them  made  their  confessions  to  him, 
and  these  as  well  as  the  rest  thought  themselves  happy  if  they  could 
carry  off  anything  that  belonged  to  him  to  keep  as  a relic ; insomuch 
that  they  cut  off  his  very  buttons  and  pieces  of  his  cloak ; till  he  was 
forced  to  give  it  up  to  be  divided  amongst  them:  and  instead  of  it 
they  furnished  him  with  a new  one  to  carry  with  him  to  Tyburn. 
Many  wept  and  lamented  his  case,  whom  he  comforted  with  cheerful 
words,  flowing  from  the  abundance  of  a heart  full  of  joy  at  the 
approaches  of  so  great  a happiness  as  that  of  dying  for  Christ; 
declaring  to  them  withal,  to  the  greater  glory  of  God,  that  though  by 
nature  he  was  timorous,  he  had  now  no  manner  of  apprehension 
of  halters,  knives,  or  fires,  or  whatever  else  he  could  suffer  for  so 
good  a cause ; and  that  he  should  be  even  glad  to  have  many  lives  that 
he  might  lay  them  all  down  in  the  service  of  so  good  a master. 
However,  he  begged  that  all  Catholics  would  pray  for  him,  that  he 
might  die  like  a true  Roman  Catholic  priest^  that  is,  said  he,  with  a 
constant  humility,  and  an  humble  constancy;  that  no  fear  may  terrify 
me,  neither  any  presumption  puff  me  up,  or  transport  me  out  of  the 
bounds  of  a Christian  modesty  in  my  words  and  carriage. 

On  the  day  after  his  condemnation  he  found  means  (which  he 
had  not  been  able  to  do  for  a year  before)  of  celebrating  in  prison 
the  tremendous  mysteries,  to  prepare  himself  by  that  august  sacrifice 
and  sacrament  for  his  death.  And  the  Divine  Majesty  was  pleased 
upon  this  occasion  to  visit  his  soul  with  such  spiritual  delights  and 
heavenly  consolations,  that  he  was  in  a manner  in  an  ecstasy,  and 
found  all  the  difficulty  imaginable  to  proceed  in  the  divine  sacrifice ; 
his  devotion  being  particularly  inflamed  with  the  thought  of  the  holy 
name  of  J’^5W5,from  which  he  was  obliged  violently  to  divert  his  mind, 
crying  out  with  blessed  Xaverius,  Satis  est  Domine, — It  is  enough, 
O Lord  ! — or  he  could  never  have  finished.  The  dispositions  which 
he  found  in  his  soul  upon  this  occasion,  he  discovered  in  confidence 
to  a priest  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  who  came  to  visit  him  that  day; 
and  the  same,  or  another  friend  of  his  found  him  the  following  even- 

418 


1642] 


EDWARD  MORGAN 


ing  in  the  like  raptures  of  divine  love  and  spiritual  joys,  though  he 
had  been  wearied  all  the  day  with  a continual  crowd  of  people 
coming  to  visit  and  confer  with  him.  The  religious  man,  just  now 
mentioned,  asked  the  confessor  of  Christ  if  there  was  any  thing  in 
which  he  could  be  any  way  serviceable  to  him  ? he  answered,  that  he 
should  be  glad  of  the  prayers  of  the  Society,  and  that  his  prayers 
should  not  be  wanting  for  them;  but  withal  taking  him  aside,  he  told 
him,  that  in  the  extremity  of  want  under  which  he  had  laboured 
during  the  two  last  years  of  his  imprisonment  in  the  Fleet,  he  had 
been  obliged  to  contract  some  debts  to  the  value  of  about  twenty- 
two  pounds,  which  it  would  be  a great  comfort  to  him  to  see  dis- 
charged before  he  died.  The  good  father  promised  he  would  do 
his  best  to  procure  him  that  sum  of  money;  which  he  set  about 
without  loss  of  time;  and  by  the  contributions  of  pious  Catholics 
was  enabled  to  carry  him  the  whole  sum  the  next  day;  for  which 
in  return  the  holy  confessor  promised  his  prayers  for  all  his  bene- 
factors, and  in  particular  for  the  Society  oi  Jesus. 

The  night  before  he  was  to  suffer  he  spent  in  watching  and 
prayer.  The  following  day,  being  Tuesday,  the  26th  of  April,  1642, 
about  eight  o’clock  in  the  morning  he  was  brought  out  of  prison, 
and  laid  on  a hurdle  or  sledge  incommodiously  enough,  as  well 
because  his  head  was  laid  too  low,  as  also  because  the  rope  which  he 
had  about  his  neck,  was  drawn  so  strait  that  he  could  scarce  take  his 
breath;  but  this  being  perceived  was  remedied  in  Holhorn;  upon 
which  occasion  the  sledge  being  obliged  to  stand,  some  one  very 
courteously  offered  him  a glass  of  wine  to  drink,  which  he  did  not 
refuse ; and  withal  he  took  that  opportunity  of  informing  the  people 
of  the  cause  for  which  he  was  going  to  die;  viz.,  barely  for  being  a 
priest;  whilst  all  the  standers-by  were  in  admiration  at  that  cheer- 
fulness and  joy  which  they  discovered  both  in  his  words  and  looks. 
The  multitude  of  the  people  that  accompanied  the  sledge  was  very 
great,  yet  no  one  in  that  great  number  offered  to  affront  or  insult 
him,  but  rather  all  shewed  a compassion  towards  him.  When  they 
arrived  at  Tyburn,  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  imaginable  that 
the  Sheriff’s  men  could  make  room  for  the  sledge,  so  great  was  the 
concourse  of  coaches,  horsemen,  and  footmen  there  assembled  to  be 
spectators  of  the  last  conflict  of  this  soldier  of  Christ.  Yet  as  soon 
as  they  saw  him,  no  other  voice  was  to  be  heard  in  the  crowd  but 
Silence,  Silence,  all  being  desirous  to  hear  his  last  words;  and  a great 
part  of  them  standing  with  their  heads  uncovered. 

As  soon  as  he  was  put  up  into  the  cart,  he  sent  to  the  Sheriff, 
who  was  at  a distance  by  reason  of  the  crowd,  to  ask  leave  to  speak 

419 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


to  the  people,  declaring  that  he  had  that  regard  to  the  authority  of  a 
lawful  magistrate,  that  he  would  not  speak  without  his  permission. 
The  Sheriff  used  his  best  endeavours  to  draw  nigher,  but  could  not, 
and  therefore  by  the  means  of  others  that  were  nearer,  gave  him  the 
leave  that  he  desired.  But  first  the  servant  of  God  before  he  would 
speak  kneeled  down  in  the  cart,  and  there  spent  some  time  in  silent 
prayer;  then  rising  up,  and  disposing  of  his  hat  to  a friend  who  was 
near,  he  waited  a little  while  till  all  were  silent,  his  countenance 
being  all  the  while  wonderfully  serene  and  cheerful.  He  began 
by  signing  himself  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  took  for  his  text 
out  of  the  Gospel  of  the  foregoing  Sunday^  those  words  of  our 
Saviour,  The  good  shepherd  lays  down  his  life  for  his  sheep  {St.John  x.) ; 
acknowledging  at  the  same  time  himself  infinitely  unworthy  of  that 
title,  which  properly  belongs  to  Jesus  Christ  the  true  Shepherd  of 
our  souls,  who  died  for  us  all;  but  withal  inferring  from  this  text 
that  we  ought  also,  by  Christ’s  example,  and  by  the  consideration 
of  His  dying  for  us,  to  be  willing  to  lay  down  our  lives  also  for 
Him;  and  affirming,  that  to  die  for  being  a priest  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  is  to  die  for  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  consequently  dying 
for  Christ.  ‘ There  is  but  one  God,’  said  he,  ‘ one  faith,  one  baptism, 
one  true  Church,  in  which  is  found  true  hope  of  salvation,  out  of 
which  there  can  be  none;  and  for  this  true  Church  of  Christ  I 
willingly  die;  and  I offer  up  my  blood  for  the  good  of  my  country, 
and  for  the  procuring  a better  understanding  between  the  King 
and  Parliament.’  Here  he  was  interrupted  by  a minister,  telling 
him  to  prepare  himself  for  death,  and  not  to  stand  seducing  the 
people.  The  confessor  replied.  Sir,  this  is  not  a proper  time  for 
me  to  dispute  with  you ; I beg  you  would  not  be  troublesome  to  me 
now;  and  so  went  resolutely  on  with  his  discourse  (though  he  was 
several  times  interrupted  by  the  same  minister),  proving  the  true 
Church  by  its  antiquity,  universality,  succession,  &c.,  and  demon- 
strating that  the  modern  sects  are  all  too  new  to  have  any  claim  to  a 
succession  from  the  Apostles,  or  commission  from  Christ.  His 
words  seemed  to  make  no  small  impression  on  the  hearers ; who  were 
also  astonished  at  his  intrepidity,  and  that  wonderful  cheerfulness 
with  which  he  met  death. 

He  also  gave  the  people  on  this  occasion  a short  account  of  his 
birth,  parentage,  and  education;  acknowledging  himself  to  be  a 
priest,  and  begging  of  God  to  forgive  all  who  had  slandered  him, 
or  been  the  cause  of  his  manifold  sufferings,  as  he  besought  His 
Divine  Majesty  to  forgive  his  own  innumerable  sins.  After  he  had 
finished  his  discourse,  and  the  rope  was  now  fastened  in  order  to 

420 


1642] 


HUGH  GREEN 


execution,  he  cheerfully  said  he  hoped  he  should  now  he  sent  to 
heaven  in  a string.  A minister  taking  him  up,  said  it  was  now  no 
time  to  joke.  Mr.  Morgan  replied.  Indeed  this  is  no  joking  matter 
with  me,  but  very  serious;  but  why  should  any  one  be  offended  at 
my  going  to  heaven  cheerfully  ? For  God  loves  a cheerful  giver. 
Then  after  he  had  recommended  his  departing  soul  by  prayer  to 
God,  the  cart  was  drawn  away ; and  he  was  suffered  to  hang  till  he 
was  dead,  and  then  was  cut  down,  bowelled,  and  quartered. 

He  suffered  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  April  26,  1642. 


HUGH  GREEN,  alias  FERDINAND  BROOKS, 

Priest.* 

Mr.  HUGH  GREEN,  who  was  known  upon  the  mission  by  the 
name  of  Ferdinand  Brooks,  or,  as  he  is  called  in  Mr.  Ireland's 
T>i2irY, Ferdinand  Brown,  was  born  in  London  about  the  year 
1584,  and  after  an  academical  education  at  Cambridge,  became  a 
convert,  and  went  abroad  to  the  English  College  of  Doway,  where  he 
was  admitted  to  the  usual  oath,  and  received  alumnus,  July  7,  1610. 
He  was  confirmed  at  Camhray,  September  25,  1611,  was  advanced 
to  the  minor  orders,  and  made  sub- deacon  at  Arras,  December  17, 
deacon  March  18,  and  priest  14,  1612.  He  sung  his  first  Mass 
on  St.John  Baptist's  (l2Ly,June  24,  and  left  the  College  on  the  6th  of 
August  following,  in  order  to  enter  himself  amongst  the  Capuchins; 
but  the  want  of  health,  or  some  other  impediment  preventing  his 
going  through  with  that  difficult  enterprise,  he  went  over  upon  the 
English  mission,  where  he  laboured  for  many  years,  his  residence 
being  at  Chediok  in  Dorsetshire,  the  seat  of  Lady  Arundell. 

When  King  Charles  set  forth  his  proclamation,  commanding 
all  priests  to  depart  the  nation  by  a certain  day,  and  that  at  their 
utmost  peril,  Mr.  Green  took  a resolution  to  withdraw  upon  this 
occasion,  as  many  others  had  done.  The  lady  of  the  house  opposed 
the  thing,  saying  it  was  to  no  purpose,  the  time  allowed  in  the  pro- 
clamation being  now  elapsed.  Mr.  Green  had  not  seen  the  pro- 
clamation, but  said  with  some  assurance  that  there  remained  two  or 
three  days,  and  therefore  he  would  make  the  best  of  his  way  to 

* Ven.  Hugh  Green,  alias  Ferdinand  Brooks. — From  the  Douay  Diary, 
and  a Manuscript  relation  of  his  death  by  an  eye-witness;  see  also  Gillow; 
De  Marsys,  ii. 

42  T 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


Lyme  the  next  sea-port,  not  doubting  but  he  had  yet  time  sufficient 
to  have  the  benefit  of  the  proclamation. 

When  he  came  to  Lyme,  and  was  going  on  board  a vessel  bound 
for  France,  he  was  roughly  accosted  by  a custom-house  officer, 
inquiring  his  name  and  his  business  there.  Mr.  Green  very  freely 
told  him  he  was  a Catholic  priest,  and  that  as  such  he  was  leaving 
the  kingdom  in  obedience  to  His  Majesty’s  late  proclamation.  The 
officer  answered  that  he  was  mistaken  in  his  account,  the  day  fixed 
in  the  proclamation  for  the  departure  of  the  priests  and  Jesuits 
being  already  passed;  and  therefore  he  was  not  to  be  allowed  the 
benefit  of  the  proclamation.  And  whereas  he  had  owned  himself 
a priest  in  his  hearing  he  must  be  had  before  a Justice  of  Peace. 
Accordingly  a constable  was  called,  and  Mr.  Green  was  carried  before 
a justice;  and  notwithstanding  his  pleading  his  good  intentions  of 
obeying  the  King’s  orders,  and  that  he  hoped  where  the  mistake 
was  only  of  two  or  three  days,  advantage  would  not  be  taken  of  his 
unwary  but  candid  discovery  of  his  character,  to  the  endangering 
of  his  life ; he  was  by  the  justice  committed  to  Dorchester  gaol ; and 
after  five  months’  imprisonment  was  tried  and  condemned  to  die, 
as  in  cases  of  high,  treason,  barely  for  being  a priest.  The  following 
account  of  his  martyrdom  is  copied  from  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Willoughby's 
MSS.,  who  was  an  eye-witness. 

‘ Upon  Wednesday  before  the  sentence  of  death  being  given 
against  him  by  Judge  Foster,  he  said.  Sit  nomen  Domini  Jesu  bene- 
dictum  in  scecula,  — May  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  be  for  ever 
blessed.  He  should  have  died  upon  Thursday,  and  to  that  end  the 
furze  was  carried  to  the  hill  to  make  the  fire,  and  a great  multitude 
of  people  were  in  the  streets,  and  at  the  gate,  and  lanes,  to  see  the 
execution.  But  our  great  martyr  did  desire  to  die  on  Friday,  the 
which  was  by  a friend  of  his  procured  of  the  Sheriff,  though  with 
very  much  difficulty,  being  opposed  by  Millard  the  master-keeper. 
And  it  was  noted  that  after  his  sentence  he  never  went  to  bed,  and 
eat  but  very  little,  scarce  enough  to  sustain  nature;  yet  was  he  very 
cheerful  and  full  of  courage  to  the  last. 

‘ Now  I beseech  our  Lord  to  put  his  words  into  my  memory, 
that  I may  expressly  relate  them,  for  I have  a great  scruple  to  add 
or  take  away ; and  therefore  I have  had  the  help  of  a true  servant  of 
God,  who  was  attentive  at  his  death ; yet  wx  being  two  weak  women 
cannot  punctually  remember  all.  Much  admired  was  his  devotion; 
he  kneeling  on  the  hurdle  made  his  prayer,  and  kissed  it  before  he 
lay  down  upon  it,  and  continued  his  prayers  until  he  came  to  the 
place  of  execution.  Then  he  was  taken  from  the  hurdle,  and  stayed 

422 


1642] 


HUGH  GREEN 


on  the  hill  a good  distance  from  the  gallows  until  three  poor  women 
were  hanged ; two  of  them  had  sent  him  word  the  night  before  that 
they  would  die  in  his  faith.  Oh,  what  comfort  was  this  to  God’s 
true  servant  ! who  did  all  which  was  possible  to  see  and  to  speak 
with  them,  but  could  not.  Then  they  sent  again  to  desire  him  that 
when  they  had  made  a confession  of  their  sinful  life  at  the  gallows, 
and  should  give  him  a sign,  that  he  then  should  absolve  them.  The 
which  with  great  joy  on  his  part,  and  much  benefit  (I  hope)  on  theirs, 
was  performed ; they  two  turning  their  faces  towards  us,  and  throwing 
forth  their  arms,  cried  out  to  him,  God  he  with  you ^ sir;  and  so  died; 
but  the  third  woman  turned  from  us  towards  the  press  of  people, 
-and  so  she  died,  her  face  or  speech  never  tending  towards  us. 

‘ Now  I also  noted  that  our  martyr’s  charity  in  this  short  time  of 
life  was  not  unrewarded ; for  God  of  His  mercy  was  pleased  to  yield 
him  the  like  comfort,  by  a reverend  father  of  the  Society  of  Jesus ^ 
who  was  there  on  horseback  to  absolve  him,  the  which  with  great 
devotion  and  reverence,  taking  off  his  cap  and  lifting  up  his  eyes  and 
hands  to  heaven,  he  received  from  him. 

‘ I cannot  but  bless  God  to  see  the  magnanimity  of  these  two, 
our  holy  martyr  and  that  reverend  father.  The  one  being  at  the 
point  of  death,  with  such  comfort  as  his  cheerful  countenance 
expressed ; and  the  other  not  apprehending  the  great  danger  he  was 
in  to  be  taken  by  the  rude  multitude,  of  whom  he  should  have  found 
no  mercy. 

‘ Now  is  our  martyr  brought  to  the  foot  of  the  ladder  by  the 
Sheriff,  where,  falling  upon  his  knees,  he  remained  in  devout  prayer 
almost  half  an  hour;  then  he  took  his  crucifix  and  Agnus  Dei  from 
his  neck,  and  gave  them  to  this  devout  gentlewoman,  my  assistant 
in  this  relation;  and  his  beads  he  gave  to  another;  also  he  gave  the 
master-keeper  his  handkerchief.  And  last  of  all,  to  me,  most 
unworthy,  he  gave  his  book  of  litanies,  &c.,  also  from  the  gallows 
he  threw  me  down  his  band,  spectacles,  and  priest’s  girdle.  Then 
turning  himself  to  the  people,  and  blessing  himself  with  the  sign 
of  the  cross,  he  began: 

‘ There  be  four  principal  things  which  all  men  ought  to  remember ; 
death,  judgment,  heaven  and  hell.  Death  is  a horror  to  nature, 
but  that  which  followeth  is  much  more  terrible,  viz.,  judgment,  if 
we  die  not  as  we  ought ; and  as  we  dispose  ourselves  to  good  or  evil 
in  this  life,  so  shall  the  measure  of  our  punishment  or  glory  succeed. 

I am  here  condemned  to  die  for  my  religion,  and  for  being  a priest. 
We  know  there  must  be  priests,  for  God  foretelling  of  the  Church 
by  the  prophets,  saith.  Thou  art  a priest  for  ever,  according /to  the  order 

423 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


of  Melchisedech  {Ps.  cix.).  And,  From  the  rising  of  the  sun  unto  the 
going  down  thereof,  there  shall  be  a clean  sacrifice  offered  in  my  name 
{Mai.  i.).  Now,  four  things  are  to  be  considered, — a God,  a sacri- 
fice, a priest,  a man.  God  must  be  served  by  sacrifice,  this  sacrifice 
must  be  offered  by  2.  priest,  and  this  priest  must  be  a man;  such  am  1, 
and  therefore  I must  die.  Wherefore  do  we  receive  holy  unction, 
and  are  made  priests,  but  to  offer  sacrifice  to  God  ? But  I am  con- 
demned for  being  ordered  by  the  See  of  Rome.  St.  Paul  saith.  The 
Romans  have  the  Catholic  faith  {Rom.  i.  &c.),  and  gives  God  thanks 
that  their  faith  and  His  were  one,  of  which  Catholic  faith  I am. 
Against  this  Roman  faith  all  the  sectaries  cried  out ; and  all  heretics 
that  have  been  since  Christ  oppugn  this  faith,  and  yet  truly  out  of 
it  none  can  be  saved. 

‘ There  be  four  things  more, — one  God,  one  faith,  one  baptism, 
one  Church.  That  there  is  one  God  we  all  acknowledge,  in  whom, 
from  whom,  and  by  whom  all  things  remain  and  have  their  being. 
That  there  is  one  faith  appears  by  Christ’s  praying  that  St.  Peter's 
faith  (He  said  not  faiths)  should  never  fail ; and  He  promised  to  be 
with  it  to  the  end  of  the  world.  That  there  is  one  baptism;  we  are 
all  cleansed  by  the  laver  of  water  in  the  Word.  That  there  is  one 
Church  holy  and  sanctified ; doth  not  St.  Paul  say,  that  it  is  a glorious 
Church  without  spot,  or  wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing  } Now  the 
marks  of  this  Church  are  sanctity,  unity,  antiquity , universality ; which 
all  of  w^.in  all  points  of  faith  believe.’  Here  the  ministers  interrupted 
him,  and  would  have  disputed  with  him;  but  he  said  he  had  been 
five  months  in  prison,  and  in  all  that  time  not  any  one  of  them  came 
to  dispute  with  him.  There  he  would  not  have  refused  any  of  them, 
but  now  that  his  time  was  too  short  for  disputation.  So  he  went 
on.  ‘ But  some  will  say.  We  arefalle?!  off  from  this  Church  o/Rome; 
but  in  what  Pope’s  time,  in  what  prince’s  reign,  or  what  are  the 
errors,  none  can  discover.  No,  this  holy  Church  of  Christ  did  never 
err.  We  have  often  offered  public  disputation,  but  it  would  never 
be  accepted.  No,  this  Church  can  never  be  impeached  of  falsehood 
in  matter  of  doctrine;  though  scholars  in  school-points  may  differ, 
but  never  in  points  of  faith.  God  is  the  author  of  all  truth,  and  He 
hath  promised  to  be  with  it  even  to  the  consummation  of  the  world 
(St.  Matt,  xxviii.),  until  we  meet  all  in  the  unity  of  faith,  and  know- 
ledge of  the  Son  of  God ; to  the  end  we  be  not  carried  away  with  every 
blast  of  doctrine ; because  many  heresies  have  risen  with  diversities 
of  doctrine  to  oppugn  the  truth  of  God’s  Church,  as  heretofore 
Arius,  Nestorius,  Wickliff,  and  others,  so  now  in  these  our  latter 
times,  Luther,  Calvin,  Zuinglius,  and  the  rest,  whose  doctrine  at  this 

424 


1642] 


HUGH  GREEN 


present  hath  so  inveigled  the  judgments  of  this  kingdom ; for  God 
cannot  be  divided,  nor  served  in  many  faiths.  And  although 
there  have  been  many  heretics,  yet  this  Roman  Church  resisted, 
confounded,  and  condemned  all  heresies;  and  Luther  himself  con- 
fesses that  his  religion  was  not  begun  by  God,  neither  should  it  be 
ended  by  God. 

‘ Here  a minister  (one  Banker,  some  say  it  was  the  minister  who 
formerly  had  been  a weaver,  and  now  is  chaplain  to  Sir  Thomas 
Trencher),  cried  out  with  a loud  voice.  He  hlasphemeth,  stop  that 
mouth  of  the  blasphemer,  cast  him  off  the  ladder;  and  so  much  noise 
was  made  by  the  multitude,  that  the  Sheriff  to  content  the  people, 
desired  our  martyr  to  leave  off  that  discourse;  and  silence  being 
made,  I truly  pity  our  poor  country,  said  he,  with  all  my  heart,  to 
see  what  divisions  are  in  it,  and  in  religion  no  unity  among  you. 
Then  he  began  to  pray  heartily  for  His  Majesty,  and  that  this  king- 
dom might  be  settled  in  peace,  the  which  he  said  would  never  be 
until  there  were  unity  of  religion  amongst  them. 

‘ Then  he  said,  I am  brought  hither  for  a priest  and  a traitor. 
That  I am  a priest  I have  confessed,  and  as  such  I thought  to  have 
left  this  my  country  in  obedience  to  his  Majesty’s  proclamation. 
I went  to  receive  that  benefit  for  my  passage,  but  was  refused,  and 
taken  upon  pretence  of  some  few  days  past  beyond  the  limitation 
of  the  aforesaid  proclamation,  and  brought  to  Dorchester  prison, 
and  am  now  for  no  other  cause  (I  thank  God)  than  for  being  a priest, 
to  die,  and  not  for  any  treason  to  my  King  or  country.  For  I protest 
before  Almighty  God,  I never  wished  hurt  to  my  King  or  country 
in  my  life;  but  I prayed  for  His  Majesty;  and  every  day  in  my 
Memento  at  the  Holy  Mass  I offered  and  recommended  him  to  God. 
But  there  were  laws  made  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  days  by  which  it 
was  made  treason  to  be  a priest.  By  this  law  I am  condemned  for  a 
traitor;  but  surely  the  ancient  laws  of  this  kingdom  would  never 
have  done  it,  as  the  modern  doth.  And  now  judge  you,  whether 
the  laws  so  lately  made  by  men  be  sufficient  to  overthrow  the 
authority  of  God’s  Church  and  to  condemn  the  professors  of  it  ? 

‘ Nevertheless,  I forgive  all  the  world  from  my  heart,  and  all  those 
who  have  had  a hand  in  my  death,  and  I beseech  you  all,  if  I have 
offended  any  of  you  in  any  thing,  that  you  will  every  one  forgive  me. 
I have  not  had  a purpose  to  give  offence  to  any  of  you ; and  I pray 
God  give  you  all  His  grace  to  seek  Him  so,  as  you  may  be  made  able 
to  attain  His  mercy  and  eternal  glory. 

‘ Then  he  called  to  me,  and  desired  me  to  commend  him  heartily 
to  all  his  fellow-prisoners  and  to  all  his  friends.  I told  him  I would, 

425 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 

and  that  some  of  them  were  gone  before  him  and  with  joy  expected 
him.  Then  on  my  knees  I humbly  begged  his  benediction,  so  did 
five  more  of  ours;  and  he  cheerfully  gave  us  his  blessing,  making  the 
sign  of  the  holy  cross  over  our  heads.  Then  one  Gilbert  Loder,  an 
attorney,  asked  him  if  he  did  not  deserve  death,  and  believe  his  death 
to  be  just  ? To  which  he  replied.  My  death  is  unjust.  So  pulling 
his  cap  over  his  face,  his  hands  joined  before  his  breast,  in  silent 
prayer  he  expected  almost  half  an  hour  his  happy  passage  by  the 
turning  of  the  ladder,  for  not  any  one  would  put  a hand  to  turn  it, 
although  the  Sheriff  had  spoken  to  many.  I heard  one  bid  him  do 
it  himself.  At  length  he  got  a country  clown  who,  presently,  with 
the  help  of  the  hangman  (who  sat  astride  on  the  gallows),  turned 
the  ladder,  which  being  done,  he  was  noted  by  himself  and  others 
to  cross  himself  three  times  with  his  right  hand  as  he  hanged;  but 
instantly  the  hangman  was  commanded  to  cut  him  down  with  a 
knife  which  the  constable  held  up  to  him  stuck  in  a long  stick, 
although  I and  others  did  our  uttermost  to  have  hindered  him.  Now 
the  fall  which  he  had  from  the  gallows,  not  his  hanging,  did  a little 
astonish  him ; for  that  they  had  willed  the  hangman  to  put  the  knot 
of  the  rope  at  his  poll,  and  not  under  his  ear  as  it  is  usual.  The 
man  that  was  to  quarter  him  was  a timorous,  unskilful  man,  by 
trade  a barber,  and  his  name  was  Barefoot^  whose  mother,  sisters, 
and  brothers  are  devout  Catholics.  He  was  so  long  a dismembering 
him  that  he  came  to  his  perfect  senses  and  sate  upright,  and  took 
Barefoot  by  the  hand,  to  shew,  as  I believe,  that  he  forgave  him; 
but  the  people  pulled  him  down  by  the  rope  which  was  about  his 
neck.  Then  did  this  butcher  cut  his  belly  on  both  sides,  and  turn 
the  flap  upon  his  breast,  which  the  holy  man  feeling  put  his  left 
hand  upon  his  bowels,  and  looking  on  his  bloody  hand  laid  it  down 
by  his  side,  and  lifting  up  his  right  hand  he  crossed  himself  saying, 
three  times,  Jesu,  JesUy  Jesu^  mercy!  The  which,  although  un- 
worthy, I am  a witness  of,  for  my  hand  was  on  his  forehead ; and 
many  Protestants  heard  him  and  took  great  notice  of  it,  for  all  the 
Catholics  were  pressed  away  by  the  unruly  multitude  except  myself, 
who  never  left  him  until  his  head  was  severed  from  his  body.  Whilst 
he  was  thus  calling  upon  Jesus^  the  butcher  did  pull  a piece  of  his 
liver  out  instead  of  his  heart,  and  tumbling  his  guts  out  every  way 
to  see  if  his  heart  were  not  amongst  them ; then  with  his  knife  he 
raked  in  the  body  of  this  blessed  martyr,  who  even  then  called  on 
Jesus,  and  his  forehead  sweat;  then  was  it  cold,  and  presently  again 
it  burned — his  eyes,  nose,  and  mouth  run  over  with  blood  and 
water.  His  patience  was  admirable,  and  when  his  tongue  could  no 

426 


1642] 


HUGH  GREEN 


longer  pronounce  that  life-giving  mmQ  Jesu,  his  lips  moved,  and  his 
inward  groans  gave  signs  of  those  lamentable  torments  which  for 
more  than  half  an  hour  he  suffered.  Methought  my  heart  was 
pulled  out  of  my  body  to  see  him  in  such  cruel  pains,  lifting  up  his 
eyes  to  heaven,  and  not  yet  dead.  Then  I could  no  longer  hold, 
but  cried.  Out  upon  them  that  did  so  torment  him.  Upon  which  a 
devout  gentlewoman  understanding  he  did  yet  live,  went  to  Cancola 
the  Sheriff,  who  was  her  uncle’s  steward,  and  on  her  knees  besought 
him  to  see  justice  done,  and  to  put  him  out  of  his  pain,  who  at  her 
request  commanded  to  cut  off  his  head.  Then  with  a knife  they 
did  cut  his  throat,  and  with  a cleaver  chopped  off  his  head;  and  so 
this  thrice  most  blessed  martyr  died.  Then  was  his  heart  found 
and  put  upon  a spear,  and  shewed  to  the  people,  and  so  thrown  into 
the  fire  which  was  on  the  side  of  a hill.  They  say  the  heart  did  roll 
from  the  fire,  and  that  a woman  did  take  it  up  and  carry  it  away. 
This  I speak  not  of  my  knowledge,  but  what  is  here  reported  to  be 
true;  and  it  may  be  very  probable,  because  the  hill  is  steep  and 
uneven,  and  the  heart  not  thrown  as  usually,  but  from  the  point  of  a 
long  spear.  Then  did  this  gentlewoman  and  myself  go  to  the  Sheriff 
and  beg  his  body,  the  which  he  freely  gave  unto  us.  Now  did  the 
devil  roar,  and  his  instruments  the  blinded  Dorcestrians  (whom  with 
my  soul  I deplored)  did  fret  and  chafe ; and  told  the  Sheriff  that  he 
could  not  dispose  of  his  quarters  to  Papists,  neither  should  we  have 
them.  And  truly  I believe,  that  if  we  should  have  offered  to  carry 
them  away,  they  would  have  thrown  the  body  and  us  into  the  fire, 
for  our  number  was  but  small,  and  they  many  thousands.  Their 
fury  did  so  rage  against  us  that  we  were  forced  to  withdraw  ourselves ; 
and  had  not  I procured  the  master-keeper’s  wife  to  have  gone  back 
with  us  to  the  town,  they  had  stoned  us,  or  done  us  worse  harm,  as 
I was  told  by  many  credible  people;  so  great  is  their  malice  to 
Catholics,  God  in  His  mercy  pardon  and  convert  them.  From  the 
town  we  sent  a shroud  by  a Protestant  woman  to  wrap  his  happy 
quarters  in;  whom,  it  seems,  God  did  send  to  us  on  purpose  to  do 
this  last  office  unto  His  servant;  for  to  us  all  she  was  a stranger,  and 
lives  twelve  miles  from  the  town.  And  when  she  heard  us  mourn 
that  not  any  of  us  durst  appear,  she  with  a courage  went  and  saw 
his  quarters  put  into  the  shroud,  and  buried  them  near  to  the  gallows, 
although  she  suffered  many  affronts  from  the  ungodly  multitude ; 
who  from  ten  o’clock  in  the  morning,  till  four  in  the  afternoon, 
stayed  on  the  hill,  and  sported  themselves  at  football  with  his  head, 
and  put  sticks  in  his  eyes,  ears,  nose,  and  mouth,  and  then  they 
buried  it  near  to  the  body;  for  they  durst  not  set  it  upon  their  gate, 

427 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


because  the  last  before,  which  was  long  since  martyred  amongst 
them  [Mr.  John  Cornelius  Mohun,  Anno  Domini  1594],  they  set  up 
his  head  upon  their  town  gate,  and  presently  there  ensued  a plague, 
which  cost  most  of  them  their  lives;  so  that  still  they  fear, yet  will 
not  amend:  God  hold  His  merciful  hand  over  them,  or  else  I fear  a 
severe  judgment  will  befall  them  for  this  their  last  inhuman  cruelty. 
I wish  the  contrary,  and  heartily  pray  that  we  may  all  partake  of  the 
prayers  and  sufferings  of  this  our  glorious  martyr,  whose  magnani- 
mity and  patience  were  to  me  both  admirable  and  profitable.  And 
well  did  one  minister  say,  who  was  present  at  his  death,  amongst 
forty  more  of  his  coat,  that  if  many  such  men  should  die,  and  be 
suffered  to  speak  as  he  did,  they  should  soon  shut  up  their  books. 
This  is  credible,  although  for  some  respects  the  man  is  not  named. 
Sir,  this  briefly  is  what  I conceived  myself  obliged  to  signify  unto 
you  concerning  this  subject,  not  doubting  but  you  will  conceive  the 
same  comfort  in  reading  it,  as  I did  in  writing  the  same  unto  you, 
who  am,  Sir,  &c.  < ^ Willoughby.’ 

This  same  account  was  not  long  after  published  in  print  by 
Chifletius,  in  his  Palmce  Cleri  Anglicani,  and  the  substance  of  it  is 
found  in  the  Doway  Diary,  1642. 

Mr.  Green  suffered  at  Dorchester,  on  Friday  the  19th  of  August, 
1642,  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 


THOMAS  BULLAKER,  Priest,  O.S  F.* 

Thomas  BULLAKER,  called  in  religion, Father  Baptist, 

was  born  at  Chichester  in  Sussex  about  the  year  1604,  of  pious 
and  Catholic  parents.  His  father  was  a noted  physician  who 
brought  up  his  son  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  gave  him  a liberal  educa- 
tion. At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  went  over  to  the  College  of  St.  Omers 
under  the  care  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Society,  and  from  thence,  after 
a short  stay,  he  was  with  divers  others  sent  to  the  English  Seminary 
of  Valladolid  in  Spain.  He  had  not  been  long  here  before  he  found 
a call  to  the  Order  of  St.  Francis,  which  grew  daily  stronger  upon  him ; 
but  then  how  to  put  this  call  in  execution  he  knew  not ; being  quite 
a stranger  to  the  religious  of  that  order  (as  they  also  were  to  him), 
and  not  so  much  as  knowing  the  language  of  the  country ; and  withal 

* Ven.  Thomas  Bullaker. — From  F.  Angelas  a S.  Francisco  in  his 
Certamen  Seraphicum,  printed  anno  1649;  see  also  De  Marsys,  ii. 

428 


1642] 


THOMAS  BULLAKER 


apprehending  an  opposition  from  the  superiors  of  his  college,  were 
they  to  know  anything  of  his  inclinations.  In  this  perplexity  he  had 
recourse  to  God,  praying  night  and  day  with  many  tears,  and  using 
divers  mortifications,  such  as  hair-shirts,  disciplines,  lying  on  the 
ground,  &c.,  till  at  length  he  took  courage,  and  communicated  the 
affair  to  his  confessor,  the  Reverend  Father  Baker,  S.J.,  and  he, 
after  examining  his  vocation  and  putting  him  into  a spiritual  exercise 
of  ten  days ; and  finding  him  still  more  ardently  desiring  to  embrace 
the  austerity,  poverty,  and  humility  of  the  Franciscan  Institute, 
approved  of  his  call,  and  joined  with  the  rector  of  the  college  in 
petitioning  for  his  admission  into  the  celebrated  convent  of  the 
Spanish  Recollects  at  Abrojo,  at  six  miles  distance  from  Valladolid. 
The  petition  was  granted  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  young  Mr. 
Bullaker,  now  about  nineteen  years  of  age ; who  upon  the  receiving 
of  the  news,  broke  out  into  those  words  of  the  royal  prophet,  Lcetatus 
sum  in  his  quce  dicta  sunt  mihi,  in  domiirn  Domini  ibimus  (Ps.  cxxi.). 

He  passed  his  noviceship,  and  made  his  religious  profession  in 
the  convent  of  Abrojo;  and  then  was  sent  by  his  superiors  to  another 
convent  of  the  order  to  study  philosophy ; and  from  thence  to  Valla- 
dolid to  study  divinity,  which  he  began  there,  but  finished  at  Segovia. 
And  now  being  made  priest,  the  Spanish  province  of  the  Recollects 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception  (in  which  he  was  professed)  being 
about  to  send  missioners  to  labour  in  the  West  Indies,  he  petitioned 
to  be  of  the  number;  but  his  provincial  would  not  consent  to  that 
proposal,  but  told  him  his  own  native  country  England  had  a better 
title  to  his  labours,  and  stood  as  much  in  need  of  them  as  the  Indies 
could  do.  Father  Bullaker  acquiesced,  and  willingly  embraced  the 
will  of  God  notified  to  him  by  his  superior;  and  having  received 
proper  licence  and  mission,  and  prepared  himself  by  an  extra- 
ordinary recollection  and  retreat  of  ten  days,  he  set  out  upon  his 
journey,  which  he  made  on  foot  (in  a secular  habit  which  he  had 
begged)  through  a great  part  of  Spain  and  France,  in  the  midst  of 
many  dangers  and  difficulties,  till  he  came  to  Bordeaux.  Here  he  took 
shipping  in  an  English  vessel,  and  landed  safe  at  Plymouth. 

He  was  scarce  come  to  his  inn  when  he  was  apprehended  upon 
the  information  of  the  master  of  the  ship,  and  brought  before  the 
Mayor  of  Plymouth;  and  after  examination  committed  to  a filthy 
gaol  in  that  town;  where  he  suffered  all  kinds  of  extremities  for 
eight  days,  having  no  other  bed  but  the  bare  ground,  it  being  the 
winter  season  and  very  severe.  From  Plymouth  he  was  sent  to  the 
county  gaol  at  Exeter,  where  he  was  put  amongst  the  felons,  and 
not  much  better  accommodated  than  he  had  been  at  Plymouth; 

429 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


only  he  received  some  small  charities,  from  the  few  Catholics  that 
were  in  that  neighbourhood.  In  this  prison  he  remained  till  the 
Lenten  assizes,  when  he  was  brought  to  the  bar  in  order  to  be  tried; 
but  no  sufficient  evidence  appearing  against  him,  his  trial  was  put 
off.  In  the  mean  time,  some  friends  having  interested  themselves 
in  his  favour  at  Court,  he  was  sent  for  up  to  London  and  discharged. 
But  what  he  had  suffered  in  his  imprisonment  brought  a violent 
fever  upon  him;  from  which  he  recovered  indeed,  yet  so  that  he  was 
never  after  a healthy  man  to  his  dying  day. 

Being  recovered,  he  was  sent  by  his  superior  into  the  country, 
where  he  laboured  with  great  zeal  and  fruit  for  about  eleven  years ; 
till  hearing  of  the  martyrdom  of  Mr.  Ward^  he  was  inflamed  with  a 
vehement  desire  of  glorifying  his  Master  by  the  like  death;  which 
desire  of  his  was  increased  by  the  news  of  the  condemnation  of  the 
seven  priests  in  the  latter  end  of  the  same  year.  Upon  this  he  quits 
his  residence  in  the  country,  and  with  the  leave  of  his  superior, 
dedicates  himself  to  the  laborious  employment  of  assisting  the  poor, 
the  sick,  and  the  imprisoned  in  London;  in  hopes  of  more  readily 
meeting  with  martyrdom  there,  he  takes  a lodging  for  this  purpose 
in  the  city,  which  was  soon  after  visited  by  the  pursuivants  coming 
to  search  for  a priest.  What  does  he  do  upon  this  occasion  ? In- 
stead of  hiding  himself,  he  goes  up  to  the  men,  and  boldly  asks  them. 
Am  I the  priest  you  search  for?  They  answer.  No.  Why,  says  he, 
there  is  no  other  here.  However,  they  said  no  more  to  him,  but 
went  their  way;  and  though  they  returned  again  upon  the  same 
errand  the  next  day,  and  found  his  chamber  open  where  he  was 
sitting  at  dinner  in  their  sight,  and  his  breviary  was  lying  hard  by 
on  a table;  yet  they  took  no  notice  of  him,  nor  so  much  as  offered 
to  come  within  his  room,  which  gave  him  no  small  uneasiness;  but 
his  time  was  not  yet  come.  What  follows  with  regard  to  his  appre- 
hension, examinations,  and  trial,  is  an  abstract  of  a manuscript 
relation  written  by  himself,  at  the  request  of  a reverend  priest,  a 
little  before  his  death,  published  in  the  Certamen  Seraphicum, 
p.  47,  &c. 

‘ On  Sunday  being  the  nth  of  September,  1642,  it  pleased 
Almighty  God  to  assuage  my  sorrows  by  giving  me  good  hopes  that 
He  had  vouchsafed  at  length  to  hear  my  unworthy  prayers,  and 
would  speedily  grant  my  petition.  For  this  morning  in  my  devo- 
tions, immediately  before  Mass,  having  repeated  again  my  former 
prayer  with  as  much  earnestness  as  I could,  that  God  in  His  infinite 
goodness  would  grant  me,  though  most  unworthy,  the  favour  of 
laying  down  my  life  for  His  sake;  and^having  said,  as  usual,  the 

430 


1642] 


THOMAS  BULLAKER 


litanies  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  begun  Mass;  when  I was  come  to 
the  hymn  Gloria  in  Excelsis^  the  apostate  Wadsworth  coming  into  the 
room  seized  me  at  the  altar.  I offered  to  take  off  my  vestments; 
but  he  opposed  it,  saying  he  would  have  me,  vested  as  I was,  before 
the  Sheriff  of  London.  I urged  the  inconveniences  that  might 
follow  to  himself  as  w'ell  as  to  me  from  the  mob,  if  he  conducted  me 
through  the  streets  in  that  dress.  Upon  this  remonstrance  he 
consented  that  I should  put  off  my  vestments;  which  he  immediately 
seized,  together  with  the  books,  beads,  pictures,  &c.,  and  my  silver 
oil-box;  and  then  carried  me,  together  with  the  lady  of  the  house, 
before  the  Sheriff. 

‘ The  Sheriff  asked  me  if  I was  a priest  ? I told  him  I was. 
Then,  said  he,  how  durst  you  presume  to  return  into  England,  in 
contempt  of  the  laws  which  prohibit  priests  returning  hither  under 
the  severest  penalties  } I answered,  because  I was  convinced  that 
those  laws  were  unjust,  and  therefore  not  to  be  regarded.  I added 
that  I believed  if  they  went  on  as  they  had  begun,  they  would  soon 
make  it  high  treason  to  believe  in  Christ;  for  it  appeared  how  little 
regard  they  had  to  Him,  whose  image  on  the  cross  of  Cheapside 
they  had  lately  so  grossly  abused.  Some  of  the  standers-by  asked 
me  where  Christ  had  commanded  in  the  Scriptures  the  making  of 
His  image  ? I answered  that  though  this  was  not  expressly  com- 
manded in  Scripture;  yet  it  was  agreeable  to  the  law  of  nature,  to 
which  the  divine  law  is  no  way  opposite,  to  testify  our  love  to  a 
person  by  the  regard  we  have  to  his  picture  or  image;  and  thus 
both  right  reason  and  experience  shew  that  the  affront  offered  to 
the  King’s  image,  is  to  be  looked  upon  as  done  to  himself,  and  is 
punished  as  such.  What,  then,  must  be  thought  of  the  affronts 
you  have  lately  offered  to  the  image  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  King  of 
kings  ? Then  the  Sheriff  asked  me  for  what  intent  I had  returned 
to  England  ? I answered,  to  bring  back  my  country  to  the  fold  of 
Christ  from  which  it  was  gone  astray ; that  I was  sent  hither  to  this 
end.  He  asked  me,  who  sent  me  ? I answered,  I was  sent  by  those 
who  had  an  authority  to  do  it,  delegated  to  them  by  the  Pope.  Then 
the  Sheriff  left  me,  and  I was  carried  out  by  a back  door  into  another 
street,  by  reason  of  the  great  concourse  of  the  mob  before  the  house- 
and  conducted  to  the  New  Prison. 

‘ On  Tuesday  morning  I was  carried  to  Westminster,  to  be 
examined  before  a committee  of  the  Parliament,  appointed  for  that 
purpose.  When  I came  thither,  Wadsworth  brought  in  the  vest- 
ments and  other  ornaments  which  he  had  taken,  and  laid  them  upon 
the  table  before  the  committee;  one  of  them  said  they  were  but 

431 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


mean.  They  are  too  good,  said  I,  for  those  that  now  have  them. 
The  chairman  gravely  said,  As  mean  as  they  are,  they  can  serve  for 
an  idolatrous  worship  as  well  as  the  best.  What  idolatrous  worship, 
sir  } said  I.  Why,  said  he,  is  it  not  idolatry  to  worship  bread  for 
God  } I replied.  We  worship  not  the  bread  and  wine  for  God, 
in  the  tremendous  mysteries;  but  we  worship  Jesus  Christ  under  the 
species  of  bread  and  wine,  as  the  Church  of  God  has  always  done 
from  the  days  of  the  apostles. 

‘ Whilst  this  controversy  was  in  agitation,  one  of  the  company 
in  looking  over  and  examining  the  vestments  uncovered  the  altar 
stone,  and  viewing  the  crosses  upon  it,  cried  out,  that  he  had  there 
discovered  the  number  of  the  beast.  I could  scarce  forbear  laughing 
at  his  ignorance;  but  going  up  to  him,  I said.  Pray,  sir,  since  you  are 
so  well  acquainted  with  the  beast,  be  pleased  to  tell  me  what  is  his 
name.  Then  the  chairman  asked  me  how  I durst  presume  to 
disobey  the  laws  of  my  country  ? I answered  with  the  apostles 
(Acts  lY.),  Judge  you,  if  it  be  just  in  the  sight  of  God,  to  obey  you  rather 
than  God.  Sir  William  Cawley,  formerly  my  schoolfellow,  said. 
You  know,  Mr.  Bullaker,  it  is  written.  Fear  God,  and  honour  the  King. 
I know  it,  said  I,  and  I also  know  that  the  Parliament,  which  made 
it  treason  to  be  a priest,  did  also  by  law  establish  the  government 
of  the  Church  by  bishops,  the  common  prayer,  and  ceremonies; 
all  which  in  this  present  Parliament  you  oppose.  True,  said  he, 
but  why  may  we  not  amend  what  was  ill  ordered  before  ? This, 
said  I,  is  what  you  attempt;  but  assure  yourself  that  a Parliament 
will  come,  and  that  the  very  next  Parliament  that  shall  sit,  in  which 
that  religion  which  you  now  pretend  to  establish  {viz..  Presbytery) 
will  be  rejected  and  thrown  out.  He  said  I should  never  see  that 
day.  I know,  said  I,  that  the  time  of  my  dissolution  is  at  hand, 
but  what  I have  foretold  will  certainly  happen.’  It  did  so;  for 
after  the  Rump  was  dissolved  there  was  no  legal  Parliament  till  the 
Restoration,  when  all  their  religious  ordinances  were  annulled;  this 
prediction  was  published  in  print  in  the  Certamen  Seraphicum, 
p.  57,  anno  1649,  i.e.,  eleven  years  before  the  event. 

‘ Upon  this  they  cried  out  I was  a traitor,  and  that  all  their 
present  troubles  were  owing  to  the  practices  of  me,  and  such  as  me. 
I would  to  God  ! said  I,  there  were  not  in  this  kingdom  another  kind 
of  traitors,  from  whom  the  nation  has  reason  to  fear  far  more  real 
and  greater  dangers;  for  after  all  your  pretences  of  Popish  plots,  I 
defy  you  to  produce  any  legal  proof  of  any  one  single  treasonable 
attempt  of  any  Catholic,  from  the  beginning  of  this  Parliament  to 
this  present  day.  Then  they  asked  how  long  I had  been  a priest, 

432 


1642] 


THOMAS  BULLAKER 


and  how  many  years  I had  been  in  England?  I answered  that  sub- 
ducting out  of  my  age  (which  was  about  thirty-eight)  twenty-four 
years,  I had  been  priest  all  the  rest;  and  had  been  about  twelve  years 
in  England.  They  asked,  How  many  priests  there  were  of  our 
order  in  the  kingdom  ? I told  them  though  I was  so  free  in  con- 
fessing what  related  to  myself,  they  were  mistaken  if  they  imagined 
I would  betray  my  brethren,  or  bring  them  into  danger;  and  there- 
fore I should  answer  nothing  upon  that  head.  Here  Wadsworth 
addressing  himself  to  the  committee,  said.  This  man  is  so  obstinate 
and  resolute  in  his  way,  that  he  is  not  afraid  to  profess  that  if  you 
send  him  out  of  the  nation  by  one  port,  he  will  return  by  another; 
which  though  they  interpreted  to  be  a contempt,  I there  plainly 
affirmed.  They  asked  me  in  fine,  amongst  many  other  things, 
Whether  the  Bishop  of  Chalcedon  had  given  orders  whilst  he  was 
here  in  England?  I told  them  no.  In  conclusion,  they  sent  my 
name,  and  my  examination,  which  they  had  taken  down  in  writing, 
to  the  Lord  Chief  Justice,  and  sent  me  to  Newgate  in  order  for  my 
trial  and  execution. 

‘ When  I was  brought  to  the  court  to  be  tried,  I first  made  the 
sign  of  the  cross  upon  my  forehead,  mouth,  and  breast,  saying  aloud. 
Per  signum  crucis  de  inimicis  nostris  libera  nos  Deus  noster;  and  then 
humbly  begged  the  blessing  of  the  most  sacred  Trinity.  The  clerk 
of  the  sessions  ordered  me  to  hold  up  my  hand,  and  my  indictment 
being  read,  he  asked  if  I was  guilty  or  not  guilty.  I answered.  If  by 
guilty  you  mean  a criminal,  as  if  by  taking  orders  I was  guilty  of  any 
crime  or  fault,  I am  not  guilty;  but  a priest  I am,  and  that  I will 
never  deny.  Then,  said  they,  thou  art  a traitor.  Had  the  kingdom, 
said  I,  no  other  kind  of  traitors,  it  would  be  in  a far  better  condition 
than  it  is  at  present.  At  these  words  the  court  was  silent  for  a while, 
and  then  they  cried  out  I was  a seducer.  Now,  said  I,  you  give  me 
occasion  to  rejoice,  because  you  treat  me  with  the  same  title  as  the 
Jews  did  my  Saviour  whom  they  called  a seducer.  I added  that  he 
that  first  taught  the  law  of  Christ  to  the  English  nation,  viz.,  St. 
Augustine,  was  a priest  like  me,  and  was  in  like  manner  sent  hither 
by  the  Pope,  viz.,  St.  Gregory  the  Great. 

‘ They  asked  again  if  I were  guilty  or  not  guilty?  I answered,  I 
am  not  guilty  of  any  treason,  or  any  other  capital  crime ; but  I confess 
I am  a priest,  and  that  I was  taken  at  Mass;  nor  will  I ever  deny  my 
priesthood,  though  I were  to  die  a thousand  deaths  for  it;  but  to  say 
that  I am  guilty  in  being  a priest,  as  if  there  were  any  guilt  in  the 
matter,  whereas  nothing  can  be  more  honourable,  that  I will  never 
do.  Here  they  made  a great  outcry,  as  if  I said,  I was  not  guilty 

433  2E 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


of  any  sin;  I told  them  they  did  not  take  me  right,  for  I acknow- 
ledged myself  the  greatest  sinner  upon  earth;  but  what  I meant 
was,  that  my  being  a priest,  or  saying  Mass,  was  no  guilt  or  sin. 
Then  the  Recorder  said,  Mr.  Bullaker,  you  have  here  confessed 
over  and  over  again  that  you  are  a priest,  plead  therefore  to  your 
indictment  directly,  guilty  or  not  guilty.  I answered  as  before,  I 
am  not  guilty  of  any  treason,  but  a priest  I am.  He  urged.  Your 
being  a priest  makes  you  guilty  of  treason,  by  your  transgressing  the 
law's  of  the  land.  I answered  that  those  laws  were  not  to  be  regarded 
which  were  repugnant  to  the  law  of  God;  that  the  heathens  of  old, 
and  the  Mahometans  at  present,  had  laws  by  which  it  was  death  to 
preach  to  them  the  law  of  Christ,  but  that  the  transgression  of  such 
laws  as  these  could  be  no  treason.  I added  that  the  Parliament 
which  had  made  that  law,  by  which  priests  were  declared  traitors, 
was  certainly  not  infallible  in  making  laws,  a privilege  which  they 
would  not  allow  even  to  the  universal  Church  of  God,  which  St. 
Paul  calls  the  pillar  and  ground  of  the  truth.'  So  far  we  have  abridged 
the  confessor’s  own  account  of  himself. 

The  Recorder  directed  the  jury  to  bring  him  in  guilty  of  the 
indictment;  and  though,  as  my  author  says,  they  boggled  at  it,  and 
were  for  having  the  case  referred  to  the  Parliament,  he  proceeded  to 
pronounce  sentence  upon  him  in  the  usual  form.  Father  Bullaker 
could  not  contain  his  joy  upon  this  occasion,  but  falling  down  on  his 
knees  with  hands  and  eyes  lifted  up  towards  heaven,  sung  the  Te 
Deum  in  thanksgiving  to  God ; then  rising,  made  a profound  reverence 
to  the  court,  thanking  them  for  the  great  favour  they  had  done  him; 
and  so  with  a remarkable  cheerfulness  and  serenity  in  his  coun- 
tenance was  conducted  back  to  Newgate,  where  he  employed  the 
short  time  that  remained  of  his  mortal  life  in  private  devotions,  and 
spiritual  conferences  with  such  of  the  faithful  as  applied  to  him 
about  the  concerns  of  their  souls. 

On  Wednesday  the  12th  of  October,  1642,  he  was  brought  out 
of  prison  and  laid  on  the  sledge,  and  so  drawn  to  Tyburn,  shewing 
all  the  way  a wonderful  cheerfulness  in  his  countenance.  At  the 
place  of  execution  he  spoke  to  the  people  upon  the  text.  Thou  art  a 
priest  for  ever  according  to  the  order  of  Melchisedech  {Ps.  cix.).  He 
offered  to  speak  of  the  real  presence  of  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ 
in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  but  was  interrupted  by  the  ministers; 
and  after  a little  time  was  ordered  by  the  officer  to  make  an  end. 
He  readily  obeyed,  giving  them  hearty  thanks  for  bringing  him 
thither  to  die  for  the  defence  of  his  faith ; a happiness  which  he  said 
he  had  always  aspired  after,  though  he  acknowledged  himself  un- 

434 


1642] 


THOMAS  BULLAKER 


worthy  of  it.  He  received  absolution  from  one  of  his  brethren 
upon  giving  the  sign  agreed  upon  before;  and  then  he  employed  a 
short  time  in  silent  prayer,  standing  as  it  were  in  contemplation  till 
the  cart  was  drawn  away.  He  was  cut  down  before  he  was  fully 
dead,  dismembered,  bowelled,  and  quartered.  His  heart  was  saved 
from  the  flames  by  a priest  of  the  same  order,  whom  we  just  now 
mentioned.  His  head  was  set  up  on  London  bridge,  and  his 
quarters  upon  the  gates  of  the  city.  He  suffered  in  the  thirty-eighth 
years  of  his  age,  the  nineteenth  of  his  religious  profession,  the 
fourteenth  of  his  priesthood  and  the  twelfth  of  his  mission. 


THOMAS  HOLLAND,  Priest,  S.J  * 

Thomas  Holland  was  bom  in  Lancashire  in  the  year 
1600,  and  was  sent  over  very  young  to  the  English  College  of 
St.  OmerSy  where  he  employed  six  years  in  his  studies,  giving 
so  great  edification  to  his  fellow-students,  that  he  was  more  than 
once  chosen  by  their  votes  prefect  of  the  sodality  of  our  Blessed 
Lady ; and  was  remarkable  for  his  talent  in  exhorting  and  encouraging 
his  companions  to  piety  and  devotion.  When  he  had  finished  his 
rhetoric,  he  was  sent  into  Spain  to  the  English  Seminary  of  Valladolid, 
in  August,  1621 , where  he  went  through  the  course  of  his  philosophy. 
Whilst  he  was  here  Charles  Prince  of  Wales  arrived  at  Madrid,  on 
occasion  of  the  match  then  proposed  with  the  Infanta  Maria;  and  it 
was  thought  proper  that  the  English  seminaries  in  that  kingdom 
should  make  their  compliments  to  their  prince  upon  his  safe  arrival. 
Mr.  Holland  was  made  choice  of  for  this  office  by  the  Seminary  of 
Valladolid,  and  performed  his  part  by  a Latin  oration,  pronounced 
before  the  prince,  which  is  said  to  have  given  great  satisfaction  to 
his  royal  highness  and  his  attendants. 

After  three  years  Mr.  Holland  returned  to  Elanders,  and  entering 
into  the  Society  oi  Jesus  made  his  noviceship  at  Watten,  and  studied 
his  divinity  at  Liege,  where  also  he  was  made  priest.  From  Liege 
he  was  sent  to  St.  Omers  where  he  was  confessor  to  the  scholars,  and 
deservedly  gained  the  esteem  and  love  of  all  by  his  prudence,  sweet- 
ness, and  dexterity  in  the  management  of  youth,  and  imprinting  in 

* Ven.  Thomas  Holland. — From  his  Life,  published  in  Latin  at  Antwerp, 
anno  1645  [in  Certamen  Triplex]',  and  from  the  testimony  of  eye-witnesses 
and  persons  most  worthy  of  credit;  see  also  De  Marsys,  ii. ; Foley,  Records,  i. ; 
Gillow 


435 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


their  tender  minds  the  fear  and  love  of  God.  From  St.  Omers  he 
passed  to  Ghent,  where  he  was  for  some  time  minister  of  the  house. 
He  made  his  last  vows  May  28,  1634,  and  in  the  following  year  was 
sent  upon  the  English  mission,  in  hopes  of  recovering  his  health, 
which  at  that  time  was  in  a very  bad  state. 

The  change  of  air  brought  no  advantage  to  his  health,  for  the 
pursuivants  being  very  busy  in  those  days  in  making  strict  search 
after  priests,  he  was  forced  to  lie  concealed  in  the  day  {London  being 
the  seat  of  his  mission)  under  so  close  a confinement,  that  he  scarce 
durst  for  months  together  walk  out  so  much  as  into  the  garden  of 
the  house  where  he  was  harboured,  by  which  means  after  some  time 
he  in  a manner  quite  lost  all  appetite,  and  had  even  a loathing  for  his 
food.  Yet  notwithstanding  these  disadvantages.  Father  Holland 
found  means,  especially  for  the  two  last  years  of  his  mission  when 
the  times  were  the  worst,  to  be  very  serviceable  to  the  souls  of  many, 
by  making  frequent  excursions  amongst  the  poor,  under  the  favour 
of  the  darkness  of  the  night  or  early  in  the  morning,  and  under 
various  disguises  necessary  in  those  evil  days,  in  which  he  succeeded 
so  well,  that  sometimes  his  most  intimate  friends  could  not  know 
him  in  his  borrowed  dress. 

xAt  length  he  was  apprehended  upon  suspicion,  October  4,  1642, 
and  committed  to  the  New  Prison,  where  he  was  detained  for  about 
two  months,  till  his  trial  coming  on,  he  was  removed  to  Newgate. 
His  behaviour  in  prison  was  such  as  very  much  edified  all  that  came 
near  him;  and  it  was  in  particular  noted  that  he  seldom  went  into 
bed,  but  spent  a great  part  of  the  night  in  prayer.  Yet  he  was  very 
cautious  to  give  his  adversaries  no  advantage  or  opportunity  of 
gathering  from  his  carriage  or  behaviour  that  he  was  a priest;  so 
that  when  he  was  brought  to  the  bar,  December  the  yth,  to  take  his 
trial  at  the  Old  Bailey,  though  four  witnesses  appeared  against  him, 
they  could  allege  no  substantial  proofs  of  his  priesthood,  but  only 
bare  suspicions  and  presumptions.  However,  upon  these  pre- 
sumptions, and  his  refusing  to  swear  that  he  was  not  a priest,  the 
jury,  to  the  surprise  of  the  Lord  Mayor  and  others  in  the  court, 
brought  him  in  guilty,  and  on  the  loth  of  the  same  month  the  Re- 
corder pronounced  sentence  of  death  against  him  in  the  usual  form. 
At  the  hearing  of  which  Father  Holland  calmly  said,  Deo  Gratias, 
Thanks  be  to  God;  and  being  sent  back  to  prison,  invited  some 
other  Catholics  there  to  join  with  him  in  reciting  the  hymn  of 
thanksgiving,  Te  Deum  laiidamus. 

He  had  now  but  a short  time  to  live,  being  to  suffer  on  Monday 
the  1 2th  of  December,  and  for  this  short  time  the  prison  was  thronged 

436 


1642] 


THOMAS  HOLLAND 


with  people  of  all  conditions,  as  well  English  as  foreigners  that  came 
to  visit  him.  He  received  them  all  with  a religious  modesty,  joined 
with  a remarkable  cheerfulness  and  courage,  spoke  handsomely 
to  them  with  a smiling  countenance  in  their  respective  languages 
(for  he  was  a perfect  master  of  the  French^  Spanish^  and  Dutch) ^ 
and  his  words  made  a strong  impression  upon  them.  The  Duke  of 
Vendome^  who  was  then  at  London  ^ offered  him  his  service  to  endea- 
vour to  put  a stop  to  the  execution,  but  Father  Holland  humbly 
thanked  his  Grace,  and  desired  he  would  put  himself  to  no  trouble 
about  him;  as  he  had  some  time  before,  when  he  was  first  appre- 
hended, earnestly  entreated  his  superiors  by  letter  that  they  would 
put  themselves  to  no  charges  on  his  account,  nor  make  any  interest 
to  save  his  life. 

After  Father  Holland  had  allowed  a great  part  of  the  Saturday 
to  receiving  of  these  visits,  he  then  desired  to  be  alone  for  the 
remainder  of  the  evening,  and  on  the  Sunday  morning,  having  heard 
the  confessions  of  many,  he  celebrated  Mass  and  administered  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  to  his  penitents,  after  which  he  spent  some  time 
by  himself  in  recollection,  and  the  rest  of  the  day  in  offices  of  charity 
to  the  souls  of  his  neighbours.  On  this  day  the  Spanish  ambassador 
sent  a gentleman  to  him,  recommending  the  king  and  kingdom  of 
Spain  to  his  prayers,  and  letting  him  know  that  he  had  ordered 
prayers  in  his  chapel  for  his  happy  conflict.  The  father  returned 
thanks  for  all  favours  conferred  on  him  and  his  by  his  Excellence  and 
the  King  his  master,  and  promised  that  he  would  pray  to  God  to 
be  their  rewarder,  and  would  for  that  end  offer  up  his  last  Mass  on 
the  ensuing  morning  for  that  king  and  kingdom. 

On  the  next  day,  being  the  12th  of  December,  having  celebrated 
early  in  the  morning  the  sacred  mysteries,  he  was  called  down  to  the 
sledge  about  ten,  to  be  drawn  to  Tyburn.  It  was  observed  that 
neither  the  Sheriff  of  London,  nor  the  Sheriff  of  Middlesex  were 
present  on  this  occasion,  which  some  interpreted  as  a testimony  of 
their  being  conscious  that  the  prisoner  was  unjustly  condemned. 
Great  multitudes  resorted  to  the  place  of  execution,  to  be  spectators 
of  the  last  conflict  of  this  servant  of  God;  amongst  the  rest,  the 
Spanish  ambassador  with  almost  all  his  family.  When  the  sledge 
was  arrived  at  Tyburn,  a Father  of  the  Society,  who  had  assisted 
Father  Holland  in  prison,  taking  him  by  the  hand  bid  him  be  of  good 
courage,  and  behave  himself  like  a man.  To  whom  the  confessor 
of  Christ  replied.  With  the  grace  of  God,  you  need  not  fear;  I shall 
not  want  courage.  Then  arising  from  the  sledge,  and  perceiving 
the  people  to  be  very  silent  and  attentive  in  expectation  of  what  he 

437 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1642 


should  say,  he  began  to  speak  to  them  (making  the  sign  of  the  cross) 
to  this  effect. 

‘ That  he  was  brought  thither  to  die  for  being  a Roman  Catholic 
priest;  though  this  had  not  been  made  out  by  any  legal  proofs,  for 
which  he  durst  appeal  to  all  and  every  one  present  at  his  trial.  How- 
ever, for  the  satisfaction  of  such  as  desired  to  know  the  truth,  he 
there  freely  acknowledged  that  he  was  a Catholic  and  a priest,  and 
by  God’s  great  goodness,  a religious  man  of  the  Society  of  Jesus, 
and  the  first  of  that  order  that  had  been  sentenced  to  death  since 
the  beginning  of  this  Parliament ; for  all  which  favours  he  returned 
hearty  thanks  to  the  Divine  Goodness.’  Then  he  proceeded  to 
tell  the  people  that  there  could  be  but  one  true  faith,  one  true  Church, 
and  no  salvation  out  of  it ; when  the  ordinary  of  Newgate  interrupted 
him,  and  bid  him  say  his  prayers  to  himself,  whilst  he  talked  with 
the  two  malefactors  that  were  to  die  that  day,  and  sung  psalms  with, 
them.  The  father  did  so,  and  when  the  minister  had  finished,  he 
began  to  pray  with  a loud  voice  that  all  might  hear  him,  and  made 
fervent  acts  of  faith,  hope,  charity,  and  contrition,  offering  his  life 
and  his  whole  being  to  his  Maker,  and  begging  that  his  sufferings 
and  death  might  be  accepted  of  through  Jesus  Christ’s  passion,  &c.. 
declaring  withal,  that  he  forgave  from  his  heart,  the  judge,  jury, 
witnesses,  and  all  that  had  any  ways  concurred  to  his  death;  and 
praying  for  the  King,  Queen,  and  all  the  royal  family,  for  the  Parlia- 
ment, and  the  whole  nation;  ‘ for  whose  prosperity  and  conversion 
to  the  Catholic  faith,  if  I had,’  said  he,  ‘ as  many  lives  as  there  are 
hairs  on  my  head,  drops  of  water  in  the  ocean,  or  stars  in  the  firma- 
ment, I would  most  willingly  sacrifice  them  all.’  Which  last  words 
were  received  with  a shout  of  the  people,  in  testimony  of  their 
approbation. 

After  this  the  father,  turning  himself  to  Gregory  the  executioner, 
told  him  he  forgave  him  also,  and  presented  him  with  two  crowns  of 
money,  which  was  all  he  had  left.  Then  shutting  his  eyes  for  a 
while  in  silent  prayer,  and  a little  after  opening  them,  and  looking 
towards  his  confessor,  who  was  there  in  the  crowd,  at  this  signal 
given,  received  his  last  absolution;  after  which  the  cart  was  drawn 
away  and  he  was  left  hanging  till  he  quietly  expired ; his  eyes  being 
observed  to  remain  fixed  on  heaven,  and  his  hands  all  the  while 
joined  before  his  breast.  The  minister  would  have  had  the  hangman 
cut  the  rope  before  he  was  dead,  but  Jack  Catch  was  more  humane 
than  the  parson,  and  delayed  till  his  pious  soul  was  let  loose  from  the 
body;  and  then  he  performed  the  usual  butchery.  IMany  of  the 
Catholics  found  means  to  carry  off  something  of  his  blood,  &c.,  as 

438 


1643] 


THOMAS  HOLLAND 


relics.  And  even  there  were  not  wanting  some  amongst  the 
Protestants  themselves,  who  highly  admired  and  praised  his 
virtues. 

Father  Holland  suffered  December  12,  1642,  cetatis  forty-two, 
Societatis  nineteen.  His  true  character  was,  ‘That  he  had  extra- 
ordinary talents  for  promoting  the  greater  glory  of  God,  and  that 
he  made  an  extraordinary  use  of  them.  His  knowledge  in  spirituals 
was  such,  that  he  was  termed  “ The  Library  of  Piety,”  Bibliotheca 
Pietatis^  and  wherever  he  was  in  company,  whatever  the  subject 
of  the  conversation  happened  to  be,  he  would  by  a dexterous  turn 
bring  it  to  some  moral  or  gospel  instruction  for  the  advantage  of  the 
company;  imitating  the  great  saint  Xaverius^  of  whom  it  used  to 
be  said,  that  in  his  conversation  with  the  people  of  the  world,  he 
would  go  in  at  their  door^  and  come  out  at  his  own.' 


[ 1643.  ] 

This  year  two  venerable  priests  were  put  to  death  at  Tyburn, 
both  of  the  Order  of  St.  Francis;  the  first  was 

HENRY  HEATH,  Priest,  O.S.F  * 

Henry  heath  was  bom  at  Peterborough  about  the  year  1600. 
His  parents  were  Protestants,  who  brought  him  up  to  learning, 
and  sent  him  to  St.  Penned s College  in  Cambridge, 
remained  about  five  years.  The  life  he  led  there,  whilst  yet  a 
Protestant,  was  far  more  religious  than  that  of  his  companions;  and 
his  ardour  for  learning  was  so  great  that  he  rose  at  two  in  the  morning, 
winter  and  summer,  to  his  studies.  Being  now  made  bachelor  of 
arts,  and  chosen  librarian  of  the  college,  and  having  before  observed, 
as  he  thought,  some  defects  in  the  principles  of  his  religion,  he  was 
resolved,  having  gotten  books  and  opportunity,  to  examine  the 
matter  more  thoroughly.  Wherefore,  being  willing  to  hear  both 
sides  speak  in  their  own  cause,  he  first  read  Bellarmine,  and  then 
Whitaker  against  him.  But  behold,  instead  of  satisfying  his  doubts 
by  this  inquiry,  he  discovers  another  defect,  viz.,  the  unfair  dealing 

* Ven.  Henry  Heath. — From  Certamen  Seraphicum  ; and  from  his 
Life,  printed  in  English  at  Douay  anno  1674;  see  also  De  Marsys,  ii.; 
Gillow. 


439 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1643 


of  Whitaker  in  citing  his  authors,  whereas  he  found  Bellarmine 
always  faithful  in  his  quotations.  This  made  him  think  better  of 
the  Catholic  religion,  and  eager  to  look  farther  into  it.  Upon 
this  he  reads  the  ancient  Fathers,  and  finding  them  to  deliver  the 
Catholic  faith,  he  is  inflamed  with  the  love  of  the  old  religion,  and 
seeks  to  communicate  the  same  sentiments  to  his  fellow-collegians; 
four  of  whom  by  his  means  not  only  left  the  college,  but  soon  after 
the  world  too,  and  all  became  religious  men,  three  in  the  holy 
Order  of  St.  Francis^  and  the  fourth  in  the  Society  of  Jesus.  Mr. 
Heath  upon  those  proceedings  perceived  that  Cambridge  would 
quickly  be  too  warm  for  him,  and  therefore  quitted  the  university, 
and  came  up  to  London  in  order  to  be  reconciled  to  the  Catholic 
Church.  With  this  view  he  applies  to  the  Spanish  ambassador,  but 
meets  with  no  countenance.  Then  he  addresses  himself  to  a Catholic 
gentleman,  [Mr.  George  Jarnagaii],  who  also  rejects  him,  suspecting 
his  sincerity.  In  these  straits  not  knowing  how  to  meet  with  a 
priest,  or  which  way  to  turn  himself,  he  remembers  what  he  had 
read  of  the  devotions  of  Catholics  to  the  saints,  and  especially  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  and  what  helps  they  received  by  applying  to  her 
for  her  intercession,  and  is  resolved  to  make  a trial  of  this  devotion; 
when  behold,  on  a sudden  the  same  Mr.  Jarnagan^  who  had  a little 
while  before  rejected  him  with  reproach,  meets  with  him,  treats  him 
most  courteously,  and  conducts  him  to  Vlr.  George  Muscot^  a strenu- 
ous labourer  in  the  Lord’s  vineyard,  afterwards  President  of  Doway 
College,  who  heard  his  confession,  reconciled  him  to  God  and  His 
Church,  and  sent  him  over  to  Doway  recommended  to  Dr.  Kellison^ 
then  President  of  the  College,  who  received  him  kindly,  and  admitted 
him  amongst  the  convictors  of  that  community. 

Mr.  Heath  had  not  been  long  at  Doway  ^ when  seeing  at  the  college 
some  of  the  English  friars  who  had  been  lately  established  in  that  city, 
and  being  informed  of  their  rule  and  manner  of  life,  he  found  a strong 
call  to  embrace  that  penitential  institute.  He  communicated  his 
desires  to  his  confessor,  and  by  him  to  the  president  and  seniors; 
who  approved  of  his  vocation,  and  recommended  him  to  the  superiors 
of  the  English  Franciscans ; who  willingly  received  him,  first  to  the 
habit,  and  then  after  a year’s  noviceship  (in  which  he  gave  great 
proofs  of  a most  solid  virtue)  to  his  religious  profession.  In  religion 
he  took  the  name  of  Brother  Paul  of  St.  Magdalen^  and  for  about 
nineteen  years  that  he  lived  in  the  convent,  he  led  a life  of  extra- 
ordinary perfection. 

He  fasted  four  or  five  of  the  seven  days  of  the  week  for  many 
years  together,  upon  bread  and  small  beer;  he  constantly  wore  a 

440 


1643] 


HENRY  HEATH 


rough  hair-cloth,  and  an  iron  chain  or  girdle  under  his  habit;  he 
used  frequent  disciplines  besides  those  of  the  order;  when  he  slept, 
he  seldom  indulged  himself  even  the  poor  convenience  of  the  straw 
bed  allowed  by  the  rule,  but  spreading  a blanket  upon  the  floor, 
laid  himself  down  in  his  habit  upon  it ; and  after  rising  at  midnight 
with  the  rest  of  the  community  to  matins,  he  frequently  prolonged 
his  prayer  till  prime  in  the  morning.  As  to  his  interior,  it  appears 
by  certain  regulations  which  he  made  for  himself,  and  which  were 
found  written  in  his  own  hand  after  his  death,  that  he  obliged  himself 
constantly  to  make  a meditation  after  matins,  to  practise  aspirations 
of  the  love  of  Jesus  a hundred  times  in  the  day;  to  mortify  upon 
every  occasion  his  eyes,  his  tongue,  his  passions,  and  affections;  to 
support  the  defects  of  all  without  murmur ; to  suffer  incommodities 
and  want  of  necessaries  with  a pure  resignation ; to  regard  God  and 
His  service  only,  and  not  to  seek  the  affection  and  esteem  of  creatures ; 
to  abstain  from  recreations;  to  retrench  all  unnecessary  discourse, 
&c.y  to  which  he  added  these  three  rules:  ‘ ist.  Of  renouncing  all 
right  and  authority,  in  everything  whatsoever,  even  in  my  good  name, 
and  corporal  conveniences;  that  I may  willingly  suffer  myself  to  be 
spoiled  of  all  things  for  God^s  sake.  2dly.  Offering  myself  as  a 
servant  to  every  creature,  that  I may  do  him  all  good,  expecting  no 
profit  thereby,  although  I may,  but  crosses  and  afflictions.  3dly.  To 
live  as  absolutely  dead  to  the  defects  of  others,  that  I may  continually 
find  out  and  lament  my  own  defects.’ 

His  constant  attention  to  God  did  not  hinder  him  from  making 
great  progress  in  the  sciences  both  human  and  divine ; for  the  attaining 
to  which  he  had  both  good  opportunities  and  great  abilities ; no  less 
than  thirty  treatises  in  different  subjects  of  his  compiling  are  still 
preserved  in  his  own  handwriting  in  his  convent  as  lasting  monu- 
ments of  his  learning.  He  was  for  many  years  first  reader,  or 
professor  of  divinity,  and  gained  great  esteem  in  the  university.  He 
was  also  twice  Gtiardian,  or  superior  of  his  convent,  and  was  preferred 
to  other  honourable  employs  in  his  order,  as  that  of  Gustos  Custodum, 
Commissary  Provincial  in  the  parts  of  Flanders^  &c.,  of  all  which  he 
acquitted  himself  with  great  prudence  and  vigilancy.  In  the  mean 
time,  his  charity  for  his  poor  countrymen  that  were  gone  astray  from 
the  fold  of  Christ  was  very  remarkable ; and  he  laboured  with  great 
zeal  and  success  in  reclaiming  as  many  of  them  as  came  in  his  way 
from  their  errors  and  sins. 

It  was  in  the  year  1641  that  Father  Heath  seems  to  have  taken  the 
resolution  of  quitting  his  convent,  and  entering  upon  the  English 
mission,  and  this  in  hopes  of  meeting  there  with  the  crown  of 

441 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1643 


martyrdom.  Two  priests  had  been  put  to  death  in  1641,  and  sevei> 
more  were  sentenced  to  die  for  the  same  cause,  that  is,  for  their  being 
in  orders,  and  exercising  their  functions  in  England.  Amongst  the 
latter  was  Father  Colman.,  a Franciscan^  a contemporary  of  Father 
Heath,  and  his  intimate  friend.  It  was  in  the  month  of  December, 
1641,  that  these  confessors  received  the  sentence  of  death,  and  the 
news  no  sooner  reached  Douay,  but  Father  Heath  took  up  his  pen, 
and  wrote  an  excellent  letter  to  these  seven  condemned  priests,  who 
daily  looked  for  the  dead  warrant.  Take  here  a part  of  the  letter  in 
his  own  words,  which  clearly  demonstrate  the  spirit  of  the  writer, 
and  the  desire  he  had  of  bearing  part  in  their  sufferings. 

‘ O yc  most  glorious  men  ! most  noble  friends,  and  most  courage- 
ous soldiers  of  Christ  Jesus!  How  great  is  my  unhappiness,  that  I 
am  not  permitted  to  come  to  you,  that  I may  be  partaker  of  your 
chains,  and  offer  myself  to  be  consumed  with  that  ardent  love  of 
Jesus  Christ,  which  in  your  trials  hath  made  you  so  constant  and 
victorious  over  human  fears.  O good  Jesus  I what  is  the  crime  I 
am  guilty  of,  for  which  I am  not  to  be  permitted  to  enjoy  your 
company,  seeing  there  is  nothing  in  this  world  I desire  more  ? nor 
indeed  is  it  possible  that  anything  can  satisfy  me,  so  long  as  I am  kept 
from  you.  Wherefore  I humbly  beseech  you,  for  the  love  of  God, 
to  pray  for  me,  that  I may  come  to  you,  and  never  be  separated  from 
you.* 

About  the  same  time,  he  wrote  to  his  Provincial  for  his  consent, 
that  he  might  go  upon  the  mission.  This  letter  runs  in  much  the 
same  strain  as  the  former.  ‘ Alas  I most  dear  sir,’  says  he,  ‘ I only 
require  this,  your  obedientials ; after  this,  nothing  stays  me;  if  I can 
get  your  consent  but  in  one  word,  I will  not  endure  to  be  kept  from 
you  a moment’s  time.  Why,  sir,  you  cannot  allow  that  soldier  to 
be  a man  of  courage,  who,  hearing  that  the  army  is  drawn  up  in 
battle  array,  the  drums  and  trumpets  sounding  to  the  charge,  and 
yet  shall  indulge  himself  at  home  in  sloth  and  cowardice.  I am 
unfit,  I deny  not,  and  altogether  unworthy  to  discharge  this  apostolic 
duty,  or  presume  to  suffer  for  the  name  of  Christ;  but  His  apostle 
has  assured  us,  that  virtue  is  perfected  in  infirmity,  and  that  God  has 
chosen  the  foolish,  that  He  may  confound  the  wise.  Our  most 
benign  Lord  inspire  you  to  hasten  your  consent,  and  I shall  eternally 
remain  your  poor  child,  Paul  of  St.  Magdalen.' 

His  provincial  returned  him  an  answer,  that  after  some  time  he 
might  be  permitted  to  leave  his  convent  and  go  upon  the  mission, 
but  that  as  yet  he  could  not  be  spared.  Upon  this  he  applies 
himself  to  Father  Angelas  Mason,  the  Commissary  Provincial  residing 

442 


1643] 


HENRY  HEATH 


in  Flanders^  and  casting  himself  upon  his  knees,  with  abundance  of 
tears  besought  him  to  send  him  away,  for  that  he  found  such  strong 
desires  of  going  upon  the  mission,  that  he  perfectly  languished  away, 
and  could  not  rest  night  or  day;  and  that  he  thought  the  likeness  of 
the  hangman  putting  the  rope  about  his  neck  was  always  before  his 
eyes;  which  last  words  (says  this  superior)  he  spoke  with  such  a 
feeling,  and  with  such  an  emphasis  in  their  delivery,  that  had  you 
seen  him  you  would  have  said  the  man  did  verily  think  himself 
standing  under  the  gallows  in  the  hands  of  the  executioner.  But 
though  Father  Mason  (who  afterwards  wrote  the  life  and  martyrdom 
of  Father  Heathy  in  his  Certamen  Seraphicum)  was  very  much  affected 
with  his  words,  yet  he  could  not  be  induced  to  yield  for  the  present 
to  Father  Heath's  petition;  who  being  strongly  persuaded  that  his 
desire  to  go  to  England  was  a call  from  God,  was  resolved  to  try 
one  other  expedient,  which,  as  we  shall  see,  procured  what  he  desired. 

He  was  wonderfully  devoted  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  had 
seldom  or  never  failed  to  obtain  of  God  Almighty  what  he  had 
particularly  recommended  to  her  prayers  and  intercession.  Of  this 
my  author*  alleges  these  wonderful  instances.  When  he  was 
Guardian  of  the  convent,  a pestilential  fever  had  taken  root  there, 
and  had  carried  off  some  of  the  religious ; others  were  ill,  and  himself 
not  without  some  suspicion  of  having  contracted  the  infection ; but 
what  added  to  his  affliction,  was  that  the  wants  of  the  community 
were  at  the  same  time  extraordinary  great,  with  little  prospect  of 
relief  from  any  quarter.  Here  he  applied  himself  to  this  Mother 
of  Consolation,  and  immediately  his  tears  were  dried  up,  and  his  fears 
dissipated;  his  sick  brethren  recovered,  and  a plentiful  and  season- 
able supply  of  necessaries  for  the  support  of  his  convent  (reduced 
at  that  time  almost  to  the  extremities  of  want)  was  brought  in  by  the 
citizens.  His  father  had  hitherto  continued  Protestant,  proof  against 
all  arguments,  and  now  upon  the  brink  of  his  grave;  Father  Heath 
recommends  his  almost  desperate  condition  to  the  care  of  the  Virgin 
Mary;  when  behold  on  a sudden  the  feeble  old  man,  aged  four  score, 
crosses  the  sea,  and  unexpectedly  calls  for  his  son  in  his  convent  at 
Doway,  there  to  abjure  his  errors,  and  to  be  taken  into  the  Catholic 
Church.  These,  with  other  great  favours.  Father  Heath  had  re- 
ceived from  the  hand  of  God,  by  the  prayers  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
and  therefore  was  resolved  to  try  this  expedient  in  the  present 
exigency,  and  to  make  a pilgrimage  for  this  purpose  to  our  Lady  of 
Montacute,  a place  of  great  devotion  in  Brabant.  Fie  took  Gand 


From  an  epistle  or  prayer  found  in  Father  Heath’s  own  hand. 

443 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1643 


in  his  way,  where  he  applied  himself  to  Father  Marchant,  the  Com- 
missary General  of  his  order,  but  all  in  vain ; so  to  Montacute  he  goes, 
and  there  makes  his  supplication  to  the  Blessed  Virgin.  Now  see 
the  fruit  of  these  devotions;  he  takes  his  journey  back  by  Gand^ 
and  there  again  applies  himself  to  Father  Marchant,  humbly  entreat- 
ing him  for  leave  to  go  upon  the  English  mission,  to  labour  there  in 
the  conversion  of  his  country,  and  lay  down  his  life  in  defence  of 
the  truth.  What  rhetoric  he  employed  now  with  the  Commissary 
(who  had  before  given  him  a flat  denial)  the  compiler  of  his' life  has 
not  acquainted  us.  But  certain  it  is  that  he  expressed  himself  to 
him  in  a most  pathetic  manner,  and  made  such  a vigorous  assault, 
that  the  good  old  Father  was  glad  to  capitulate,  and  surrender  at 
last  upon  terms.  We  have  here  Father  Mar  chant' s relation  in  his 
own  words:  ‘ This  man,’  says  he,  ‘ inebriated  with  the  Spirit,  some 
, months  since  came  to  our  presence,  desiring  according  to  his  rule, 
to  go  to  the  English  that  were  gone  astray  from  the  faith,  alleging  no 
other  reason  than  this;  that  he  might  shed  his  blood,  that  he  might 
be  slain  with  and  for  the  English^  his  brethren  according  to  the  flesh. 
I was  against  it;  I commended  indeed  his  spirit,  though  moved  with 
too  much  fervour.  At  last  I signed  his  obedientials,  upon  con- 
dition his  immediate  superior  would  join  his  approbation.’  Now 
this  was  the  English  Commissary,  Father  Mason ^ to  whom  Father 
Heath  had  formerly  applied,  and  had  been  refused.  He  goes  to  him 
therefore  now  again,  and  shews  him  his  letter  of  leave  signed  by 
Father  Mar  chant,  but  is  still  answered,  that  he  cannot  be  spared. 
However,  the  Commissary  promises  to  take  the  matter  into  con- 
sideration, and  recommend  it  to  God.  He  did  so;  and  though  he 
had  resolved  to  refuse  his  consent,  yet  after  all  (and  he  calls  God  to 
witness  that  what  he  says  is  the  real  truth)  he  felt  a secret  impulse 
strongly  determining  him  to  join  his  approbation. 

Father  Heath  having  now  gained  his  point,  made  haste  back  to  his 
convent,  to  bid  adieu  to  his  brethren,  and  to  set  forward  upon  his 
journey  to  England  with  all  convenient  speed.  His  friends  were 
surprised  to  see  what  a change  the  joy  of  his  heart  had  now  made 
in  his  very  looks,  by  an  unusual  gaiety  and  cheerfulness  which  shone 
in  his  countenance.  They  would  have  provided  him  secular  apparel, 
and  money  for  his  journey,  but  this  he  modestly  refused,  and  set  out 
from  Doway  penniless  and  barefoot  in  his  friar’s  habit.  When  he 
came  to  Dunkirk,  he  procured  a tailor  to  metamorphose  his  friars’ 
weed  into  a coat,  waistcoat,  and  breeches,  and  to  turn  his  capuche 
into  a kind  of  a sailor’s  cap,  in  which  he  sewed  up  some  writings  in 
defence  of  the  Catholic  religion,  and  thus  equipped  he  goes  on  board. 

444 


1643] 


HENRY  HEATH 


Here  he  meets  with  a German  gentleman,  who  being  much  taken 
with  the  modest  and  humble  deportment  of  the  good  man,  not  only 
paid  for  his  passage,  and  provided  him  necessaries  during  his 
voyage,  but  also  kindly  offered  him  money  to  bear  his  charges  from 
Dover  to  London^  which  Father  Heath  modestly  refused,  and  so 
made  the  best  of  his  way  barefoot,  begging  a bit  of  bread  for  God’s 
sake,  when  hunger  compelled  him  to  it. 

At  London  he  arrives  wearied,  as  well  he  might,  having  travelled 
barefoot  forty  miles  that  day,  and  it  being  the  winter  season.  It  is 
now  time  to  take  up  his  quarters  and  give  some  little  rest  and  refresh- 
ment to  the  body.  But  how  shall  this  be  done,  for  money  he  has 
none,  nor  acquaintance  ? However,  he  ventures  to  call  at  the  Star 
Inn  near  London  Bridge,  but  the  people  of  the  house  finding  he  had 
no  money  turned  him  out  of  doors  at  eight  o’clock  in  a cold  winter 
night,  and  where  now  to  put  his  head,  and  what  course  to  take  till 
morning,  he  knew  not.  At  length,  wearied  with  standing  in  the 
streets,  he  resolved  to  lie  down  at  some  citizen’s  door,  where  he 
might  meet  with  some  little  shelter  from  the  cold  air,  and  accord- 
ingly he  laid  himself  down  and  composed  himself  to  rest,  designing 
in  the  morning  to  call  upon  Father  Colniaii  in  Newgate. 

After  some  time  the  master  of  the  house  coming  home  stumbles 
upon  him,  and  taking  him  to  be  a shoplifter  calls  the  watch,  sends 
for  a constable,  and  upon  a strict  search,  discovers  the  writings  that 
were  concealed  in  his  cap.  Upon  this  he  is  committed  to  the 
Compter,  and  the  next  day  is  carried  before  my  Lord  Mayor,  where 
his  writings  and  himself  being  examined,  he  owned  himself  to  be  a 
priest,  and  so  was  sent  to  Newgate.  After  some  days  he  was  ex- 
amined by  a committee  of  the  Parliament,  to  whom  he  also  owned 
himself  a priest ; and  being  asked  to  what  intent  he  came  into  England, 
he  frankly  told  them  he  came  upon  a very  lawful  and  commendable 
business,  viz.,  the  conversion  of  his  countrymen  from  sin  and  heresy. 
What  heresy?  said  they.  Even  the  Protestant  heresy,  said  he,  the 
Puritan  heresy,  the  Anabaptist  heresy,  the  heresy  of  the  Brownists, 
and  many  others.  Being  told  that  his  coming  over  was  against  the 
laws  of  the  nation,  he  answered  that  the  preaching  of  the  Apostles 
was  also  against  the  laws  of  the  nations  to  which  they  preached,  and 
that  his  coming  over  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  England  could  no 
more  be  treason  than  the  preaching  of  Christ  and  His  Apostles. 

Soon  after  this  he  was  brought  to  the  bar,  being  indicted  upon 
the  27th  of  Elizabeth  for  being  a priest  and  returning  into  England 
and  therefore  guilty  of  high  treason.  The  trial  was  soon  over,  for 
as  he  had  acknowledged  himself  a priest,  he  was  brought  in  guilty 

445 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1643 


of  the  indictment,  and  accordingly  received  sentence,  as  in  cases  of 
high  treason,  which,  as  soon  as  he  had  heard,  making  a low  reverence 
to  the  bench,  he  said,  ‘ My  Lords,  I give  you  thanks  for  the  singular 
honour  you  have  done  me,  for  now  I shall  die  for  Christ.’ 

During  the  short  interval  betwixt  his  condemnation  and  execu- 
tion, the  prison  was  continually  thronged  with  crowds  of  visitants 
from  all  parts  of  the  town,  as  well  Protestants  as  Catholics:  amongst 
the  former  were  reckoned  above  forty  ministers,  who  came  to  confer 
with  him  in  matters  of  religion.  Some  of  them  seemed  very  much 
to  pity  him,  and  all  in  general  spoke  well  of  him  as  a man  of  great 
parts  and  learning.  As  to  the  Catholics,  they  came  to  confess  to 
him,  or  to  consult  him  in  matters  of  conscience,  so  that  with  one 
and  the  other  he  could  scarce  get  a moment’s  time  for  a little  repose. 

On  the  day  of  execution,  being  called  for  by  the  officers  of  justice, 
he  readily  obeyed  the  summons,  and  immediately  went  down  into 
the  street  where  the  sledge  was  placed,  with  a modest  cheerfulness 
in  his  looks.  He  offered  to  lay  himself  down  on  the  ground,  to  be 
drawn  in  that  manner  over  the  stones  and  through  the  mire,  but 
this  was  not  allowed;  so  he  was  laid  on  the  sledge, and  drawn  accord- 
ing to  sentence  to  Tyburn.  When  he  came  thither  he  readily  and 
cheerfully  got  up  into  the  cart  under  the  gallows,  saying  with  an 
audible  voice.  Into  thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend  my  spirit.  The 
rope  being  about  his  neck,  and  having  obtained  leave  to  speak,  he 
protested  that  his  return  into  England  was  for  no  other  design  but 
that  he  might  spend  his  life  and  labours  in  the  conversion  of  his 
country ; and  that  this  was  the  only  cause  for  which  he  was  brought 
to  that  place  to  suffer  an  ignominious  death.  But  a minister  inter- 
rupted him,  saying,  that  he  was  not  condemmed  for  religion,  but  for 
seducing  the  people.  Father  Heath  calmly  replied.  With  no  other 
justice  can  I be  called  a seducer  by  you  than  with  what  my  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  was  called  a seducer  by  the  Jews.  Here  he  was  com- 
manded to  be  silent  and  he  readily  obeyed;  and  not  being  able  to 
obtain  what  he  desired,  viz.,  to  hang  naked  like  his  crucified  Saviour, 
joining  his  hands  before  his  breast,  his  eyes  shut,  he  employed  about 
half  an  hour  in  profound  recollection  and  silent  prayer,  without  any 
other  sensible  motion  but  now  and  then  a devout  sigh.  After  that 
he  had  recited  aloud  the  Church  hymn  for  a martyr.  Martyr  Dei, 
qui  unicum,  &c.,  it  being  the  day  of  St.  Anicetus,  Pope  and  Martyr; 
for  his  last  prayer  he  made  use  of  these  short  aspirations : My  Jesus, 
pardon  me  my  sms  ! Jesus,  convert  England  ! Jesus,  have  mercy  on 
this  country  ! O England,  turn  thyself  to  the  Lord  thy  God!  After 
which  the  cart  was  drawn  away  and  he  left  hanging,  his  hands 

446 


1643] 


HENRY  HEATH 


lifted  up  towards  heaven  and  his  eyes  cast  down,  and  in  this  posture 
he  quietly  expired.  After  his  death  he  was  cut  down,  bowelled  and 
quartered,  and  his  quarters  fixed  upon  four  of  the  city  gates,  and  his 
head  upon  London  Bridge. 

N.B. — He  reconciled  in  the  very  cart  one  of  the  malefactors 
that  were  executed  with  him. 

He  suffered  on  the  17th  of  April,  1643,  in  the  forty-third  year 
of  his  age,  and  the  twentieth  of  his  religious  profession. 

Father  Heath,  a little  before  the  sentence  of  death  was  passed 
upon  him,  wrote  out  of  prison  the  following  letter  to  a priest,  his 
intimate  friend: — 

‘ Very  Reverend  Father, 

‘ Y^our  consolations  have  rejoiced  my  soul.  The  judges 
have  not  yet  given  sentence.  I beseech  the  Divine  goodness 
that  it  may  answer  my  desires,  that  I may  suffer  death  for  my 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Alas,  father  ! what  other  thing  can  I desire 
than  to  suffer  with  Christ,  to  be  reproached  with  Christ,  to  be 
crucified  with  Christ,  to  die  a thousand  deaths  that  I may  live 
for  ever  with  Christ  ? for  if  it  be  the  glory  of  a soldier  to  be  made 
like  his  lord,  God  forbid  I shoidd  glory  in  anything  hut  in  the  Cross 
of  my  crucified  Lord.  Let,  then,  the  executioners  come,  let  them 
come,  let  them  tear  my  body  in  pieces,  let  them  gnaw  my  flesh  with 
their  teeth,  let  them  pierce  me  through  and  through  and  grind  me 
to  dust.  For  I know,  I know  full  well,  how  profitable  it  will  be  for 
me  to  die  for  Christ.  The  moment  of  this  suffering  doth  work  an 
eternal  weight  of  glory  in  heaven.  May  your  reverend  paternity  be 
pleased  to  pray  for  me  a miserable  sinner,  who  will  ever  be  in  the 
wounds  of  Christ,  until  death  be  swallowed  up  in  victory. — Your 
reverence’s  most  humble  servant, 

‘ F.  Paul  of  St.  Magdalen.' 

It  is  also  remarked  of  Father  Heath,  in  Mr.  Ireland's  Diary  of 
Doway  College,  that  he  declared  in  prison,  though  he  always  was 
convinced  that  the  martyrs  found  much  joy  and  consolation  when 
they  were  to  suffer  for  Christ;  yet  he  never  could  have  imagined 
this  delight  to  be  so  exceeding  great,  as  he  now  found  by  his  own 
experience. 

’Tis  likewise  the  tradition  of  the  English  Franciscans  in  Doway, 
that  when  Father  Heath  was  executed  at  Tyburn,  the  first  that  had 
the  news  of  it  in  the  convent  was  his  aged  father,  then  a lay  brother 
amongst  them,  informed  by  a vision  of  his  son. 

447 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1643 


ARTHUR  BELL,  Priest,  O.S.F.^ 

ARTHUR  BELL,  who  in  religion  was  called  Father  Francis^ 
was  born  August  13, 1590, at  Temple  Brought  on,  of  his 

father,  in  the  parish  of  Hanhury,  six  miles  from  Worcester. 
His  parents  were  both  virtuous,  and  of  good  families,  his  mother 
being  sister  to  Francis  Daniel,  Esq.  of  Acton  Place,  near  Long  Melford, 
in  Suffolk.  He  was  brought  up  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  in  grammar 
learning,  privately  at  home  in  his  mother’s  house,  who  was  left  a 
widow  when  he  was  eight  years  of  age ; afterwards  he  lived  for  some 
years  with  his  uncle  Daniel  in  Suffolk.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four, 
he  went  over  to  the  English  College  of  St.  Omers,  where  he  employed 
a year  in  the  study  of  rhetoric,  and  then  was  sent  by  the  Fathers 
of  the  Society  to  the  English  College  of  St.  Alban  the  Martyr  in 
Valladolid,  where  he  studied  his  philosophy  and  some  part  of  his 
divinity,  and  was  made  priest,  and  not  long  after  took  the  habit  of 
St.  Francis  in  the  convent  of  Segobia,  August  9,  1618;  and  having 
very  much  edified  the  whole  community  during  the  year  of  his 
probation,  he  was  by  the  unanimous  votes  of  all  admitted  to  his 
solemn  vows  and  profession,  September  8,  1619.  Not  long  after. 
Father  Gennings,  being  about  the  restoring  of  the  English  Franciscan 
province,  and  having  authority  from  the  General  to  call  to  him  for 
this  purpose  the  English  friars,  wherever  they  were  to  be  found, 
sent  for  Father  Bell  from  Spain  to  the  English  Convent  newly  erected 
at  Doway,  where  he  employed  two  years  more  in  the  study  of  divinity 
and  then  was  made  confessor,  first  of  the  poor  Clares  at  Graveline, 
and  afterwards  of  the  nuns  of  the  Third  Order  of  St.  Francis,  at  that 
time  residing  in  Brussels,  till  about  the  year  1630,  when  he  was 
chosen  guardian  for  the  first  time  of  the  Convent  of  the  English 
Franciscans  at  Doway,  and  made  definitor  of  the  province,  discharging 
at  the  same  time  the  office  of  lector  or  professor  of  the  Hebrew 
tongue.  But  before  he  had  gone,  through  the  usual  term  of  his 
guardianship,  he  was  called  to  Brussels  by  Joseph  Bergaigne, 

the  Commissary  General  of  the  order  (afterwards  Archbishop  of 
Cambray),  and  for  the  restoring  the  province  of  Scotland,  was 
appointed  its  first  provincial,  and  sent  in  that  quality  to  the  general 
chapter  then  held  in  Spain. . After  his  return  he  was  sent  by  the 

* Ven.  Arthur  Bell. — From  Certamen  Seraphicum  ; and  from  a Manu- 
script sent  me  from  St.  Omers ; see  also  De  Marsys,  ii. ; Thaddeus,  Franciscans 
in  England. 

448 


1643] 


ARTHUR  BELL 


same  Commissary  General  upon  the  English  mission,  where  he 
arrived  September  8,  1634.  He  laboured  with  great  zeal  for  nine 
years  in  the  mission  in  converting  souls  to  Christ,  and  then  received 
the  crown  of  martyrdom  for  his  reward,  which  for  the  space  of 
twenty  years  he  had  earnestly  prayed  for. 

He  was  apprehended  on  the  6th  of  November y 1643,  at  Stevenage 
in  Hertfordshire y by  the  Parliament  soldiers,  upon  suspicion  of  his 
being  a spy;  who,  upon  a strict  search,  found  in  his  bags  some  papers, 
in  which  he  had  written  out  the  lessons  of  the  office  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  and  a form  of  blessing  the  cord  of  the  Confraternity  of 
St.  Francis y &c.,  which,  after  sending  for  the  schoolmaster  of  the 
town  to  interpret  them,  appeared  (not  only  to  these  military  men, 
but  afterwards  to  the  committee  of  the  Parliament)  dangerous 
matters,  especially  the  form  of  blessing  the  cord,  which  they  imagined 
to  be  some  spell  or  conjuration.  That  day,  and  the  following  night 
he  passed  under  the  guard  of  four  soldiers,  and  the  next  morning 
was  searched  again,  when  they  found  about  him  a letter  in  Spanish y 
addressed  to,  or  designed  for  the  Spanish  ambassador,  then  residing 
in  London y in  which  was  made  mention  of  his  being  of  the  Order  of 
St.  Francis;  so  that  now  they  resolve  to  secure  him,  no  longer  as  a spy, 
but  as  a suspected  priest.  This  drew  many  officers  and  others  to 
the  place  where  he  was  detained.  One  of  them  asked  him  what 
religion  he  was  of  } He  readily  answered,  I am  a Catholic.  What  ! 
said  the  other,  a Roman  Catholic  ? How  do  you  mean  a Roman? 
said  Father  Bell.  I am  an  Englishman.  There  is  but  one  Catholic 
Church,  and  of  that  I am  a member.  They  all  said  he  was  in  the 
right  to  own  his  religion.  That,  said  he,  I will  do,  with  the  grace 
of  God,  to  my  last  breath.  Another  asked  him  if  he  believed  the 
Pope  to  be  the  head  of  the  Catholic  Church  ? He  answered  in  the 
affirmative;  upon  which  there  arose  a dispute  concerning  the  Church 
and  the  Pope,  but  in  a confused  manner,  as  is  usual  to  this  kind  of 
disputants,  who  are  ever  running  from  one  point  to  another.  They 
brought  their  Bibles  to  confute  him,  but  in  vain ; for  he  shewed  them 
that  they  had  shamefully  corrupted  even  their  very  Scriptures.  In 
conclusion  he  told  them  their  arguing  against  Church  authority 
and  infallibility,  and  grounding  all  things  in  religion  upon  the  weak 
and  uncertain  bottom  of  private  judgment  and  private  interpretation 
of  the  Scriptures  (liable,  as  they  acknowledged,  to  error),  was  not  a 
way  to  invite  him  to  their  religion,  for  that  it  would  be  a very  unequal 
change  to  part  with  a Church  (which  he  was  assured  was  an  infallible 
guide,  by  the  divine  promises,  as  recorded  in  Scripture)  for  a religion 
which  owned  itself  liable  to  error,  and  could  give  no  assurance  to  its 

449  2 F 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1643 


followers  that  it  was  not  leading  them  on  in  the  broad  way  of  eternal 
damnation.  Such  an  exchange  as  this,  said  he,  would  be  like  that 
which  your  soldiers  have  obliged  me  to  make,  who  have  taken  away 
my  clothes  that  were  whole,  and  given  me  nothing  but  rags  in  their 
place.  In  fine,  at  parting,  he  told  them  plainly  and  sincerely  that 
no  salvation  could  be  hoped  for  out  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  that 
he  wished  them  all  to  be  even  as  he  was,  excepting  his  present  state 
of  confinement. 

From  Stevenage  he  was  carried  before  the  committee  then  sitting 
in  Hertfordshire^  to  whom  all  his  papers  were  delivered;  with  a 
particular  caution  to  look  well  to  him,  for  that  he  had  a spell  amongst 
his  papers,  by  means  of  which  he  could  get  out  of  any  prison  or 
dungeon ; for  such  they  supposed  to  be  that  form  of  the  benediction 
of  the  cord  of  St.  Francis^  which  was  found  amongst  his  papers. 
Here  he  was  examined,  whether  he  had  ever  been  beyond  the  seas  ? 
He  answered.  Yes.  Whether  he  had  taken  holy  orders  there  ? He 
answered,  that  as  this  was  by  their  laws  deemed  a crime,  he  was  not 
to  be  his  own  accuser.  Upon  this  he  was  given  over  to  Jones  the 
City  Marshal,  to  be  by  him  conducted  the  next  day  to  town;  who 
stripped  him  of  what  the  soldiers  had  left,  and  set  him  on  horseback, 
half  naked  as  he  was,  in  his  rags,  and  so  carried  him  to  London^ 
making  him  a subject  of  mockery  to  the  people,  in  all  the  towns  and 
villages  through  which  they  passed;  whilst  Father  Belf  as  appears 
by  his  own  written  relation,  so  far  from  taking  this  in  evil  part, 
thought  this  cavalcade  of  his  too  great  a pomp  for  one  whose  profession 
ohligeth  him  to  take  up  his  cross  every  day^  and  follow  Christ.  When 
they  were  arrived  in  town,  the  Marshal  (who  before  in  searching 
him  had  found  the  key  of  his  trunk)  found  means  to  get  the  trunk 
itself  into  his  hands,  and  seized  upon  it,  and  all  its  contents  as  a 
lawful  prize.  ’Tis  true  the  Committee  of  the  Parliament,  by  whom 
Father  Bell  was  shortly  after  examined,  upon  hearing  the  case, 
ordered  the  Marshal  to  return  his  goods ; for  as  he  was  not  yet  con- 
victed he  had  certainly  a right  to  keep  what  was  his.  But  the  Marshal, 
though  he  promised  to  return  them,  never  did  it.  ‘ I shall  never 
hear  any  more,  says  Father  Belf  of  my  goods,  till  the  day  of  judgment ; 
and  then  I fear  I shall  be  blamed  for  transgressing  holy  poverty, 
by  having  so  many  goods  to  lose;  for  I firmly  believe  these  men 
were  appointed  by  God  to  put  me  in  mind  of  my  vocation.  Thanks 
be  to  God  for  it.’  Such  were  the  dispositions  of  this  holy  man. 

In  his  examination  before  the  Committee  of  the  Parliament, 
being  questioned  concerning  the  Spanish  letter  that  was  found  about 
him,  he  acknowledged  that  he  was  a poor  penitent  of  the  Order  of 

450 


1643] 


ARTHUR  BELL 


St.  Francis,  but  would  not  satisfy  them  as  to  the  point  of  his  priest- 
hood; so  he  was  committed  to  Newgate  in  order  to  take  his  trial  at 
the  next  sessions.  But  before  these  things  were  transacted,  his 
brethren  had  made  choice  of  him  to  be,  for  the  second  time,  guardian 
or  superior  of  their  convent  at  Doway,  which  office  had  been  vacant 
ever  since  the  martyrdom  of  Father  Heath,  who  was  actually  guardian 
when  he  came  over  into  England,  where  he  so  quickly  met  with  the 
crown  he  sought.  Father  Bell  had  not  been  full  four-and-twenty 
hours  in  Newgate  when  his  Provincial's  letter  was  brought  to  him, 
requiring  of  him  in  virtue  of  obedience  to  fill  up  the  vacancy ; and 
not  long  after  he  received  the  patents  for  that  office  from  Father 
Marchant,  the  Commissary  General.  His  answers  both  to  the  one 
and  the  other  are  worthy  to  be  recorded.  To  his  Provincial  he 
writes  as  follows : — 

‘ Reverend  Father, 

‘ I received  your  command  with  all  humility  and  readiness 
at  the  very  time  that  I was  putting  it  in  execution;  for  I took 
possession  of  Father  Paul's  place  in  Newgate  about  twenty  hours 
before  yours  came  to  my  knowledge.  As  to  what  remains,  I 
beg  your  prayers  that  I may  persevere  to  the  end;  and  I beg  of 
all  Christians,  with  St.  Andrew,  that  they  would  not  hinder  my 
suffering,  &c.  ‘ Your  poor  Brother, 

‘ Father  Bell.' 

To  the  Commissary  General  he  returned  the  following  answer: — 

‘ Most  Reverend  Father,  obedience  and  reverence. — I received 
the  command  of  your  most  reverend  paternity  with  humility,  and  am 
disposed  with  all  possible  readiness  to  put  it  in  execution  as  soon  as 
this  present  impediment  which  stands  in  the  way  shall  be  removed. 
Now  the  impediment  is  this.  On  the  6th  of  November,  O.S.,  I was 
apprehended  on  my  way  to  London,  by  the  Parliamentary  soldiers, 
and  being  examined,  and  found  to  be  a Catholic,  I was  put  under 
the  custody  of  four  soldiers  night  and  day.  And  after  I had  been 
stript  of  all  things,  sword,  money,  clothes,  and  even  my  very  shirt, 
and  clad  in  an  old  tattered  coat  of  some  poor  soldier,  I was  brought 
before  the  Parliament  at  London,  where  being  again  examined,  I 
was  found  out  by  certain  arguments  to  be  a friar  minor,  which  I 
did  not  deny;  and  being  withal  suspected  to  be  a priest  according 
to  the  order  of  the  Roman  Church,  I was  for  this  reason  committed 
to  the  prison  of  Newgate.  I am  to  be  tried  on  the  5th  of  December, 
what  will  then  be  done  with  me  my  Lord  Jesus  Christ  knows,  with 

451 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1643 


whom  I am  ready  to  go  to  the  cross,  and  to  death,  if  His  mercy  will 
vouchsafe  to  extend  itself  so  far  as  to  be  willing  to  accept  of  the 
sacrifice  of  such  and  so  great  a sinner;  but  if  I am  still  necessary  to 
His  people,  the  will  of  our  Lord  be  done.  I have  begged  death  for 
Christ.  This  will  I continue  to  beg  for.  My  sinful  life  has  been  a 
long  time  hateful  to  me.  Pardon  me,  I know  what  is  for  my  profit; 
to  die  is  my  gain.  I humbly  beg  your  prayers,  and  those  of  my 
brethren,  that  if  (as  I wish)  it  be  my  lot  to  die,  I may  depart  with 
obedience  in  the  grace  of  Christ;  and  with  St.  Andrew  I beseech  all 
Christian  people  not  to  be  a hindrance  to  my  death.  If  I shall  not 
be  condemned  to  die,  I will  labour  by  all  lawful  means  to  procure 
my  liberty,  that  I may  be  able  to  obey,  as  it  is  my  duty,  the  command 
I have  received.  God  preserve  your  reverence,  &c. 

'Newgate,  November  22,  1643.’ 

Father  Bell  was  not  tried  on  the  5th  of  December  as  he  expected, 
but  on  the  7th  of  that  month.  The  witnesses  that  appeared  against 
him  were  Wadsworth,  Mayo,  and  Thomas  Gage,  all  apostates  from 
the  Catholic  religion,  and  the  last  also  from  his  religious  vows. 
Wadsworth  deposed  that  he  knew  him  twenty  years  before  at  Brussels, 
in  the  habit  of  St.  Francis,  and  that  he  was  esteemed  by  all  as  an 
honest  plain  friar.  Mayo  declared  that  he  knew  him  at  Graveline, 
in  the  monastery  of  the  poor  Clares,  and  that  he  was  one  of  the  priests 
of  that  monastery,  and  that  he  also  knew  him  at  the  convent  of  the 
English  Franciscans  at  Doway.  Gage  made  oath,  that  the  prisoner 
lived  for  some  time  at  London,  with  a lady,  a near  relation  of  his, 
where  he  had  often  heard  him  say  Mass ; and  that  he  remembered  his 
complaining  to  him  of  his  kinswoman’s  rising  so  late,  that  he  could 
seldom  begin  Mass  before  twelve  o’clock.  Father  Bell  excepted 
against  all  the  witnesses  as  infamous  apostates,  who  having  broken 
their  faith  to  God,  deserved  none  with  men.  And  as  to  the  jury, 
he  said,  he  hoped  they  were  Christians;  ‘ that  he  was  certainly  not  a 
priest  of  the  Levitical  order  of  Aaron;  and  that  it  would  not  be 
wisdom,  if  any  one  had  a call  from  God  to  the  priesthood  to  neglect 
the  fountain-head,  and  to  take  up  with  troubled  water.’  The 
Recorder  told  him,  he  spoke  mysteriously;  and  asked  if  he  had 
any  thing  else  to  say.  He  answered.  No.  Upon  which  the  jury 
going  out,  after  a short  deliberation,  pronounced  him  guilty;  for 
which  verdict  the  holy  man  returned  them  thanks. 

In  the  afternoon  he  was  brought  again  to  the  bar,  and  asked 
what  he  had  to  say  why  sentence  should  not  pass  upon  him.  Upon 
which  occasion  he  expressed  himself  in  the  following  manner: — 

452 


1643] 


ARTHUR  BELL 


‘ My  accusers  have  given  in  their  depositions  against  me,  and  my 
jury  has  pronounced  guilty ; I return  them  my  most  hearty  thanks, 
for  I shall  most  willingly,  and  with  the  greatest  joy,  die  with  Christ 
and  His  apostles  and  martyrs,  my  cause  being  the  same  as  theirs. 
And  since  I am  going  to  speak  of  a matter  of  equal  or  greater  import- 
ance than  was  that  of  which  the  prophets  spoke  of  old,  let  me  invoke 
heaven  and  earth  with  them;  Be  astonished,  O ye  heavens  ! and  be 
thou  covered  with  confusion,  O earth  ! to  see  a Christian  state*,  at 
least  that  pretends  to  profess  Christ  and  His  Gospel,  to  make  that 
priesthood  high  treason  which  was  founded  and  established  by  Christ 
and  His  Gospel;  that  priesthood,  I say,  which  supports  the  Gospel, 
and  is  supported  by  it.  It  was  for  this  reason  I asked  in  the  morning 
whether  the  gentlemen  of  the  jury  were  Christians,  intimating  that 
Christians  might  perhaps  condemn  the  priests  of  the  order  of  Aaron, 
but  not  those  of  the  institution  of  Christ ; as  on  the  other  hand  Jews 
would  condemn  Christian  priests  but  not  their  own.  What  before 
appeared  to  you  mysterious,  I now  explain.  Whoever  has  a call 
from  God  to  the  priesthood,  let  him  seek  it  there,  where  there  is  a 
certain  and  undoubted  succession  never  interrupted  from  Christ’s 
time,  viz.,  in  the  Roman  communion;  and  not  there,  where  the 
succession  is  called  in  question  or  rather  where  without  all  question 
it  has  certainly  failed,  as  it  has  amongst  Protestants;  for  it  is  certain 
there  is  no  true  priesthood  in  the  Protestant  Church.’ 

Thus  far  they  heard  him  with  patience,  but  here  one  of  the 
bench  interrupted  him,  telling  him  that  the  laws  under  which  a man 
is  born  are  to  be  obeyed.  It  is  true,  said  Father  Bell,  and  if  I had 
been  born  among  Pagans  I should  have  obeyed  their  laws,  if  they 
were  not  contrary  to  the  law  of  God.  But  as  for  these  unchristian 
laws,  by  which  priests  are  put  to  death,  know  for  certain  that  the 
makers  of  them  have  long  since  received  their  just  rewards;  and  let 
all  such  look  to  themselves  in  time,  and  to  their  own  consciences,  who 
are,  or  shall  hereafter  by  reason  of  their  office,  be  in  the  occasion  of 
putting  them  in  execution.  Sergeant  Green,  the  Recorder,  pro- 
nounced sentence  in  the  usual  form,  at  which  Father  Bell  is  said  to 
have  joyfully  intoned  the  Te  Deum,  and  to  have  returned  hearty 
thanks  to  the  Court;  who  also  on  their  part  seemed  to  pity  his  case, 
and  exhorted  him  to  conformity.  He  told  them  he  had  much  more 
reason  to  pity  their  case,  and  that  he  begged  of  God’s  mercy  they 
might  not  have  far  more  grievous  torments  to  suffer  in  the  next 
world,  than  those  he  was  to  endure  in  this. 

During  the  three  days  which  Father  Bell  remained  in  prison, 
between  the  sentence  of  death  and  the  execution,  he  was  visited  by 

453 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1643 


great  numbers  of  Catholics,  as  well  English  as  foreigners;  some 
coming  to  beg  his  blessing,  others  to  get  something  of  him,  which 
they  might  keep  as  a relic,  &c.,  all  admiring  the  cheerfulness  and  joy 
which  appeared  in  his  words  and  countenance.  Amongst  the  rest, 
the  imperial  envoy  came  more  than  once  to  see  him;  to  whom  the 
man  of  God  declared  that  he  would  not  exchange  his  present  con- 
dition for  that  of  the  emperor  his  master.  The  French  ambassador 
also  sent  to  him  to  desire  his  prayers ; and  he  being  one  whom  the 
Parliament  at  that  time  had  great  regard  to.  Monsieur  Charles 
Mar  chant,  his  chief  chaplain,  was  in  great  hopes  by  this  means  to 
have  put  a stop  to  the  execution;  but  Father  Bell  frankly  told  this 
good  priest,  when  he  spoke  to  him  in  prison  upon  that  subject,  that 
instead  of  a friend,  as  he  had  hitherto  esteemed  him,  he  should  look 
upon  him  as  his  capital  enemy,  if  by  his  means  he  should  be  deprived 
of  the  crown  which  he  had  so  long  desired ; and  therefore  conjured 
him  to  lay  aside  all  thoughts  of  hindering  his  death,  which  would 
be  to  him  the  gate  of  life. 

On  the  I ith  of  December,  the  holy  man  was  brought  out  of  prison, 
laid  upon  a hurdle,  and  drawn  by  four  horses  to  Tyburn,  the  serenity 
and  sweetness  of  his  countenance  speaking  all  the  way  the  interior 
disposition  of  his  soul.  When  he  came  to  the  place  of  execution,  he 
said.  Now  I see  verified  in  me,  what  was  foretold  me  by  happy  Thomas 
Bullaker.  Who,  it  seems,  when  Father  Bell  was  complaining  to 
him  in  prison,  that  as  he  was  the  elder  brother  in  religious  profession, 
he  ought  rather  to  have  gone  before  him,  replied  God  will  have  me 
to  go  first,  but  you  shall  soon  follow  me.  Then  being  put  up  into  the 
cart,  and  having  leave  of  the  Sheriff  (who  treated  him  with  a great 
deal  of  humanity)  to  speak  to  the  people,  he  delivered  himself  to 
them  in  these,  or  the  like  words:  ‘ Dear  countrymen,  give  ear  to  me, 
and  as  you  desire  to  be  delivered  from  your  present  miseries,  put  an 
end  to  your  sins ; for,  without  all  doubt,  your  enormous  crimes  are 
the  cause  of  the  calamities  under  which  you  groan.  But  above  all, 
I exhort  you  to  renounce  heresy,  in  which  you  have  been  so  long 
engaged ; for  this  (with  grief  I speak  it)  has  cut  you  off  like  putrid 
members  from  the  true  body  of  Christ,  and  like  dead  branches  from 
the  tree  of  His  Church.  But  if  you  resolve  to  persist  in  loving 
darkness  more  than  light,  long  afflictions  will  attend  you;  and,  cer- 
tainly, many  calamities  and  miseries  threaten  this  city,  and  the  whole 
kingdom,  unless  they  desist  from  persecuting  priests  and  Catholics. 
See  and  consider,  I beseech  you,  the  afflictions  with  which  God  has 
begun  visibly  to  punish  you ; and  be  assured  that  all  those  punish- 
ments are  tokens  of  His  love,  and  a manifest  testimony  that  He 

454 


1643] 


ARTHUR  BELL 


would  not  destroy  you  but  as  it  were  by  constraint.  I say  it  again, 
all  these  chastisements,  civil  wars,  and  calamities  are  inflicted  upon 
you  by  Him  to  the  end,  that  He  may  at  length,  from  shipwreck, 
bring  you  into  the  haven  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Abuse  then  no 
longer  His  goodness  and  mercy ; do  not  force  Him  to  destroy  you  by 
continuing  to  provoke  His  divine  justice  by  obstinacy  in  your  evils.’ 

Here  being  interrupted  by  the  Sheriff,  he  said  no  more,  but 
turning  himself  to  one  of  the  malefactors  who  were  to  suffer  with 
him,  he  spoke  to  him  some  words  of  exhortation  and  comfort,  and 
had  the  satisfaction  to  see  him  resolved  to  die  a member  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  He  also  addressed  himself  to  the  hangman  with 
a cheerful  countenance,  and  embracing  him,  gave  him  wholesome 
advice  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul;  with  which,  and  many  other 
things  he  spoke,  the  people  being  much  moved,  the  officers  hastened 
the  execution,  and  ordered  the  cart  to  be  drawn  away.  He  hanged 
for  the  space  of  one  Miserere,  and  then  was  cut  down,  dismembered, 
bowelled  and  quartered.  In  stripping  him,  they  found  under  his 
secular  coat  the  habit  of  his  order,  which,  it  seems,  he  was  accustomed 
to  wear;  upon  which  occasion,  the  people  cried  out  with  astonish- 
ment, See  what  mortified  men  these  are,  who  so  much  despise  the 
pleasures  of  the  world  ! Guards  were  appointed  to  hinder  the 
Catholics  from  carrying  off  anything  by  way  of  relic ; yet  this  did  not 
prevent  some  from  dipping  their  handkerchiefs  or  other  things  in 
his  blood. 

He  suffered,  December  ii,  1643,  in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of  his 
age,  the  twenty-fifth  of  his  religious  profession,  and  ninth  of  his 
mission. 

N.B. — That  a little  before  Father  BelVs  trial  and  execution,  there 
happened  to  be  taken  at  Yarmouth  in  Norfolk,  one  Mr.  Walter 
Windsor,  a Catholic  gentleman,  or,  as  some  say,  a priest;  whose 
papers  being  seized,  there  was  found  amongst  them  a letter  from  the 
Archbishop  of  Cambray  to  some  priests  upon  the  mission,  with  a 
copy  of  a brief  of  Pope  Urban  the  VHIth,  sent  to  the  said  Archbishop, 
by  which  he  was  directed  to  nominate  and  empower  certain  priests, 
then  upon  the  mission,  to  make  diligent  inquiry  into  the  cause  and 
manner  of  death  of  several  priests,  lately  executed  upon  the  penal 
statutes,  and  to  transmit  the  account  thereof  to  Rome.  Now  the 
persons  deputed  for  this  business,  by  the  Archbishop’s  letter,  were 
these;  for  London,  and  all  the  counties  on  the  south  of  the  river 
Trent,  George  Gage,  D.D.,  protonotary  apostolical;  Father  Thomas 
Dade,  provincial  of  the  Dominicans;  Father  Bennet  Cox,  O.S.B.;  and 
Father  Francis  Bell,  definitor,  O.S.F.  For  York  and  the  northern 

455 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1643 


counties,  Mr.  Phillips^  confessor  to  the  Queen;  Mr.  George  Catherick; 
Father  Robert  Haddock,  provincial  of  the  Benedictines;  and  Father 
William  Anderton,  O.S.F.  These  were  commissioned  personally 
to  such  places  where  informations  were  likely  to  be  had,  and  to  call 
before  them  persons  of  credit  and  integrity,  who  had  been  acquainted 
with  the  said  priests  and  the  particulars  of  their  trials  and  behaviours 
at  the  place  of  execution;  and  to  take  their  depositions  upon  oath, 
and  to  put  them  down  in  writing,  with  the  names  of  the  deponents, 
and  to  certify  the  same  in  due  form  to  the  Archbishop.  Now  these 
papers  coming  to  the  hands  of  the  Parliament  at  this  conjuncture,  are 
by  some  supposed  to  have  hastened  the  execution  of  Father  Bell, 
who  was  one  of  the  persons  nominated  in  the  Archbishop’s  letter. 
Certain  it  is,  at  least,  that  they  were  published  by  order  of  Parlia- 
ment, the  very  day  that  Father  Bell  was  brought  upon  his  trial; 
htmgprmttdhy  Husband,  printer  to  the  Parliament,Z)^c^mZ>^r  7, 1643. 

This  year  the  Parliament  made  and  published  several  rigorous 
acts  and  ordinances  against  Delinquents , as  they  called  them,  and 
Papists;  by  which  all,  whether  Catholics  or  others,  that  had  already, 
or  should  hereafter  assist  the  King  against  the  Parliament,  were  to 
have  their  whole  estate  seized  and  sequestered  into  the  hands  of 
committees,  named  to  that  purpose;  and  all  Catholics,  as  such, 
without  any  other  offence,  were  to  forfeit  two  thirds  of  their  whole 
estates,  real  and  personal,  unless  they  would  take  an  oath,  by  which 
they  abjured  the  Pope,  transubstantiation,  purgatory,  worship  of  the 
host,  &c.  With  what  rigour  these  acts  were  put  in  execution,  we 
shall  see  hereafter. 


[ 1644.  ] 

This  year  the  civil  wars  continuing,  two  priests  of  the  venerable 
order  of  St.  Benedict  lost  their  lives  by  the  savage  cruelty  of  the 
Parliament  soldiers;  of  whom  thus  writes  Father  B.  W.,  in  his 
manuscript:  ‘ Father  Boniface  Kempe,  alias  Kipton,  professed  at 
Mountserrat  in  Spain,  with  Father  Ildephonse  Hesketh,  in  the  civil 
wars  in  1644,  were  taken  by  Parliament  soldiers,  and  driven  on  foot 
before  them  in  the  heat  of  summer ; by  which  cruel  and  outrageous 
usage  they  were  so  heated  and  spent  that  they  either  forthwith  or 
soon  after  died.’ 

This  same  year  also,  as  Mr.  Austin  writes  (under  the  name  of 
William  Birchley)  in  his  Christian  Moderator , Mr.  Price,  a Catholic 
gentleman,  was  murthered  at  Lincoln,  in  hatred  of  his  religion.  The 

456 


1644] 


JOHN  DUCKETT 


story  he  relates  thus — ‘ I remember  an  officer  of  my  acquaintance, 
under  the  Earl  of  Manchester ^ told  me,  that  at  their  taking  of  Lincoln ^ 
from  the  Cavaliers,  in  the  year  1644,  he  was  an  eye-witness  of  this 
tragedy.  The  next  day  after  the  town  was  taken,  some  of  our  (the 
Parliament)  common  soldiers  in  cold  blood,  meeting  with  Mr.  Price 
of  Washingley  in  Huntingdonshire,  a Papist,  asked  him.  Art  thou 
Price  the  Papist?  I am,  said  he.  Price  the  Roman  Catholic;  where- 
upon one  of  them  immediately  shot  him  dead.’ 

Likewise  two  reverend  priests  were  executed  this  year  at  Tyburn 
for  their  character,  viz.,  Mr.  John  Duckett  of  the  secular  clergy,  and 
Father  Ralph  Corby  of  the  vSociety  of  Jesus. 


JOHN  DUCKETT,  Priest.^ 

JOHN  DUCKETT  was  the  third  son  of  James  Duckett  (by  his 
wife  Mrs.  Frances  Girlington),  a gentleman  of  an  ancient  family 
but  small  estate.  He  was  born  at  Underwinder  in  the  parish  of 
Sedbergh  in  Yorkshire,  anno  1613.  He  performed  his  studies  in 
the  English  College  of  Doway,  and  received  all  his  orders  there,  being 
made  priest  in  September,  1639.  After  he  was  ordained  he  went  to 
Paris  in  company  of  Mr.  Francis  Gage  (afterwards  doctor  of  Sorbon 
and  President  of  Doway  College)  and  there  remained  three  years  in 
the  College  of  Arras.  The  Doway  Diary  takes  notice  that  he  was 
much  addicted  to  mental  prayer,  so  that  whilst  he  was  yet  a student 
in  the  College  he  was  known  to  have  employed  whole  nights  in  those 
heavenly  communications.  However,  as  he  was  very  humble  and 
discreet  when  he  wa=  going  upon  the  English  mission,  not  content 
with  having  before  conferred  at  Paris  with  some  very  spiritual 
persons,  who  approved  of  his  way  of  prayer  (though  what  passed 
therein  betwixt  his  soul  and  God  was  so  sublime,  that  they  owned 
it  was  above  their  comprehension),  for  farther  security  he  called  at 
Newport,  on  purpose  to  consult  his  kinsman,  the  Reverend  Father 
Duckett,  son  of  James  Duckett  the  martyr,  and  Prior  of  the  English 
Carthusians  there,  and  to  put  himself  under  his  direction,  to  the  end 
that  he  might  proceed  more  safely  in  the  internal  way,  and  avoid 
the  delusions  of  the  enemy,  to  which  contemplatives  are  often 
exposed.  Here  he  spent  about  two  months  in  preparing  himself, 
by  spiritual  exercises,  for  the  great  work  of  the  conversion  of  souls. 

* Ven.  John  Duckett. — From  three  Manuscript  relations  sent  me  from 
Douay — one  by  Mr.  Duckett  himself — and  from  the  College  Diary;  see 
also  De  Marsys,  ii.;  Gillow;  Life,  by  Camm  (C.T.S.). 

457 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1644 


His  mission  was  in  the  Bishopric  of  Durham^  where  he  had  been 
about  a year,  when  he  was  taken  in  the  following  manner : — He  was 
called  from  Drusame^  the  place  of  his  residence,  to  baptize  two 
children  upon  the  Feast  of  the  Visitation  of  our  Blessed  Lady,  Jw/y;  2 ; 
and  as  he  was  going  on  his  way,  in  the  company  of  two  Catholic 
laymen,  some  Parliament  soldiers,  who  had  intelligence  of  it,  waylaid 
him  and  apprehended  him  and  his  companions  between  Whissingham 
and  Lenchester , and  carried  them  to  Sunderland,  where  there  was 
sitting  at  that  time  a committee  of  the  sequestrators.  These 
examined  him  whether  he  was  a priest  or  no.  He  declined  giving 
them  a positive  answer,  and  told  them.  If  he  were  brought  thither  as  a 
delinquent,  he  expected  to  see  what  proofs  could  he  alleged  against  him, 
and  if  none  were  produced,  he  conceived  that  by  the  course  of  the  law  he 
was  quit.  But  as  they  had  strong  suspicions  of  his  being  what  he 
was,  from  the  books  and  holy  oils  which  were  found  about  him,  they 
committed  him  to  prison,  and  a little  while  after,  sending  for  him 
again,  still  pressed  him  to  give  a direct  answer,  and  threatened  to 
put  lighted  matches  betwixt  his  fingers  and  to  burn  him  therewith 
till  he  would  confess  what  he  was.  But  let  us  hear  Mr.  Ducketfs 
own  relation  of  this  part  of  his  history,  and  of  the  motives  upon 
which  he  at  length  confessed  himself  a priest.  ‘ They  committed 
me  to  prison,’  says  he,  ‘ making  no  doubt  of  my  being  a priest,  by 
reason  of  my  holy  oils,  and  such  like  things  they  found  about  me; 
afterwards  I was  called  again,  and  seeing  I would  not  answer  directly 
that  I was  no  priest  they  threatened  to  put  fired  matches  betwixt 
my  fingers  till  I would  confess  what  I was.  But  when  their  threats 
would  not  prevail  they  sent  me  to  gaol  again  and  put  irons  on  me. 
About  an  hour  after  they  called  me  again.  In  the  mean  time  they 
were  examining  the  other  two  that  were  taken  with  me,  who,  when 
I heard  they  would  be  shipped  and  sent  away,  seeing  it  was  because 
I would  not  confess  what  I was,  and  also  fearing  lest  some  of  the 
country  should  come  who  knew  me,  whereby  the  most  part  there 
[i.e.,  the  Catholics  of  that  neighbourhood]  might  have  suffered,  but 
especially  those  with  whom  I lived,  I confessed  myself  to  be  a priest 
to  free  them  and  the  country.’ 

‘ It  seems,’  says  another  manuscript,  ‘ this  was  an  inspiration 
from  heaven,  for  immediately  no  more  inquiry  was  made  after  his 
friends,  but  he  was  sent  up  to  London  with  Father  Ralph  Carlington 
{Corby),  a Jesuit,  who  was  taken  in  those  parts  in  his  vestments,  as 
he  was  going  to  the  altar  to  say  Mass.  So  Mr.  Duckett  imitated  our 
Saviour:  If  you  seek  me,  let  these  go  their  way  I What  follows  is 
taken  from  a letter  dated  September  19,  1644.  ‘ The  two  confessors 

458 


1644] 


JOHN  DUCKETT 


being  brought  up  to  London^  were  examined  by  a committee  of 
Parliament,  where  they  both  stoutly  confessed  themselves  to  be 
priests,  as  they  had  done  before  in  the  country,  so  were  committed 
to  Newgate,  and  brought  to  their  trial  the  next  sessions;  where 
Mr.  Duckett  being  asked  by  Mr.  Glyn  (the  Recorder),  if  he  were  a 
priest  ? Replied,  Yes,  I am.  Upon  this  Mr.  Recorder  said  to  the 
jury.  You  know  what  follows;  he  confesseth  himself  a traitor.  No, 
said  Mr.  Duckett,  I do  not  confess  myself  a traitor,  though  I confess 
myself  a priest.  But  this  sufficed  to  the  forward  jurymen  and  judge ; 
for  upon  this  alone  he  was  cast  by  the  jury  and  condemned  by  the 
judge,’  says  another  manuscript  relation. 

Mr.  Duckett  adds,  in  his  written  account  of  himself,  that  when  he 
was  condemned,  he  told  the  judge.  That  he  rejoiced  more  to  hear  the 
sentence  pronounced  against  him  than  he  did  to  pronounce  it.  And 
both  the  other  manuscripts  and  the  College  Diary  all  agree  that 
whereas  Mr.  Duckett's  natural  complexion  was  pale,  immediately 
upon  his  arraignment  his  countenance  became  in  a manner  angelical 
and  his  cheeks  beautifully  red,  and  continued  so  till  his  death. 
Insomuch,  that  some  who  knew  him  before,  and  appointed  his 
picture  to  be  drawn,  condemned  the  painter  for  not  making  it  like 
him;  but  all  that  had  seen  the  man  in  the  three  last  days  of  his  life, 
confessed  the  picture  exactly  represented  him  as  he  then  appeared. 
See  what  a transformation  grace  can  work  in  human  creatures ! 

‘ It  was  also  much  noted,’  says  the  letter  of  September  19,  1644, 

‘ that  his  cheerful  countenance  proceeded  from  a heart  overjoyed 
that  he  was  to  die  in  such  a cause,  and  himself  hath  testified  in  many 
letters  under  his  own  hand,  that  ever  since  he  was  a priest  he  did  much 
fear  to  live,  hut  nothing  fear  to  die.  Insomuch  that  he  wrote  a letter 
to  one  of  those  who  were  taken  in  company  with  him  (if  he  were 
importuned)  to  confess  that  he  knew  him  to  be  a priest;  For,  said 
the  blessed  man,z/  other  witnesses  fail,  I shall  supply  all  defects  in  that 
point  myself,  God  willing;  knowing  what  it  will  avail  me  to  die  for  such 
a cause;  much  like  St.  Ignatius  the  martyr,  casting  himself  on  the 
lion’s  jaws,  saying  Scio  quid  mihi  prodest,  ignoscite  mihi  filioli. 

‘ He  was  a true  humble  man  (continues  my  author)  and  con- 
temned riches  and  the  vanities  of  this  world.  The  first  appeared 
in  his  refusing  many  accommodations  of  money  and  apparel,  offered 
him,  not  only  by  myself,  but  by  others,  even  when  he  had  never  a 
cloak  to  his  back;  but  rather  chose  to  borrow  one  when  he  went  to 
the  sessions,  &c.  The  other,  in  refusing  to  hear  the  confession  of 
the  Duchess  of  Guise,  who  came  back  from  Dover  on  purpose  to 
spend  the  last  night  of  the  martyr’s  life  with  him  in  watching  and 

459 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1644 


prayer  in  the  prison.  For  although  he  pretended  scruple  of  not 
having  French  enough,  yet  it  is  probable,  he  having  been  so  long 
abroad,  and  especially  coming  lately  from  Paris ^ might  easily  have 
understood  the  lady,  had  not  his  humility  made  him  refer  her  to 
others. 

‘ He  was  much  importuned  to  accept  of  a pardon  of  his  life,  by 
way  of  exchange  for  a Scotch  Lieutenant-Colonel,  in  prison  under 
the  Emperor  in  Germany;  and  when  he  saw  the  matter  of  grace  (as 
the  world  termed  it)  far  advanced,  and  offered  unto  him  * by  the 
father  of  the  Society,  that  was  condemned  with  him,  he  returned  the 
favour  back  to  the  father,  saying.  It  is  a thing  procured  and  prosecuted 
by  your  friends,  he  you  therefore  pleased  to  accept  thereof.  But  being 
persuaded  by  them  (Father  Corby  and  his  friends)  that  there  was 
another  way  to  save  that  father’s  life,  by  his  being  an  Irishman  born, 
and  therefore  not  subject  to  the  penalty  of  the  laws ; then  Mr.  Duckett, 
however  willing  to  die,  thought  he  was  bound  not  to  refuse  the  offer 
of  life,  upon  such  fair  terms.  And  this  I insert  here  to  shew  how 
little  he  esteemed  life;  for  he  was  nothing  altered,  upon  notice  that 
the  Parliament  (which  had  by  their  committee  given  hopes  formerly 
of  such  a thing)  was  now  resolved  not  to  save  a priest’s  life  by  any 
such  exchange.  Had  this  happened  to  a soul  less  resigned  than 
blessed  Mr.  Duckett's,  it  would  have  made  some  alteration,  whereas 
here  it  made  none  at  all  in  this  constantly  cheerful  martyr. 

‘ It  was  noted  by  all  sorts  of  spectators  that  he  had  a continual 
smile  in  his  looks  all  the  way  he  went  to  execution,  which  smile  it 
seemed  was  from  the  heart.  For  when  the  blessed  man  came  to 
the  hurdle,  he  was  not  content  to  be  helped  up,  but  of  himself  leaped 
into  the  straw,  and  composed  himself  upon  it,  as  if  he  had  been 
riding  in  triumph.  Before  he  went  out  of  prison  to  the  hurdle, 
seeing  many  weeping  about  him,  he  smiling  said.  Why  weep  you  for 
me,  who  am  glad  at  heart  of  this  happy  day?  And  added,  Hcec  dies 
quam  fecit  Dominus,  exultemus  et  Icetemur  in  ed.  And  some  of  the 
jailers  observing  his  smiling  farewell  from  the  prison,  said.  Assuredly 
this  man  dies  for  a good  cause,  since  he  and  all  of  his  profession  go 
cheerfully  to  the  gallows,  whereas  those  of  our  religion  go  weeping 
and  wringing  their  hands. 

‘ He  gave  his  benediction  to  all  that  asked  it  on  the  way,  with  his 
head  raised  from  the  hurdle,  and  a smiling  look.  This  was  testified 
unto  me  by  many,  but  especially  by  Don  Antonio  de  Sousa,  Resident 
for  the  King  of  Portugal,  who  attended  the  martyrs  unto  the  place  of 

* Mr.  Corby,  when  it  was  proposed  to  him,  referred  it  to  me,  and  I 
again  to  him;  thus  to  and  fro  it  went,  till  etc. — Mr.  Duckett's  MSS. 

460 


1644] 


JOHN  DUCKETT 


execution,  and  twice  upon  the  way  spoke  to  them  and  asked  their 
benedictions,  and  affirmed  with  what  alacrity  Mr.  Duckett  gave  it  him. 

‘ At  the  gallows  he  said  little,  only  he  told  the  minister  that  went 
about  to  pervert  him.  Sir,  I come  not  hither  to  he  taught  my  faith,  hut 
to  die  for  the  profession  of  it.  It  seems  there  was  a fear  lest  Mr. 
Duckett  would  have  spoken  much  out  of  the  abundant  joy  that 
appeared  in  him ; so  to  prevent  that  he  was  in  a manner  throttled  alive 
(by  an  ill-favoured  hampering  of  the  rope  about  his  neck,  which  the 
hangman  used  to  none  but  to  him),  and  he  was  observed  to  stand  a 
long  time  in  prayer  upon  the  cart,  before  it  was  drawn  away,  half- 
hanged  indeed.  When  the  hangman  came  to  cast  the  rope  about 
his  neck,  Mr.  Duckett  took  it  into  his  own  hands,  and  smiling,  kissed 
it  for  joy  that  he  was  thereby  so  near  the  end  of  his  time  and  the  begin- 
ning of  eternity;  for  he  did  many  times  express  the  sense  he  had  of 
eternity,  and  his  longing  after  it,  which  made  him  glad  at  the  short- 
ness of  his  time  upon  so  happy  an  occasion. 

‘ One  thing  was  singular  in  these  blessed  martyrs,  more  than  in 
ail  that  went  before  them  in  England  of  latter  days,  that  they  both 
appeared  in  their  own  weeds  in  this  last  scene  of  their  lives;  going 
with  hair  cut,  shaved  crowns,  and  in  their  cassocks,  from  the  prison 
to  the  place  of  execution,  which  if  they  had  asked  leave  to  do,  perhaps 
had  been  denied  them,  as  it  was  to  some  who  had  asked  leave  before, 
and  were  denied.  [As  to  this  whole  relation]  I can  assure  you, 
I have  many  of  these  particulars  under  Mr.  Ducketfs  own  hand- 
writing, and  all  the  rest  from  persons  of  good  credit,  both  ear  and 
eye-witnesses  thereof.’  So  far  the  letter. 

Whilst  he  was  in  Newgate  he  reconciled  one  of  the  felons,  who 
afterwards  died  with  him. 

Mr.  Duckett  suffered  at  Tyhurn,  September  7,  1644,  in  the  thirty- 
first  year  of  his  age,  the  fifth  of  his  priesthood,  and  the  second  of  his 
mission. 


RALPH  CORBY,  alias  CARLINGTON, 
Priest,  S.J.* 

Ralph  CORBY,  who  was  known  upon  the  mission  by  the 
name  of  Carlington,  was  born  near  Dublin  in  Ireland,  of  English 
parents,  natives  of  the  Bishopric  of  Durham,  and  zealous 
converts,  who  went  over  into  Ireland  for  the  freer  exercise  of  their 

* Ven.  Ralph  Corby,  alias  Carlington. — From  his  Life,  printed  at 
Antwerp,  in  1645  [Certamen  Triplex] ; see  also  De  Marsys,  ii.;  Foley,  Records, 
iii.;  Gillow;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia. 

461 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1644 


religion.  Here  our  confessor  was  brought  into  this  world,  on 
Lady  Day  in  March,  1598,  and  when  he  was  five  years  old  accom- 
panied his  parents  in  their  return  to  England,  with  whom  he  lived 
partly  in  Lancashire,  and  partly  in  the  Bishopric  (for  the  persecutors 
suffered  them  not  to  continue  long  in  the  same  place)  till  the  age  of 
fifteen,  being  all  the  while  remarkably  dutiful  and  obedient  to  his 
parents,  modest  and  reserved  in  his  words,  peaceful  and  meek  in 
his  temper,  wonderfully  sincere  and  exact  in  his  speech,  despising 
money,  and,  when  any  was  given  him,  giving  it  away  to  a younger 
brother,  and  above  all  very  devout  at  his  prayers,  and  a great  lover 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  whose  Little  Office  he  used  to  recite  upon  all 
Sundays  and  holidays.  All  which  virtues  were,  under  God,  due 
to  his  pious  education;  his  parents  being  very  virtuous  themselves, 
and  taking  care  to  bring  up  their  children  such.  Insomuch  that 
both  parents  and  children  all  entered  into  religion ; the  father  and  his 
three  sons  in  the  Society  oi  Jesus,  the  mother  and  her  two  daughters 
in  the  holy  Order  of  St.  Bennet. 

Young  Mr.  Ralph  at  fifteen  years  of  age  was  admitted  into  the 
English  College  of  St.  Omers,  where  he  spent  six  years  in  the  study 
of  humanity,  and  then  was  sent  into  Spain,  where  he  employed  five 
years  more  in  the  study  of  philosophy  and  divinity;  one  year  at 
Seville,  where  his  health  permitted  him  not  to  remain  any  longer, 
and  four  at  Valladolid,  where  he  was  made  priest.  He  then  returned 
into  Flanders,  made  his  noviceship  in  the  Society  of  Jesus  at  Watten; 
finished  his  divinity  at  Liege,  and  after  two  years  spent  at  Ghent  was 
sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1632.  His  missionary  labours 
were  employed  amongst  the  poorer  sort  of  Catholics  in  the  bishopric 
of  Durham,  where  he  travelled  much,  winter  and  summer,  day  and 
night,  and  generally  on  foot,  to  instruct,  comfort,  and  administer 
the  sacraments  to  a persecuted  people,  scattered  here  and  there  in 
the  villages  of  that  country,  and  this  for  the  space  of  twelve  years, 
suffering  very  much  all  the  while  from  a bad  state  of  health,  and 
meeting  with  very  indifferent  accommodations  both  as  to  lodging 
and  diet  from  his  country  hosts,  whose  hearts  nevertheless  he  had 
gained  in  such  manner  by  his  virtue  and  charity,  that  they  loved  him 
as  their  father  and  reverenced  him  as  an  apostle. 

He  had  long  aspired  after  the  happiness  of  dying  for  Christ,  and 
now  the  time  came  on  when  his  desire  was  to  be  accomplished.  It 
was  on  the  8th  o^July,  1644,  when  going  to  Mass  at  a country  house 
in  Hampsterly , not  far  from  Newcastle,  he  was  apprehended  by  the 
Parliament  soldiers  rushing  into  the  house,  and  scarce  giving  him 
time  to  put  off  his  vestments,  and  was  hurried  away  to  Sunderland, 

462 


1644] 


RALPH  CORBY 


where  a committee  of  the  sequestrators  was  then  sitting.  To  these 
men  he  readily  confessed  himself  to  be  a priest ; and  being  required 
to  sign  a paper  in  which  his  confession  was  set  down  in  writing,  he 
obeyed,  and  without  more  ado  was  put  on  shipboard  to  be  carried 
to  London.  Here  to  his  great  comfort  he  found  the  Rev.  Mr.  John 
Duckett,  a prisoner  for  the  same  cause,  and  now  designed  to  be  his 
companion  in  the  same  voyage,  as  he  afterwards  was  both  in  prison 
and  in  death.  And  here  these  two  servants  of  God  contracted  a 
holy  friendship  which  death  itself  could  not  dissolve,  and  being 
founded  in  God  will  unite  them  in  God  to  all  eternity. 

As  soon  as  these  two  confessors  of  Christ  were  arrived  at  London, 
they  were  carried  before  a committee  of  the  Parliament  at  West- 
minster, where  their  confession,  which  they  had  signed  before  of  their 
being  priests,  was  produced  and  acknowledged  by  them  for  their 
act  and  deed.  Upon  which  they  were  ordered  to  Newgate,  and 
conducted  thither  through  the  streets  lined  with  the  mob,  by  a whole 
company  of  soldiers  with  their  captain  at  their  head,  beating  their 
drums  and  shooting  off  their  muskets  from  time  to  time,  as  if  they 
had  taken  in  war  the  generals  of  their  enemies,  and,  like  the  old 
Romans,  were  carrying  them  in  triumph.  In  Newgate  the  servants 
of  God  remained  close  prisoners  till  the  next  sessions,  that  is,  till 
the  month  of  September.  And  as  the  violent  disposition  of  the 
Parliament  at  that  time  with  regard  to  priests  made  them  look  for 
nothing  else  but  the  sentence  of  death,  so  they  took  care  to  prepare 
for  it  by  giving  themselves  up  to  prayer  and  other  religious  exercises; 
seeming  at  the  same  time,  by  a pious  emulation,  to  vie  with  one  another 
which  should  excel  in  humility,  charity,  patience,  zeal  for  the  divine 
glory,  and  other  heroical  virtues;  yet  so  as  to  maintain  a wonderful 
harmony  of  will  and  mutual  concord  in  all  things,  to  the  great  edifica- 
tion of  all  that  came  near  them. 

But  what  was  particularly  remarkable  in  these  two  confessors 
was  their  pious  strife  upon  the  occasion  lately  mentioned  in  our 
account  of  Mr.  Duckett;  when  some  hopes  being  given  that  the  life 
of  one  of  them  might  be  saved,  by  way  of  exchange  for  a Scottish 
officer  (a  lieutenant-colonel)  at  that  time  the  Emperor’s  prisoner,  the 
imperial  Resident  made  the  offer  first  to  Father  Corby,  and  he,  after 
many  thanks  to  his  Excellency,  modestly  declined  it,  and  desired  it 
might  be  conferred  on  Mr.  Duckett,  who,  he  said,  was  young  and 
healthful,  and  in  all  other  respects  well  qualified  to  do  good  service 
upon  the  mission;  whereas  for  himself  he  was  grown  infirm,  and  if 
his  life  were  spared  could  do  little  service.  On  the  other  hand, 
Mr.  Duckett,  when  the  offer  was  made  to  him,  returning  thanks  both 

463 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1644 


to  the  Resident  and  Father  Corby ^ equally  declined  the  favour,  and 
professed  it  would  be  better  placed  on  Father  Corby,  a person  of 
known  experience,  zeal,  and  piety,  and  far  better  qualified  to  serve 
the  mission  than  himself.  And  thus  to  the  great  edification  of  the 
Resident,  who  came  in  person  to  Newgate  on  this  occasion,  the  offer 
he  made  was  handed  to  and  fro  between  them,  neither  being  willing 
to  accept  of  it,  till  an  expedient  was  proposed  to  save  them  both; 
but  it  succeeded  not,  for  the  Parliament,  it  seems,  was  resolved  they 
both  should  suffer. 

They  were  both  therefore  brought  to  the  bar  upon  the  4th  of 
September,  at  the  Old  Bailey,  where  their  trials  were  soon  over, 
both  having  confessed  before  under  their  own  hands  that  they  were 
priests.  ’Tis  true  Mr.  Corby  alleged  that  he  was  a native  of  Ireland, 
and  therefore  out  of  the  case  of  the  statute;  but  the  Recorder  told 
him  he  was  mistaken,  and  ordered  the  statute  of  the  27th  of  Elizabeth 
to  be  read,  by  which  it  is  made  high  treason  for  any  man  born  within 
the  Queen’s  dominions,  of  which  Ireland  is  a part,  to  remain  in 
England  after  being  made  priest,  &c.  The  jury,  therefore,  as  directed, 
brought  them  both  in  guilty,  and  the  following  day  they  both  received 
sentence  of  death  according  to  the  usual  form,  and  returned  with  joy 
to  the  prison,  there  to  wait  for  that  blessed  and  happy  Saturday,  as 
Father  Corby  expresses  it  in  his  letter  written  to  his  superior  the 
day  that  he  was  condemned,  which  is  the  vigil  of  her  glorious  Nativity 
(the  7th  of  September)  by  whose  holy  intercession,  I hope,  says  he, 
to  be  born  again  to  a new  and  everlasting  life. 

At  their  return  to  Newgate  they  were  thrust  dowm  into  the  con- 
demned hole  amongst  the  felons  by  one  of  the  turnkeys,  who  also 
began  to  strip  them,  and  load  them  with  irons,  till  the  master-keeper, 
who  was  more  humane  (though  not  without  some  consideration  of 
money  to  be  paid  by  them)  allowed  them  a better  lodging.  The 
last  day  of  their  mortal  life,  and  the  whole  ensuing  night,  they 
devoted  to  prayer,  fasting,  watching  (so  as  not  so  much  as  once  to 
close  their  eyes),  and  spiritual  conferences  with  those  who  came  to 
visit  them,  as  many  did  both  English  and  foreigners;  and  amongst 
the  latter  most  of  the  Ministers  of  Catholic  princes  and  states,  then 
residing  in  London,  as  also  the  Duchess  of  Guise,  who  passed  the 
whole  night  in  watching  and  prayer  with  them;  and  having  made 
her  confession  to  Father  Corby,  received  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
at  his  hands,  and  purchased  the  chalice  in  which  he  said  his  last 
Mass,  which  she  afterwards  kept  as  a precious  relic.  The  Erench 
envoy  also  made  his  confession  to  the  father,  and  received  from  him 
a pair  of  beads  and  a blessed  medal  to  be  sent  to  the  queen-mother 

464 


1644] 


RALPH  CORBY 


of  France y and  professed  after  his  departure,  how  much  he  had  been 
edified  by  the  sight  and  conversation  of  both  these  champions  of 
Christ,  and  that  he  had  never  seen  their  equals  for  Christian  fortitude. 
Many  others  also  there  were  that  confessed  to  them  and  received 
at  their  hands  in  their  last  Masses,  to  the  great  comfort  of  their  souls. 

It  was  observed  that  Father  Corhy^  who  from  the  time  of  his 
condemnation  till  then  had  been  full  of  joy  at  the  approach  of  his 
happy  dissolution,  whilst  he  was  saying  his  last  Mass, like  his  Saviour 
in  the  garden,  appeared  to  be  as  it  were  in  an  agony  of  sadness  and 
fear,  which  discovered  itself  in  his  gestures,  and  in  his  voice,  to  the 
surprise  of  the  standers-by.  Who  afterwards  inquiring  of  him  the 
meaning  of  it,  learnt  from  his  own  mouth  that  certain  melancholy 
thoughts  at  that  time  pressed  in  upon  him,  which  over-clouded  his 
soul,  till  by  earnest  prayer  to  God  they  were  dispelled,  and  tran- 
quillity and  joy  succeeded  in  their  place.  And  so  from  that  time  till 
his  happy  death,  he  continued  cheerful  and  joyful;  and  told  his 
friends  who  wept  at  their  last  parting  with  him,  when  he  was  going 
out  in  order  for  execution,  that  they  had  no  reason  to  weep,  but 
rather  if  they  loved  him  ought  to  rejoice  and  congratulate  with  him 
who  was  going  to  meet  so  great  a happiness. 

And  now  the  7th  of  Septemher  was  come,  when  these  two  soldiers 
of  Christ  were  to  fight  their  last  battle.  When  about  ten  o’clock  in 
the  morning  they  were  called  down  to  the  hurdle,  they  went  forth 
with  their  crowns  shaved,  the  one  in  the  religious  habit  of  the  Society 
oi  Jesus y and  the  other  in  his  clergyman’s  cassock ; and  being  pinioned 
down  according  to  custom,  they  were  drawn  from  Newgate  to  Tyhurn. 
Many  Catholics  asked  and  received  their  blessing  in  the  way,  and 
even  the  Protestants  who  saw  them  could  not  help  admiring  their 
courage  and  constancy.  When  they  were  arrived  at  the  place  of 
execution  they  kissed  the  gallows,  and  giving  God  thanks  they  got 
into  the  cart,  where  there  stood  five  malefactors  who  were  to  be 
executed  with  them.  Mr.  Duckett  for  his  part  made  no  speech,  but 
stood  silent  with  his  eyes  lifted  up  towards  heaven.  Father  Corby 
contented  himself  with  a short  discourse,  in  which  he  gave  an  account 
of  the  cause  for  which  he  and  his  companions  were  to  die,  viz.y 
merely  for  being  Catholic  priests ; nothing  else  being  alleged  against 
either  of  them.  The  Sheriff  told  him  they  had  seduced  many,  and 
were  to  die  because,  having  been  made  priests  beyond  the  seas,  they 
had  returned  into  England  and  seduced  the  King’s  subjects  in 
contempt  of  the  laws  of  God  and  the  kingdom.  Pardon  mey  Mr. 
Sheriff  y said  Father  Corby y there  is  no  contempt  of  the  laws  of  God 
in  the  case;  and  if  our  desiring  the  salvation  of  our  neighbours y if  our 

465  2 G 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1644 


receiving  for  this  purpose  the  holy  order  of  priesthood  instituted  hy  Christy 
if  our  bringing  hack  to  Christ's  fold  the  sheep  that  were  gone  astray,  he 
against  the  laws  of  the  kingdom  and  punishable  hy  death;  I would  have 
the  whole  world  understaiid  that  in  such  a cause  we  are  not  afraid  of 
death,  hut  earnestly  desire  it,  and  embrace  it  with  open  arms.  Yes, 
Mr.  Sheriff,  we  most  willingly  render  this  day  to  our  Saviour,  Who 
most  lovingly  died  for  us  all,  this  life  of  ours,  due  a thousand  times  over 
to  His  merits  and  death;  and  we  shall  joyfully  die  for  the  love  of  Him, 
and  for  the  cause  of  our  religion.  This  was  the  sum  of  his  words, 
says  my  author,  diligently  noted  by  a Catholic  that  stood  near;  nor 
was  there  opportunity  for  his  speaking  much  more  to  the  people; 
but  the  confessor  was  not  wanting  in  exhorting  and  animating  one 
of  the  five  who  were  to  suffer  with  him, Hauard  by  name,  condemned, 
though  as  ’tis  thought  wrongfully,  for  coining,  who  had  been  lately 
reconciled  in  prison,  and  made  a public  profession  of  his  faith  at 
the  gallows,  regretting  very  much  that  he  had  known  it  so  late,  and 
declaring  aloud  that  there  was  no  other  way  to  eternal  salvation. 

And  now  the  two  confessors  most  lovingly  embraced  each  other, 
and  took  their  leave  for  a moment  to  meet  for  ever  in  a happy  eternity. 
The  Sheriff  would  not  permit  them  to  be  cut  down,  till  he  was 
assured  they  were  quite  dead.  But  then  on  the  other  hand  he  shewed 
his  zeal  against  popery  by  ordering  all  things  to  be  burnt,  even  to 
the  very  apron  and  sleeves  of  the  hangman,  that  had  been  sprinkled 
with  any  of  their  blood,  that  the  Papist  dogs,  as  he  said,  might  have 
nothing  to  keep  for  relics.  Yet  some  there  were  who,  notwith- 
standing all  this  diligence  of  the  Sheriff,  found  means  to  procure 
some  pieces  of  Mr.  Duckett's  cassock,  one  of  his  hands,  and  the 
whole  cassock  of  Father  Corby . 

He  suffered  September  7,  1644,  cetatis  anno  forty-six,  Societatis 
twenty. 


[ 1645.  ] 

Five  months  did  not  fully  pass  from  the  execution  of  Mr.  Duckett 
and  Mr.  Corby,  when  another  gentleman  of  the  same  character 
suffered  at  the  same  place,  for  the  same  cause,  viz.. 


466 


1645] 


HENRY  MORSE 


HENRY  MORSE,  Priest,  SJ.^ 

Henry  morse,  some  time  known  upon  the  mission  by  the 
name  of  CuthhertClaxton,^2i^hoYnm  Suffolk.oi  a gentleman’s 
family, 1595.  His  parents  were  Protestants  who  brought 
him  up  in  their  own  religion,  in  which  he  continued  till  the  twenty- 
third  year  of  his  age,  when  being  a student  of  the  laws  in  one  of  the 
Inns  of  Court  in  London^  he  began  to  examine  more  seriously  the 
grounds  of  the  Catholic  faith,  and  after  some  time  retired  into 
Flanders,  and  was  there  received  into  the  Church  at  Doway.  This 
happened  about  the  beginning  of  the  year  1618  (for  this  was  the 
twenty-third  year  of  Mr.  Morse's  age),  and  I find  in  the  Doway 
Diary  that  he  was  admitted  convictor  in  the  English  College  in  the 
month  of  August  of  that  same  year,  having  already  suffered  imprison- 
ment for  his  religion  upon  his  return  into  England  after  his  recon- 
ciliation. At  Doway  he  remained  till  September  15,  1620,  when  he 
left  the  College,  being  then  in  logic,  in  order  to  go  into  England, 
but  not  long  after  he  travelled  to  Rome,  where  he  was  received  in  the 
English  Seminary  of  that  city,  and  having  finished  his  studies  was 
promoted  to  holy  orders  and  sent  upon  the  English  mission. 

He  landed  at  Newcastle  and  was  no  sooner  got  to  shore  but 
immediately  was  carried  before  a magistrate  upon  suspicion  of  his 
being  a priest,  and  committed  to  prison,  where  he  was  detained 
three  years  in  great  sufferings,  under  a very  bad  state  of  health, 
besides  the  other  incommodities  of  the  place ; all  which  he  endured 
with  a most  edifying  patience.  This  prison  was,  it  seems,  to  serve 
for  his  noviceship,  for  he  had  obtained  of  the  General  of  the  Jesuits 
at  his  departure  from  Rome,  that  after  his  arrival  in  England  he  should 
be  admitted  into  their  Society,  and  conveniently  for  that  purpose 
another  priest  of  the  Society  was  about  the  same  time  cast  into  the 
same  prison,  who  might  assist  him  in  quality  of  master  of  novices. 
After  three  years’  close  confinement  here  amongst  felons  and 
malefactors,  several  of  whom  he  had  the  comfort  to  reconcile  to  God 
and  His  Church,  he  was  transported  into  perpetual  banishment, 
and  upon  that  occasion  went  to  Watten,  where  he  recruited  his 
health,  wTich  was  much  impaired  in  prison,  and  spent  some  time 
amongst  the  novices  in  such  manner  as  to  give  them  great  edification. 

* Ven.  Henry  Morse. — From  his  Life  [in  Certamen  Triplex],  published 
at  Antwerp  the  same  year  that  he  suffered;  from  the  Douay  Diary,  etc.;  see 
also  Foley,  Records,  i.;  Warburton,  Prince  Rupert. 

467 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1645 


From  thence  he  was  sent  to  make  a mission  amongst  the  English 
soldiers  at  that  time  in  the  service  of  the  King  of  Spain,  who  were 
quartered  in  the  neighbouring  cities,  of  which  charitable  employ 
he  acquitted  himself  with  great  zeal  and  success,  till  he  contracted 
a malignant  fever  which  had  like  to  have  bereaved  him  of  his  life; 
but  God  preserved  him  for  greater  things.  After  his  recovery  he 
spent  some  time  at  Watten  and  Liege  in  quality  of  minister  of  those 
communities,  and  then  his  zeal  of  souls  prompted  him  to  desire  to 
be  sent  back  upon  the  English  mission. 

To  England,  therefore,  he  was  sent,  and  quickly  found  an  oppor- 
tunity of  labouring  with  great  fruit  during  the  plague  which  raged 
in  London  in  1636  and  1637.  It  is  scarce  credible  what  pains  he 
took  on  this  occasion  in  visiting,  assisting,  comforting,  and  relieving 
such  as  were  infected,  as  well  Protestants  as  Catholics,  having  to 
this  end  provided  himself  with  a list  of  about  four  hundred  families, 
where  the  infection  had  taken,  which  he  allotted  to  his  own  particular 
charge,  and  punctually  visited  in  their  turns;  and  great  was  the 
blessing  God  was  pleased  to  give  to  his  labours,  not  only  in  respect 
to  the  souls  of  the  poor  Catholics  whom  he  assisted  with  the  sacra- 
ments, but  also  in  the  conversion  of  many  Protestants.  During  the 
course  of  this  plague.  Father  Morse  was  himself  thrice  seized  with 
the  infection,  and  when  at  the  third  time  he  looked  for  nothing  but 
death,  he  recovered  again  upon  the  receiving  a letter  from  his 
superior,  commanding  him  to  desist  for  the  future  from  attending 
the  infected. 

Not  long  after  this  he  was  apprehended  by  a special  warrant 
from  the  Lords  of  the  Council  and  committed  to  Newgate,  and  at 
the  next  sessions  brought  upon  his  trial,  accused  of  being  a priest, 
and  of  having  seduced  His  Majesty’s  subjects  from  the  religion  by 
law  established.  Mr.  Prynne,  in  his  Popish  Royal  Favourite,  p.  29, 
informs  us  that  there  was  exhibited  and  read  in  open  court  a certi- 
ficate shewing  that  he  had  perverted,  as  they  term.ed  it,  five  hundred 
and  sixty  Protestants  in  and  about  the  parish  of  St.  Giles  in  the 
Fields.  But  this  part  of  the  accusation,  it  seems,  could  not  be  legally 
proved.  Of  the  other  point,  viz.,  of  his  being  a priest,  he  was 
found  guilty  by  his  jury,  yet  upon  the  mediation  of  the  Queen  he  did 
not  receive  sentence  of  death,  but  after  some  time  was  bailed  out, 
and  at  length  sent  into  banishment  by  the  King’s  proclamation  in 
the  beginning  of  1641. 

In  the  time  of  this  banishment  he  was  not  idle  but  made  another 
mission  amongst  the  English  soldiers  of  Colonel  Gagers  regiment, 
with  such  diligence  and  zeal,  that  he  deservedly  gained  the  esteem 

468 


1645] 


HENRY  MORSE 


of  that  great  officer,  insomuch  that  he  usually  called  him  the  holy 
father.  But  his  ardour  for  the  greater  glory  of  God  prompted  him 
continually  to  desire  to  return  into  England^  where  he  might  have  a 
larger  field  to  work  in,  not  without  a prospect  of  receiving  the  crown 
of  martyrdom  for  the  reward  of  his  labours,  nor  did  he  desist  im- 
portuning his  superiors  till  they  gave  their  consent  to  his  return. 
He  was  at  Ghent  when  he  received  this  welcome  news  in  1643, 
which  he  immediately  imparted  with  great  joy  to  his  brethren  there, 
going  from  room  to  room  to  them;  and,  as  he  made  no  doubt  but 
that  he  was  going  to  die  for  his  faith,  promising  that  he  would  here- 
after be  mindful  of  them.  He  sailed  for  the  northern  parts  of 
England^  and  landed  safely  there,  and  for  about  a year  and  a half 
diligently  laboured  amongst  the  Catholics  of  those  provinces  in  those 
turbulent  times,  till  going  to  a house  on  the  borders  of  Cumberland 
to  assist  a sick  person,  he  was  apprehended  upon  suspicion  by  some 
soldiers  that  were  making  search  there  after  another  person,  and  was 
sent  under  a guard  towards  Durham.  In  the  way  thither  he  was  to 
lodge  one  night  at  a constable’s  house,  whose  wife  was  a Catholic, 
who  managed  matters  so  as  to  give  him  an  opportunity  of  making  his 
escape  for  that  time.  But  about  six  weeks  after  it  plainly  appeared 
that  it  was  God’s  will  he  should  glorify  His  divine  Name  by  suffering 
for  Him;  when  he,  travelling  in  that  county  with  a guide  perfectly 
well  acquainted  with  all  the  ways  thereabouts,  and  being  within  a 
mile  or  two  of  the  house  to  which  he  was  going,  his  guide  all  on  a 
sudden  was  puzzled  and  knew  not  which  way  to  turn,  as  if  his  memory 
had  been  quite  gone  from  him.  Upon  this  they  went  up  to  the  next 
cottage  to  inquire  their  way,  and  behold, at  the  very  door, they  meet 
a man,  who  looking  Father  Morse  in  the  face,  asked  if  he  was  not  the 
person  who  had  lately  escaped  from  the  soldiers  who  were  carrying 
him  to  Durham?  This  unexpected  encounter  surprised  the  father, 
who  not  being  able  to  deny  the  truth,  was  apprehended  and  hurried 
away  to  Durham  gaol,  where  he  was  close  confined  in  a filthy 
lodging  for  several  weeks,  and  then  carried  to  Newcastle  to  be 
shipped  off  for  London. 

At  sea  he  suffered  much  from  the  barbarous  usage  of  the  rascally 
ship-crew,  and  withal,  had  like  to  have  been  cast  away  in  a violent 
storm,  in  which  another  ship  was  lost  before  his  eyes;  but  God 
reserved  him  for  a more  glorious  death.  Being  arrived  at  London 
he  was  committed  to  Newgate,  January  the  24th;  and  notwith- 
standing his  brother,  who  was  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  a Protestant, 
left  no  stone  unturned  to  save  his  life,  he  was  brought  to  the  bar 
on  the  30th  of  the  same  month;  and  being  found  to  be  the  man  who 

469 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1645 


had  been  brought  in  guilty  of  priesthood  some  years  before,  he  was 
without  further  trial  sentenced  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason, 
and  sent  back  to  Newgate;  where,  for  the  short  remainder  of  his 
mortal  life,  great  numbers  of  all  sorts  of  people  flocked  to  him,  and 
were  much  edified  by  his  saintly  comportment  and  conversation. 

On  the  first  of  February,  the  day  of  his  execution,  he  celebrated 
early  in  the  morning  a votive  Mass  of  the  Blessed  Trinity  in  thanks- 
giving for  the  great  favour  God  was  pleased  to  do  him,  in  calling 
him  to  the  crown  of  martyrdom,  having  first,  according  to  custom, 
recited  the  litanies  of  our  Blessed  Lady  and  of  all  the  Saints  for  the 
conversion  of  England.  After  which  he  made  an  exhortation  to  the 
Catholics  that  were  present,  and  having  reposed  himself  for  about 
an  hour,  and  performed  the  canonical  hours  of  the  divine  office,  he 
went  to  the  rooms  of  all  his  fellow-prisoners  and  took  his  leave  of 
them  with  that  cheerfulness  in  his  looks  as  astonished  them  all. 
The  little  time  that  remained,  he  employed  in  private,  with  another 
religious  man  of  his  order,  in  most  fervent  acts  of  faith,  hope,  divine 
love,  contrition,  &c.,  till  being  admonished  that  his  time  was  come, 
he  cast  himself  upon  his  knees,  and  with  hands  and  eyes  lifted  up  to 
heaven,  gave  hearty  thanks  to  the  Almighty,  extolled  His  infinite 
mercy  towards  him,  and  offered  himself,  without  any  reserve,  as  a 
sacrifice  to  His  .Divine  Majesty.  ‘ Come,  my  sweetest  Jesu,’  said 
he,  ‘ that  I may  now  be  inseparably  united  to  Thee  in  time  and  in 
eternity  ! welcome  ropes,  hurdles,  gibbets,  knives,  and  butchery  ! 
welcome  for  the  love  of  Jesus  my  Saviour  !’ 

At  nine  in  the  morning  the  Sheriff  came  to  the  prison,  and  calling 
for  Father  Morse,  handed  him  down  very  courteously  to  the  sledge, 
on  which  he  was  drawn  by  four  horses  to  Tyburn.  The  French 
ambassador  met  him  in  the  way  in  his  coach,  and  in  the  sight  of  the 
whole  multitude  saluted  him,  and  craved  his  benediction;  and 
afterwards  attended  him  at  the  place  of  execution  with  all  his  retinue, 
begging  his  prayers  for  the  common  peace  of  Christendom,  and  for 
the  king  and  kingdom  of  France.  The  Count  D'Egmont  was  also 
present  in  his  coach,  to  take  his  last  leave  of  the  confessor;  who, 
getting  up  into  the  cart  under  the  gallows,  and  being  permitted  by 
the  Sheriff  to  speak  to  the  people,  addressed  himself  to  them  in 
these,  or  the  like  words,  which  he  delivered  with  a loud  voice. 

‘ I am  come  hither  to  die  for  my  religion,  for  that  religion  which 
is  professed  by  the  Catholic  Roman  Church,  founded  by  Christ, 
established  by  the  Apostles,  propagated  through  all  ages  by  an 
hierarchy  always  visible  to  this  day,  grounded  on  the  testimonies 
of  holy  scriptures;  upheld  by  the  authority  of  fathers  and  councils, 

470 


HENRY  MORSE 


1645] 

out  of  which,  in  fine,  there  can  be  no  hopes  of  salvation.’  Here  the 
Sheriff  interrupted  him,  and  bid  him  desist  from  that  subject,  and 
rather  tell  if  he  knew  of  any  plots  against  the  King  or  Parliament. 
So  Mr.  Morse  went  on:  ‘ The  time  was,’  said  he,  ‘ when  I was  a 
Protestant,  being  then  a student  of  the  laws  in  the  Inns  of  Court  in 
town ; till  being  suspicious  of  the  truth  of  my  religion  I went  abroad 
into  and  upon  full  conviction  renounced  my  former  errors, 

and  was  reconciled  to  the  Church  of  Rome^  the  mistress  of  all 
churches.  Upon  my  return  into  England  I was  committed  to  prison 
for  refusing  the  oath  of  pretended  allegiance,  and  from  prison, 
though  I was  then  no  priest,  I was  sent  into  banishment.  I went 
to  Rome^  and  after  I had  gone  through  the  course  of  my  studies  for 
seven  years  I returned  into  England  to  help  the  souls  of  my  neigh- 
bours; and  here  amongst  other  charities,  I devoted  myself  to  the 
service  of  the  poor  Catholics  and  others  in  the  time  of  the  late  plague, 
and  suffered  nothing  to  be  wanting  that  lay  in  me  to  their  spiritual 
comfort.’ 

You  ought  not  to  glory  of  your  good  works y said  the  Sheriff,  and 
the  Protestant  minister  that  stood  by  him.  ‘ I will  glory  in  nothing,’ 
replied  the  father,  ‘ but  in  my  infirmities;  but  all  glory  I ascribe  to 
God,  who  was  pleased  to  make  use  of  so  weak  an  instrument  in  so 
pious  a ministry;  and  who  is  pleased  now  to  favour  me  so  far  as  to 
allow  m^e  this  day  to  seal  the  Catholic  faith  with  my  blood ; a favour 
which  I have  begged  of  Him  for  these  thirty  years.  And  I pray 
that  my  death  may  be  some  kind  of  atonement  for  the  sins  of  this 
nation;  and  if  I had  as  many  lives  as  there  are  sands  in  the  sea,  I 
would  most  willingly  lay  them  all  down  for  this  end,  and  in  testimony 
of  the  Catholic  faith,  which  faith  is  the  only  true,  the  only  certain 
faith,  the  only  faith  confirmed  by  miracles  still  continuing;  in  which 
to  this  day  the  blind  see,  the  dumb  speak,  the  dead  are  raised  to  life. 
For  thy  testimonies  y O Lordy  are  made  credible  exceedingly . 

‘ But  as,  Mr.  Sheriff,  you  were  pleased  to  ask  if  I knew  of  any 
plots  against  the  King  or  Parliament,  I here  declare  sincerely,  in  the 
presence  of  God,  I never  in  my  life  had  knowledge  of  any  such  plot 
or  conspiracy,  much  less  was  I myself  ever  engaged  in  any.  And  I 
hold  for  certain  that  the  present  tumults,  and  all  the  calamities  under 
which  the  nation  groans,  are  to  be  ascribed  to  nothing  else  but  heresy, 
and  this  spawn  of  so  many  sects ; and  that  it  will  be  in  vain  to  look 
for  tranquillity  and  happiness,  or  any  lasting  remedy  for  these  evils, 
as  long  as  this  mortal  poison  remains  in  the  very  bowels  of  the 
nation.’ 

Here  the  Sheriff  would  not  suffer  him  to  proceed,  but  bid  him 

471 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1645 


say  his  prayers,  and  prepare  himself  for  death.  ‘ I will  do  as  you  bid 
me,’  said  Father  Morse,  ‘ and  will  prepare  myself  as  well  as  I can 
for  my  departure  hence,  which  is  indeed  the  thing  I have  been  doing 
for  these  thirty  years,  ever  since  I was  a Catholic.’  Then  recollecting 
himself  for  a while,  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  heaven  and  prayed  with  a 
loud  voice  to  the  Blessed  Trinity,  acknowledging  himself  a great 
sinner,  humbly  begging  mercy  and  pardon  for  all  his  offences,  and 
forgiving  his  enemies  and  persecutors  as  he  hoped  for  forgiveness 
from  God.  He  also  prayed  for  all  Christian  kingdoms,  and  most 
particularly  for  England,  and  in  conclusion  recommended  his 
departing  soul  to  God  in  those  words  of  his  dying  Saviour,  Into 
Thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend  my  spirit;  and  so  the  cart  was  drawn 
away,  and  he  quietly  expired.  His  quarters  were  set  up  on  four 
of  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  his  head  on  London  Bridge.  He  suffered 
February  i,  1644-5,  fifty- 


BRIAN  CANSFIELD,  Priest,  SJ.,  Confessor. 

He  was  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Christopher  Barton, 
was  a zealous  and  laborious  missioner,  and  a man  of  great 
mortification.  He  was  apprehended  at  the  altar  saying  Mass, 
hurried  away  in  his  vestments  to  the  next  Justice  of  Peace,  and 
after  divers  injuries  and  affronts,  which  like  his  Master  he  suffered 
with  invincible  patience,  was  cast  into  a filthy  prison,  where  the 
stench  and  other  incommodities  of  the  place  put  an  end  to  his  mortal 
life  in  some  part  of  this  year,  1645.  See  Floras  Anglo- B av aricus , p.  72. 


GEORGE  MUSCOT,  alias  FISHER,  Priest 
and  Confessor. 

This  worthy  gentleman,  whose  memory  will  be  always  dear 
to  the  English  College  of  Doway,  and  whose  pastoral  zeal  and 
great  sufferings  in  the  cause  of  religion  will  ever  challenge  an 
esteem  and  veneration  from  all  that  have  the  interest  of  religion  at 
heart,  justly  claims  a place  in  these  collections,  though  he  neither 

472 


1645] 


GEORGE  MUSCOT 


suffered  at  the  place  of  execution,  nor  died  in  prison.  For  if  he  was 
not  actually  executed,  he  came  as  near  it  as  ever  man  did;  and  if 
labouring  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  in  spite  of  threatening  dangers, 
be  deserving  the  gallows,  never  man  better  deserved  it. 

The  summary  of  his  life  and  sufferings  is  contained  in  his  epitaph, 
engraved  on  the  marble  under  which  he  lies  interred  in  the  chapel  of 
Our  Blessed  Lady  in  the  parish  church  of  James  in  Doway^  and 
is  as  follows: 

Post  plurimos  in  Anglia  pro  fide  Catholica  exantlatos  labores  cum 
ingenti  animarum  lucro,  hie  quiescit  Reverendus  admodum  Dominus 
Georgius  Muscottus^  sacerdos  Anglus;  qui  post  carceris  squalores  viginti 
amplius  annis  toleratos^  post  damnationem  pro  fide  ad  patibulum^  ad 
ignem,  ad  membrorum  discerptionem^  ferali  crate  ad  portam  carceris 
egressurum  prcestolante^et  populo  ad  spectaculum  currente;  vita  interim 
ad  preces  regince  Anglice  a rege  ampliatd,  ad  preesidentiam  collegii 
Anglo-Duaceni  a Summo  Pontifice  evectus  est;  quod  adeo  prceclare 
administravit^  ut  disciplind  reflorescente,  rem  familiar em  quadriennij 
spatio^  etiam  calamitosis  temporibus,  ultra  viginti  millia  florenorum 
adauxerit;  et  tandem  meritis  ipsemet  auctuSy  cerumnis  et  morbis  attenu- 
atuSy  corpus  gracile  terreCy  animam  divitem  cceloy  odorem  optimum 
boni  exempli  omnibus  sacerdotibus  reliquit.  Obiit  anno  cetatis  65, 
sacerdotij  40,  prcesidentice  5,  die  24  DecembriSy  anno  1645,  in  ipsd 
vigilid  Nativitatis  Domini:  Qud  die  ipse  olim  in  foedissimum  lacuni 
inter  latrones  detrusuSy  inibique  per  triduum  detentus  suavissimos 
reportavit  fructus;  nam  ex  decern  facinorosisy  qui  morte  mulctabantur y 
novem  ad  fidem  catholicam  reconciliati  sunt.  Requiescat  in  pace. 

Englished  thus : — 

After  a great  many  labours  undergone  in  England  for  the  Catholic 
faith,  with  very  great  profit  of  souls,  here  reposeth  the  very  Reverend 
Mr.  George  Muscoty  an  English  priest,  who  after  having  suffered  the 
incommodities  of  a prison  for  above  twenty  years,  after  having  been 
condemned  for  the  faith  to  the  gibbet,  to  the  fire,  to  the  dismembering 
and  quartering  of  his  body,  the  fatal  hurdle  waiting  at  the  gate  of  the 
prison  for  his  coming  out,  and  the  people  running  to  the  sight,  was 
in  the  mean  time,  at  the  intercession  of  the  Queen  of  England y re- 
prieved by  the  King,  and  advanced  by  the  Pope  to  the  Presidentship 
of  xhQ English of  Doway yV^hich  he  governed  in  such  manner  as 
both  to  give  a new  life  to  the  discipline  of  the  house,  and  in  four 
years  to  improve,  even  in  the  hardest  times,  its  temporal  estate  by 
the  addition  of  above  20,000  florins,  and  at  length  he  himself  being 
improved  by  merits,  reduced  by  sufferings  and  infirmities,  be- 
queathed his  emaciated  body  to  the  earth,  his  rich  soul  to  heaven,  and 

473 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1646 


the  excellent  odour  of  a good  example  to  all  priests.  He  deceased 
in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  the  fortieth  of  his  priesthood,  the 
fifth  of  his  presidentship,  on  the  24th  of  December^  1^45 > the  very 
vigil  of  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord,  on  which  day  he  having  heretofore 
been  thrust  down  into  a most  filthy  dungeon  amongst  felons,  and  kept 
therein  for  three  days,  had  produced  most  sweet  fruits;  for  out  of 
ten  malefactors  who  were  condemned  to  die  nine  were  reconciled  to 
the  Catholic  faith. — May  he  rest  in  peace. 


[ 1646.  ] 

PHILIP  POWEL,  alias  MORGAN,  Priest,  O.S.B  * 

Philip  POWEL,  com.monly  known  upon  the  mission  by 
the  name  of  Morgan ^ was  the  son  of  Roger  Powel  and  Catherine 
Morgan,  both  of  very  ancient  families,  and  virtuous,  though 
not  rich.  He  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Tralon,  in  Brecknockshire , 
on  Candlemas-day , 1594,  and  brought  up  in  grammar  learning  in 
the  common  school  of  Abergavenny , where  he  was  noted  for  being 
always  very  towardly,  though  amongst  many  rude  companions. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  sent  to  London  to  study  the  law  under 
Father  Augustin  Baker,  ‘ who,  before  he  was  a monk,  was  a famous 
lawyer  in  the  Temple,  with  whom  he  continued  till  he  was  near 
twenty  years  old;  at  which  time,  being  sent  by  him  on  some  tem- 
poral affairs  into  Flanders,  coming  to  Doway,h.Q  was  inflamed  with  a 
great  desire  of  being  a monk  amongst  the  English  Benedictines  of  St. 
Gregory  in  that  town.  His  spirit  being  tried,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
habit  in  1614;  and  after  having  made  a good  progress  in  virtue  and 
learning  (having  for  master  that  learned  divine  Father  Leander  of 
St.  Martin),  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  was  made  priest  [in  1618] ; 
and  in  1622,  on  the  7th  of  March,  was  sent  on  the  mission. 

‘ At  his  first  entrance  into  England,  he  repaired  to  his  former 
master, Father  Baker,  with  whom  he  lived  sixteen  months  and  who 
was  delighted  at  the  exchange  the  young  man  had  made,  and  was 
much  more  ready  now  to  teach  him  in  the  divine  law,  than  ever  he 
had  been  formerly  to  instruct  him  in  the  civil.  After  his  trial,  find- 

* Ven.  Philip  Powel,  alias  Morgan. — From  three  Manuscripts  preserved 
by  the  English  Benedictines  at  Douay;  see  also  Vie  (Paris,  1647). 

474 


1646] 


PHILIP  POWEL 


ing  him  every  way  qualified,  he  sent  him  to  a good  family  (Mr. 
RisderCs  in  Devonshire)^  where  in  a short  time  he  gained  the  affection 
of  all,  insomuch  that  when  Mr.  Risden's  daughter  was  married  to 
Mr.  P[oyntz]  of  L[eighland] , in  Somersetshire^  there  was  a pious  strife 
between  the  father  and  the  daughter  who  should  have  Mr.  Rowel ; 
but  the  daughter  prevailed,  and  with  this  couple  he  had  a constant 
residence  at  L[eighland]  for  twenty-one  or  twenty-two  years,  behaving 
to  the  great  edification  of  all,  till  the  late  wars  forced  that  family 
from  home,  and  obliged  them  to  disperse  themselves  in  different 
places.  Whereupon  Mr.  Rowel  repaired  to  his  old  friend,  John 
Tre\velyan\ , in  the  parish  of  [ Yarnscombe^  in  the  county  of  Devon  ^ and 
to  John  Coff[in],  in  the  parish  of  Rarkham.  Here  he  had  not  been 
above  three  or  four  months  before  these  parts  were  overrun  with 
Parliament  soldiers ; so  that  no  Catholic  could  find  any  place  of  safety 
but  in  Goring' s army,  whither  our  pastor  followed  his  flock,  and  there 
took  exceeding  great  pains  in  his  functions  for  the  space  of  six  months, 
till  that  army  being  dissolved,  he  took  ship  in  a small  vessel  that 
was  bound  from  Cornwall  to  Wales.  And  as  he  was  sailing,  on  the 
Feast  of  St.  Reter's  Chair  {February  22),  his  vessel  was  boarded  by 
Captain  Crowder^  vice-admiral  of  those  seas,  where  two  of  the 
admiral’s  men  knew  him,  and  accused  him  of  being  a priest,  saying, 
that  they  had  lately  been  acquainted  with  him  in  the  parishes  of 
Y arnscombe  and  Rarkham,  where,  said  they,  he  seduced  the  greater 
part  of  the  parishioners  from  their  churches.’ 

Upon  this  the  admiral  told  him  he  certainly  was  a priest,  which 
at  first  he  would  neither  confess  nor  deny;  but  afterwards  recom- 
mending the  matter  to  God,  and  to  the  prayers  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
his  angel  guardian,  and  St.  Benedict,  begging  to  be  inspired  how  to 
behave,  and  what  answer  to  give  on  this  occasion,  he  found  himself 
suddenly  determined  to  acknowledge  his  priestly  character.  So 
that  being  asked  again  that  same  morning  by  Captain  Crowder  if 
he  were  not  a priest,  he  cheerfully  owned  himself  to  be  one;  all 
which  particulars  he  told  a Benedictine  monk  who  was  his  confessarius 
whilst  he  was  prisoner  in  the  King’s  Bench. 

‘ He  was  therefore  committed  prisoner  under  deck,  where  the 
soldiers  barbarously  stripped  him  of  all  his  clothes  to  his  very  shirt, 
and  clothed  him  with  most  beggarly  rags;  and  in  this  condition  he 
was  detained  prisoner  from  the  22d  of  February  to  the  nth  of  May 
following,  being  Monday,  when  by  orders  of  the  Earl  of  Warwick, 
admiral  for  the  Parliament,  he  was  sent  up  to  London,  and  delivered 
to  the  custody  of  St.  Catharine's  gaol  in  Southwark.  Upon  the 
Wednesday  following  he  was  examined  by  Judge  Roules  if  he  were  a 

475 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1646 


priest.  He  acknowledged  he  was,  and  by  him  he  was  commanded 
to  the  King's  Bench  with  recommendation  to  be  civilly  used,  as 
indeed  he  was  at  his  first  entrance;  so  he  ingratiated  himself  much 
with  divers  gentlemen  who  were  there  prisoners  for  debt.  On  the 
Saturday  following  he  was  called  before  the  two  Judges  Bacon  and 
Roules,  by  whom  he  was  examined  of  all  his  whole  life;  of  which  he 
gave  them  account  as  follows,  to  my  best  remembrance,  for  I heard 
it  thrice  read  at  the  King's  Bench  bar. 

‘ I was  born  in  Brecknockshire^  was  educated  at  the  school  of 
Abergavenny^  and  at  sixteen  years  of  age  was  sent  by  my  parents  to 
London  to  apply  myself  to  the  law,  where  I remained  betwixt  three 
and  four  years ; then  I went  to  Doway  to  the  monastery  of  St.  Gregory^ 
of  the  Order  of  St.  Benedict^  and  amongst  them  I received  the  habit 
of  St.  Benedict  when  I was  about  twenty  years  of  age.  There  I 
studied,  and  when  I was  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  I took  holy  orders, 
and  was  made  a Roman  Catholic  priest;  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  I was  sent  into  my  country  by  my  superiors  to  convert  and  assist 
poor  erring  souls;  where  I have  remained  about  twenty  years  in 
Cornwall^  Devon^  and  Somersetshire Mass,  hearing  confessions, 
administering  the  sacraments,  and  using  all  sort  of  functions  of  a 
priest. 

‘ To  this  confession  he  set  his  hand,  and  so  was  returned  back 
to  his  lodging  in  the  King's  Bench ^ where  his  best  accommodation 
was  upon  mats  without  bed,  bolster,  or  sheets,  and  in  a chamber 
with  five  more,  a Catholic  his  bedfellow,  and  some  of  the  rest  being 
sick  persons.  Here  some  few  friends  now  came  to  visit  him;  and 
two  amongst  others,  who  often  importuned  him  to  recall  his  former 
confession,  and  to  pretend  he  was  distracted  when  he  wrote  it 
through  the  hard  usage  he  had  met  with  at  sea.  But  the  holy  man 
would  not  hear  of  any  such  advice. 

‘ On  Friday  the  29th  of  May,  he  was  cast  into  the  common  gaol, 
being  the  next  day  to  be  judged  upon  his  confession.  Here  the 
miseries  of  his  lodging  far  exceeded  the  former,  insomuch  that  it  cast 
him  into  a most  dangerous  pleurisy.  As  soon  as  he  began  to  get 
a little  strength,  he  was  carried  to  the  King's  Bench  bar  in  Westminster 
Hall,  on  Tuesday  the  9th  oijune;  and  his  indictment  drawn  up  from 
his  own  confession  being  read,  the  clerk  demanded  of  him.  Art 
thou  guilty  or  not  guilty  ? The  holy  man  answered  with  a great 
deal  of  meekness  and  courage.  That  I am  a priest,  I freely  did  con- 
fess, and  now  acknowledge  again;  but  guilty  of  any  treason  or  crime 
against  the  State  I am  not.  The  judge  then  said,  Mr.  Morgan, 
you  are  to  answer  directly  to  the  demand.  Are  you  guilty  or  not 

476 


1646] 


PHILIP  POWEL 


guilty?  He  replied,  I have  acknowledged  myself  a priest  and  a 
monk,  but  I am  Not  guilty.  The  judge  demanded  by  whom  he 
would  be  tried  ? By  God  and  by  his  country  ? He  answered. 
If  I must  needs  be  tried,  I will  permit  myself  to  be  tried  by  the 
country.  So  he  was  conducted  back  to  prison. 

‘ On  Friday  the  12th  of  June,  he  was  again  carried  to  the  King^s 
Bench  bar.  His  indictment  being  again  read,  and  the  jury  present, 
the  judge  asked  him,  Mr.  Morgan,  what  can  you  say  for  yourself? 
He  modestly  replied  that  the  proceeding  against  him  ought  to  be 
deferred.  For  first,  said  he,  I doubt  whether  you,  my  Lords,  have 
any  just  power  derived  from  His  Majesty  to  try  me  or  no.  Secondly, 
His  Majesty’s  flag  flying  in  a civil  war,  all  trials  of  life  and  death  cease. 
He  was  permitted  to  say  no  more,  but  conveyed  by  two  tipstaffs 
to  a bye  seat,  whilst  the  jury  sat  upon  him,  and  then  was  called  again 
to  the  bar  to  hear  their  verdict,  who  brought  him  \n  guilty ; so  he  was 
sent  back  to  the  King's  Bench  prison. 

‘ Tuesday,  the  i6th  oijune,  he  was  called  again  to  the  bar.  He 
desired  the  favour  to  speak,  which  being  granted,  he  pleaded  that 
Henry  VHI.  made  a statute  of  qualification  of  all  statutes;  and  that 
the  reason  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  statute  against  priests  was  her  fears 
and  jealousies  of  the  Queen  of  Scots,  and  the  Spaniard  ; and  that  it 
was  conceived  at  that  time  that  all  the  priests  in  England  had  a rela- 
tion to  them  both;  but  that  now  the  case  was  altered;  that  the 
King’s  person  was  absent,  and  no  plot  could  be  executed  by  him 
upon  it;  so  that  both  the  person  and  the  cause  being  taken  away, 
this  latter  statute  might  receive  the  benefit  of  mitigation,  which  point 
was  long  argued  by  him  and  the  judge  in  presence  of  many  lawyers, 
for  it  was  term-time.  He  added  that  according  to  the  letter  of 
Queen  Elizabeth's  statute  he  was  not  guilty,  not  being  taken  in 
England,  but  on  the  sea.  But  all  would  not  do.  So  judgment  was 
pronounced  by  Judge  Bacon  ; upon  which  the  holy  man,  with  a 
cheerful  countenance  and  pleasant  voice,  lifting  up  his  hands  and 
eyes  towards  heaven,  said,  Deo  Gratias,  Thanks  be  to  God,  adding, 
I have  not  here  room  by  reason  of  the  throng  to  give  God  thanks 
on  my  knees ; but  I most  humbly  thank  him  on  the  knee  of  my  heart. 
Then  he  made  an  offering  of  himself  in  a loud  voice  to  his  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  praying  that  the  shedding  of  his  innocent  blood  might 
not  increase  God’s  wrath  upon  this  kingdom,  but  rather  be  a means 
to  appease  it.  Then  he  prayed  for  the  King,  Queen,  and  their  pos- 
terity; for  the  judge,  jury,  and  all  who  were  any  way  guilty  of  his 
death.  The  judge  said.  You  do  us  wrong;  you  have  received  judg- 
ment, and  cannot  plead  your  innocent  blood.  The  blessed  man 

477 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1646 


replied,  My  Lord,  I have  said;  I will  not  offend.  The  judge  bid 
him  make  choice  of  what  day  he  would  die.  He  answered  with 
a pleasant  and  modest  aspect,  as  always.  My  Lord,  consider,  it  is  not 
an  easy  matter,  or  a thing  soon  compassed,  to  be  provided  to  die 
well.  We  have  all  of  us  much  to  answer  for,  and  myself  have  not  the 
least  share;  therefore,  my  Lord,  consider  what  time  your  lordship 
would  allot  to  yourself,  and  appoint  that  to  me.  Yet  the  judge 
made  him  the  same  proffer  a second  and  a third  time;  to  which  he 
lastly  replied,  he  would  by  no  means  be  an  allotter  of  his  own  death, 
or  be  any  way  guilty  of  it;  but  would  leave  it  to  his  lordship’s  dis- 
cretion. So  being  promised  he  should  have  a competent  notice,  he 
was  sent  back  to  his  lodgings  in  the  prison. 

‘ It  was  admirable  to  see  how  pleasant,  how  affable,  and  liberal 
he  was  towards  all:  in  a word,  his  comportment  was  such  that  his 
fellow-prisoners  of  their  own  accord  drew  up  a certificate  of  his 
innocent  and  virtuous  behaviour,  signed  by  twenty-nine  gentlemen, 
all  Protestants  excepting  six,  whom  he  had  reconciled  in  prison, 
{viz.  Captain  Bromjield,  Mr.  Martin,  Mr.  Dutton,  Mr.  Hierome, 
Mr.  Richahie,  &c.).  This  gentleman  last  named  had  a most  wicked 
custom  of  swearing;  the  blessed  man  once  hearing  him  swear,  whilst 
he  was  drinking  amongst  his  companions  (after  his  reconciliation), 
goes  to  him,  calls  him  out,  pays  his  shot,  and  so  severely  reprehends 
him,  that  to  this  day  the  man  was  never  heard  to  swear  an  oath,  as 
his  fellow-prisoners  can  testify.’ 

In  the  common  side  of  the  prison  where  he  was  now  lodged,  the 
holy  man  was  placed  in  a little  low  earthen  ward  in  which  there  were 
eleven  lodgings ; and  bore  with  patience  all  the  nastiness  and  miseries 
of  the  place.  His  office  it  seems  was  to  sweep  the  ward,  which  he 
did  with  great  delight.  One  whom  he  had  reconciled  desiring  to  do 
that  office  for  him,  he  refused  the  courtesy,  and  gave  God  thanks 
that  he  had  this  opportunity  of  serving  the  poor  and  prisoners. 

It  was  also  very  observable  in  this  blessed  man,  that  he  ‘ daily 
increased  in  pleasantness  and  cheerfulness,  as  he  grew  nearer  and 
nearer  to  heaven,  even  to  his  last  hour,  as  many  can  witness  (says 
my  author),  and  myself  can,  being  with  him  daily.  On  the  28th  of 
June,  being  Sunday,  near  eight  in  the  evening  an  officer  came  from 
the  judges,  to  advertise  him  that  Tuesday  morning  next  following 
was  appointed  for  his  death;  beginning  first  with  an  apology,  how- 
unhappy  he  was  to  be  the  messenger  of  such  sad  tidings ; at  which  the 
holy  man  imagining  what  it  was,  joyfully  said.  Welcome,  whatever 
comes  ; God's  name  he  praised ! The  manner  and  cordiality  of  his 
speech  so  daunted  the  officer  that  he  could  not  read  his  charge,  but 

478 


1646] 


PHILIP  POWEL 


the  blessed  man  looking  over  his  shoulder  prompted  him ; then  after 
giving  him  many  thanks,  called  for  a glass  of  sack  and  drank  to  him 
(saying,  as  it  is  in  another  manuscript,  O/z,  what  am  I that  God  thus 
honours  me  ; and  will  have  me  die  for  His  sake  ! which  words  drew 
tears  from  the  eyes  of  a Protestant  that  was  standing  by),  after  which 
he  withdrew  to  praise  and  give  thanks  to  God.  Many  such  like 
things  were  daily  observed  in  his  comportment. 

‘ The  last  of  June  (the  commemoration  of  the  martyrdom  of  St. 
Paul)  being  come,  our  confessor  having  first  spent  the  precedent 
night  with  his  confessarius,  except  two  hours  in  which  he  reposed, 
having  finished  his  confession  and  private  devotions,  celebrated  the 
divine  mysteries  with  tears  trickling  down  his  cheeks.  Then  (being 
called  for)  he  went  with  great  cheerfulness  to  the  hurdle,  on  which 
he  was  drawn  from  the  common  gaol  of  the  King's  Bench  to  Tyburn. 
In  the  way  some  presented  him  with  wine,  and  he,  taking  the  glass  in 
his  hand,  asked  leave  of  the  Sheriff  to  drink  to  his  coachman,  meaning 
the  carter  that  drove  the  horses.  When  he  was  come  to  the  place  of 
execution,  arising  from  the  hurdle,  he  knelt  down  upon  his  bare 
knees  under  the  gallows,  and  there  for  some  time  prayed  in  silence; 
then  rising,  he  stepped  up  into  the  cart,  and  making  the  sign  of  the 
cross  upon  himself,  saying,  with  a loud  voice.  In  nomine  patris, 
&c.,  he  began  to  speak  upon  the  text,  Spectaculum  facti  sumus,  &c. 
We  are  made  a spectacle  to  God,  to  angels,  and  to  men.  All  you,’ 
said  he,  ‘ that  are  come  to  behold  me,  may  think  you  are  come  to  a 
sad  spectacle,  but  to  me  it  is  not  so.  It  is  the  happiest  day,  and 
greatest  joy  that  ever  befel  me;  so  that  I may  say  with  the  prophet, 
Hcec  dies  quam  fecit  Dominus,  &c..  This  is  the  day  which  God  hath 
made ; a day  wherein  I may  truly  rejoice  in  my  soul : for  I am  brought 
hither  a condemned  man  to  execution ; for  no  other  cause  or  reason 
alleged  against  me,  than  that  I am  a Roman  Catholic  priest,  and  a 
monk  of  the  Order  of  St.  Bennet.  And  this  I freely  confessed  myself. 
This  confession  and  cause  only  bringeth  me  hither  to  execution. 
I give  God  thanks  that  He  has  honoured  me  with  the  dignity  of  a 
priest,  and  I glory  that  I am  a monk  of  this  holy  order,  which  first 
converted  this  kingdom  from  being  heathens  and  infidels  to  Chris- 
tianity and  the  knowledge  of  God;  St.  Augustin  being  their  leader, 
sent  by  St.  Gregory  the  Great,  Pope  of  Rome,  with  forty  other  monks. 

‘ Here  the  Sheriff  interrupted  him  and  bid  him  tell  none  of  his 
old  stories  and  tales,  and  ordered  the  hangman  to  do  his  office, 
who  immediately  tied  up  the  holy  man  to  the  gallows.  What  he 
spoke  afterwards  was  to  express  himself  how  freely  he  forgave  all 
who  were  accessory  to  his  death,  and  to  pray  for  the  King,  Queen, 

479 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1646 


Prince,  and  royal  progeny,  and  for  a happy  peace  for  the  nation  and 
the  ‘ true  knowledge  of  God;  desiring  all  Catholics  to  pray  for  him. 
Then  he  knelt  on  the  side  of  the  cart  (for  being  tied  up  he  could 
not  kneel  down),  and  made  his  prayer  to  himself,  which  being  ended, 
lifting  his  eyes  to  heaven  and  giving  the  appointed  sign,  he  received 
absolution  ’ from  one  of  his  brethren  in  the  crowd,  probably  the  same 
from  whom  we  have  copied  the  greatest  part  of  this  narration. 

‘ Then  giving  some  money  to  the  hangman,  and  pulling  his  cap  down 
over  his  eyes,  he  waited  in  silent  prayer  for  the  cart  being  drawn  away, 
about  a quarter  of  an  hour;  for  the  carter,  whose  office  it  was,  having 
a horror  of  concurring  to  the  death  of  so  holy  and  innocent  a man, 
withdrew  himself  into  the  thick  of  the  throng  and  would  not  drive 
the  cart  away;  but  another  was  found  to  do  the  job,  and  the  man  of 
God  was  suffered  to  hang  till  he  expired.  His  dead  body  was  cut 
down,  bowelled,  and  quartered;  but  his  head  and  quarters  were  not 
set  up  as  usual  on  the  gates  and  bridge,  but  buried  in  the  old  church- 
yard in  Moorjields;  and  this  by  a petition  of  the  Common  Council 
of  London  to  the  Parliament,  hoping,  as  it  is  supposed,  by  this  means 
sooner  to  obliterate  his  memory  and  the  impression  wffiich  his 
comportment  had  made  upon  the  people.  His  clothes  and  shirt, 
dyed  with  his  blood,  were  redeemed  of  the  hangman  for  £/\.  by 
Father  Robert  And[erton'\,  a Benedictine. 

He  suffered  June  30,  1646,  cetaiis  fifty-three,  religionis  thirty- 
three,  missionis  twenty-six. 

One  of  his  fellow-prisoners  expressed  his  esteem  for  him  by  the 
following  lines : — 

‘ He  was  of  princely  race,  of  British  blood, 

Nor  yet  the  twentieth  part  so  great  as  good. 

Sufficient,  and  so  qualified  withal, 

That  he  did  seem  to  be  without  a gall. 

Mild,  patient,  stout:  his  hand  to  every  poor 
Most  open,  till  they  blush’d  to  ask  him  more. 

Most  temperate  and  constant  to  his  Christ,’  &c. 

One  of  the  Doway  manuscripts  adds  the  following  remarkable 
circumstance  to  the  narration  of  his  martyrdom,  viz.,  that  in  the  way 
whilst  he  was  drawn  from  Southwark  to  Tyburn,  it  happened  that  a 
collier  met  them  on  Cornhill  driving  six  strong  horses  with  a load  of 
coals,  who  being  obliged  to  stop  and  make  way  for  the  hurdle  and 
crowd  that  attended  it,  fumed  and  raged  at  the  holy  man,  com- 
plaining aloud  that  he  should  be  stopped  in  his  way  for  that  traitor 
as  he  called  him.  But  mark  what  follows:  the  hurdle  was  scarce 
passed  when  one  of  the  collier’s  horses,  without  any  previous  sign  of 

480 


1646] 


EDWARD  BAMBER 


hurt  or  illness,  falls  down  dead  in  the  street,  and  obliges  his  master 
to  make  a much  longer  stay  than  that  which  so  much  offended  him 
before.  The  same  manuscript  also  takes  notice  that  the  jailer  was 
so  much  taken  with  the  comportment  of  the  man  of  God,  that  he 
accompanied  him  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  always  spoke  of  him 
with  the  highest  esteem. 


EDWARD  BAMBER,  alias  REDING,  Priest  * 

Edward  BAMBER,  commonly  known  upon  the  mission 
by  the  name  of  Reding^  was  son  of  Mr.  Richard  Bamher^ 
and  born  at  a place  called  the  Moor,  the  ancient  mansion-house 
of  the  family,  lying  not  far  from  Poidton  in  that  part  of  Lancashire 
called  the  Fylde,  Having  made  a good  progress  in  his  grammar 
studies  at  home,  he  was  sent  abroad  into  Spain  to  the  English  College 
at  Valladolid,  where  he  learned  his  philosophy  and  divinity  and  was 
ordained  priest.  ‘ But  in  what  year  this  happened,’  says  Mr. 
Knaresborough,  ‘ or  when  he  was  sent  upon  the  mission,  my  short 
memoirs  do  not  tell  us;  and  they  leave  us  as  much  in  the  dark  as 
to  many  other  passages  and  particulars  relating  to  the  life  and 
labours  of  this  good  priest,  as  well  as  to  the  history  of  his  trial,  of 
which  we  have  a very  imperfect  account.  But  then,  short  as  they  are, 
they  are  very  expressive  of  his  zeal  and  indefatigable  labour  in  gaining 
souls  to  God;  his  unwearied  diligence  in  instructing  the  Catholics 
committed  to  his  charge,  disputing  with  Protestants,  and  going  about 
to  do  good  everywhere,  in  times  and  places  of  the  greatest  danger, 
with  a courage  and  firmness  of  mind  much  spoken  of  and  admired 
at  that  time,  and  mentioned  by  one  of  his  contemporary  labourers 
and  fellow  prisoners  (in  a short  manuscript  relation),  as  something 
that  was  wonderfully  surprising,  and,  as  he  expresses  it,  above  the 
power  and  strength  of  man. 

‘ When,  how,  or  where  he  was  apprehended,  I have  not  found, 
but  only  this,  that  he  had  lain  three  whole  years  a close  prisoner 
in  Lancaster  Castle  before  he  was  brought  to  the  bar.  But  now  the 
judges  going  out  on  their  several  circuits,  which  for  some  time  before 
they  could  not  do  by  reason  of  the  civil  wars,  and  coming  to  Lin- 
caster,  Mr.  Bamber  and  two  other  priests  his  companions  were  brought 
upon  their  trial.  Here,  his  conduct  was  discreet  and  cautious,  so  as 

* Ven.  Edward  Bamber,  alias  Reding. — From  Mr.  Knaresborough’s 
Manuscript  Collections;  see  also  Gillow. 

481  2 H 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1646 

to  give  the  judge  no  unnecessary  provocation,  but  at  the  same  time  his 
comportment  was  remarkably  courageous  and  brave,  in  a degree  that 
was  astonishing  to  the  whole  court,  where  he  stood  with  such  an 
air  of  fortitude  and  resolution  of  suffering  in  defence  of  truth,  as  might 
not  have  ill  become  even  one  of  the  most  forward  and  zealous  con- 
fessors of  the  Cyprianic  age.  Two  fallen  Catholics — Malden  and 
Osbaldeston — appeared  against  him  as  witnesses.  These  wretches 
made  oath  that  they  had  seen  him  administer  baptism  and  perform 
the  ceremonies  of  marriage,  and  upon  these  slender  proofs  of  his 
priesthood,  the  jury,  by  the  judge’s  direction,  found  him  guilty 
of  the  indictment,  who  thereupon  had  sentence  in  the  usual  form, 
to  be  hanged,  cut  down  alive,  &c.,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason.  All 
which  Mr.  Bamber  heard  with  a composed  countenance,  and  without 
manifesting  the  least  sign  of  trouble  or  concern. 

‘ It  was  on  the  7th  of  August  when  he  and  his  two  fellow  priests 
and  confessors  were  drawn  on  sledges  to  the  place  of  execution,  and 
at  the  same  time  a poor  wretch,  one  Croft  condemned  for  felony, 
was  brought  to  die  with  them.  Mr.  Bamber  applied  his  discourse 
in  a most  affectionate  manner  to  this  poor  man;  beseeching  him  to 
take  compassion  on  his  soul,  and  provide  for  its  eternal  welfare  by 
true  repentance  of  his  sins  and  embracing  the  true  religion;  telling 
him  for  his  encouragement  that  it  was  never  too  late  to  make  his 
peace  with  God,  Who  showed  mercy  to  the  penitent  thief  at  the 
hour  of  death.  “ And  He  will  also  pardon  thee,”  said  he,  “ if, 
like  him,  thou  wilt  be  converted  to  Him,  and  truly  repent  of  thy  sins. 
Take  courage,  my  dear  friend,  and  boldly  declare  thyself  a Catholic, 
and  withal  confess  some  of  thy  more  public  sins,  and  be  truly 
contrite  and  sorry  for  all:  and  I a priest  and  minister  of  Jesus  Christ 
will  instantly  in  His  name  and  by  His  authority  absolve  thee.''  The 
officers  of  justice,  and  the  ministers  began  here  to  storm  and 
threaten,  but  Mr.  Bamber  stood  his  ground  and  carried  his  point. 
The  prisoner  fairly  declaring  his  fixed  resolution  of  dying  in  the 
faith  and  communion  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  having  confessed 
aloud  some  of  his  public  and  scandalous  crimes,  and  begged  pardon 
for  them,  and  at  the  same  time  signifying  his  sincere  repentance 
for  his  sins  in  general,  Mr.  Bamber^  according  to  promise,  publicly 
absolved  him  in  the  sight  and  hearing  of  the  crowd,  and  to  the 
intolerable  mortification  and  confusion  of  the  Protestant  ministers. 
But  they  were  resolved,  it  seems,  he  should  do  no  more  mischief; 
and  therefore  bid  him  walk  up  the  ladder,  and  prepare  for  death. 
The  confessor  obeyed  their  orders ; having  first  taken  leave  of  some 
friends,  and  sent  a small  token  to  some  others,  enjoining  the  mes- 

482 


1646] 


EDWARD  BAMBER 


senger  to  tell  them  from  him,  not  to  grieve  at  his  death,  For,  says  he, 
/ hope  to  pray  for  them  in  heaven.  Here  mounting  up  some  steps  he 
halted,  and  taking  a handful  of  money  he  threw  it  among  the  people, 
saying  with  a smiling  countenance  that  God  loved  a cheerful  giver. 
Then  after  some  time  spent  in  private  devotions,  he  turned  towards 
his  fellow  confessors,  exhorting  them  to  constancy  and  perseverance, 
having  his  eyes  more  particularly  upon  Mr.  Whitaker^  who  by  his 
looks  appeared  not  a little  terrified  at  the  approaches  of  death,  which 
gave  occasion  to  the  Protestants  to  be  very  busy  in  tempting  him 
with  the  hopes  of  life,  if  he  would  promise  to  conform  to  their  religion . 
Mr.  Bamber  was  speaking  to  him  in  the  most  tender  and  feeling 
manner,  to  be  upon  his  guard  and  beware  of  the  enemy  in  that  critical 
hour,  on  which  the  welfare  of  his  soul  was  to  depend  for  an  eternity ; 
when  the  Sheriff  called  out  hastily  to  the  executioner  to  despatch 
him ; and  so  he  was  that  moment  turned  off  the  ladder,  and  permitted 
to  hang  a very  short  time,  when  the  rope  was  cut,  the  confessor 
being  yet  alive.  And  thus  was  he  butchered  in  a most  cruel  and 
savage  manner,  as  my  author,  a priest  and  confessor,  then  actually 
a prisoner  at  Lancaster,  has  avowed  in  the  relation  above-mentioned, 
which  he  drew  up  upon  the  subject  of  the  death  of  these  three  priests.’ 

Some  Additions  and  Amendments  to  Mr.  Knareshorough* s Account  of  Mr. 

Edward  Reding,  alias  Bamber,  from  a Letter  of  Mr.  John  Martin,  Priest, 

sent  out  of  Lancashire  to  the  said  Mr.  Knareshorough,  July  i,  1707, 

quoting  for  his  author  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barlow,  and  the  tradition  of  the  country. 

He  was  an  alumnus  of  the  English  College  of  Doway.  Upon  his 
landing  at  Dover,  falling  upon  his  knees,  he  gave  God  thanks  for 
his  passage  over  the  seas  and  safe  arrival  in  his  native  country; 
which  being  observed  by  the  governor  of  Dover  Castle,  he  sus- 
pected him  to  be  a priest,  and  caused  him  to  be  apprehended. 
He  did  not  deny  his  character,  but  pleaded  he  had  not  been  upon 
English  land  the  space  of  time  mentioned  in  the  statute;  and  upon 
this  plea  was  put  on  ship  board,  and  sent  into  banishment. 

Some  time  after  his  second  return,  he  was  again  apprehended  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Standish,  in  Lancashire,  and  was  to  have  been 
committed  prisoner  to  Lancaster  Castle  ; but  in  his  way  thither, 
being  lodged  at  a place  beyond  Preston,  he  found  means  in  the  dead 
of  the  night  (his  keepers  being  in  drink)  to  make  his  escape  out  of 
a window  in  his  shirt,  which  adventure  Mr.  Knareshorough  attributes 
to  Mr.  Whitaker.  Mr.  Martin  adds  that  upon  this  occasion  he  was 
met  by  the  master  of  Broughton  Tower,  admonished  that  night  in  a 
dream,  that  he  should  find  him  in  such  a field.  He  got  up  fully 

483 


1 

MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1646 

possessed  with  the  truth  of^the  vision,  and  met  him  in  that  very 
field,  and  conducted  him  to  his  house,  where  he  took  proper  care 
of  him. 

However,  he  fell  a third  time  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors, 
and  was  committed  to  the  county  gaol  at  Lancaster.  It  is  true  he 
found  an  opportunity  here  also  to  make  his  escape,  but  to  little  pur- 
pose; for  having  travelled  all  the  night,  to  his  great  surprise  he 
found  himself  in  the  morning  very  near  the  town;  so  that  he  con- 
cluded it  was  the  will  of  God  he  should  suffer  there,  and  so  sur- 
rendered himself  to  those  that  sought  after  him ; for  as  soon  as  he  was 
missing,  hue  and  cry  was  immediately  raised  in  order  to  take  him. 

Mr.  Bamher  suffered  at  Lancaster^  August  7,  1646. 

An  ode  or  sonnet  composed  on  his  death,  and  that  of  his  com- 
panions, speaks  of  him  thus: — 

STANZAS  27  AND  28. 

Few  words  he  spoke ^ they  stopp'd  his  mouthy 
And  chok'd  him  with  a cord  ; 

And  lest  he  should  he  dead  too  soon, 

No  mercy  they  afford. 

But  quick  and  live  they  cut  him  down, 

And  butcher  him  full  soon  ; 

Behead,  tear,  and  dismember  straight. 

And  laugh  when  all  was  done. 


JOHN  WOODCOCK,  alias  FARINGDON, 
Priest,  O.S.F.* 

JOHN  WOODCOCK,  called  in  religion  Father  Martin  of 
St.  Felix,  was  born  in  Clayton,  near  Preston,  in  Lancashire, 
in  the  year  1603.  His  father  was  a Protestant,  his  mother  a 
Catholic,  who  found  means  of  sending  her  son  over  to  the  English 
College  of  St.  Omers,  to  be  there  trained  up,  by  the  Fathers  of  the 
Society,  in  piety  and  learning.  Hefe  he  studied  his  humanity; 
and  from  hence  he  was  sent  to  the  English  College  of  Rome  to  learn 
his  philosophy  and  divinity.  But  before  he  had  gone  through 
the  usual  course  of  his  studies  in  that  college,  he  conceived  a strong 
desire  of  embracing  a more  strict  and  penitential  kind  of  life.  In 

* Ven.  lohn  Woodcock,  alias  Faringdon. — From  Certamen  Seraphi- 
cum',  see  also  Thaddeus,  Franciscans  in  England;  D.N.B. 

484 


1646] 


JOHN  WOODCOCK 


order  to  this  he  first  applied  himself  to  the  Capuchins,  but  not  suc- 
ceeding with  them,  he  made  his  application  to  the  English  Franciscans 
of  Doway,  by  whom  he  was  received,  being  clothed  by  Rev.  Father 
Paul  Heath  in  1631,  and  after  his  year’s  noviceship  making  his  pro- 
fession in  the  hands  of  Father  Francis  Bell,  who,  as  we  have  already 
seen,  both  gave  a glorious  testimony  to  their  faith  at  Tyhurn,  amio 
1643.  Within  a year  or  two  after  his  profession  he  was  presented 
to  the  sacred  order  of  priesthood ; and  some  time  after  made  preacher 
and  confessor.  He  lived  also  for  some  time  at  Arras  with  Mr. 
Sheldon,  in  quality  of  his  chaplain  and  confessarius , till  he  was  called 
away  by  his  superiors,  in  order  to  be  sent  upon  the  English  mission. 

In  England  he  discharged  the  part  of  a zealous  and  laborious  mis- 
sionary, notwithstanding  his  frequent  infirmities,  till  being  desirous 
of  ending  his  days  in  his  convent,  he  obtained  leave  of  his  superiors 
to  return  thither;  where  he  lived  a most  exemplary  life,  suffering 
much  from  his  almost  continual  illnesses  with  remarkable  patience, 
till.  Father  Paul  Heath  having  lately  suffered  at  Tyhurn,  and  the 
English  friars  at  Doway  having  a solemn  thanksgiving  service  on  that 
occasion,  where  a French  Capuchin  preached  a most  moving  sermon 
upon  the  happiness  of  suffering  in  so  good  a cause;  Father  Martin 
was  so  animated  with  a desire  of  meeting  with  the  same  crown, 
that  he  desisted  not  importuning  his  superiors  till  he  procured 
leave  to  return  again  upon  the  mission.  He  landed  at  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne,  and  from  thence  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  Lancashire , 
his  native  country:  where  he  was  apprehended  the  very  first  night 
after  his  arrival,  and  the  next  day  committed  by  a neighbouring 
justice  of  peace  to  the  county  gaol  of  Lancaster  C as  tie,  in  ^hich.  he 
was  kept  two  whole  years,  suffering  much  from  the  incommodities  of 
the  place,  and  daily  aspiring  after  his  happy  dissolution. 

His  trial  came  on  in  the  beginning  of  August,  1646,  when,  being 
brought  to  the  bar  with  his  two  companions  (Mr.  Reding  arid  Mr. 
Whitaker),  he  confessed  himself  a priest  and  a friar  of  the  Order 
of  St.  Francis;  his  zeal,  during  the  time  of  his  imprisonment,  having 
furnished  proofs  enough  of  his  being  so,  if  he  had  had  a mind  to 
conceal  it.  Upon  this  confession  he  was  condemned  to  die  as  in 
cases  of  high  treason.  ’Tis  hardly  to  be  expressed  with  what  joy 
he  received  the  sentence,  breaking  out  into  acts  of  thanksgiving,  such 
as.  Praise  he  to  God!  God  he  thanked!  &c.  He  passed  the  last 
night  of  his  mortal  life  in  prison,  in  meditation  and  mental  prayer; 
and  on  the  next  day,  being  the  yth  of  August,  1646,  he  was  drawn, 
together  with  the  two  gentlemen  above-named,  both  priests  of  the 
secular  clergy,  to  the  place  of  execution;  the  Catholics  being  much 

485 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1646 


comforted  and  edified,  and  the  Protestants  astonished  and  con- 
founded to  see  that  cheerfulness  and  courage  with  which  these  ser- 
vants of  God  went  to  meet  that  barbarous  and  ignominious  death 
to  which  they  were  condemned. 

At  the  place  of  execution  Father  Woodcock  being  ordered  up  the 
ladder,  after  some  short  time  spent  in  his  private  devotions,  offered 
to  speak  to  the  people  of  the  cause  of  his  death,  and  the  truth  of  the 
Catholic  faith ; but  he  was  quickly  interrupted  by  the  Sheriff,  and  flung 
off  the  ladder  by  the  executioner.  Some  say  the  rope  broke  imme- 
diately, so  that  being  perfectly  sensible  he  was  ordered  up  the 
ladder  again,  to  be  hanged  a second  time.  But,  however  this  was, 
it  seems  he  was  scarce  half  hanged  at  last,  but  barbarously  cut  down 
and  butchered  alive. 

. He  suffered  at  Lancaster,  in  the  forty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  the 
fifteenth  of  his  religious  profession,  and  the  thirteenth  of  his  priest- 
hood. His  head  is  kept  in  the  cloister  of  the  English  Franciscans 
at  Doway. 

N.B. — Father  Woodcock  insome  catalogues  is  known  by  the  name 
of  Thompson. 


THOMAS  WHITAKER,  Priest.^ 

He  was  son  of  Thomas  and  Helen  Whitaker,  born  at  Burnley 
in  Lancashire,  a small  market  town  in  Blackburn  Hundred, 
where  he,  the  said  was  master  of  a noted  free-school. 

The  son  performed  his  grammar  studies  under  his  father’s  care; 
and  then  for  his  farther  improvement  was  sent  abroad  at  the  charges 
of  a neighbouring  Catholic  family  (Townley  of  Townley),  and  went 
through  his  higher  studies  in  the  English  College  of  Valladolid.  He  was 
ordained  priest  here,  and  entered  upon  the  mission  in  some  part  of 
the  year  1638,  and  exercised  his  functions  with  great  zeal  and  success 
for  the  space  of  five  years  before  his  commitment  to  Lancaster 
Castle.  In  this  space  of  time  he  was  once  taken  up,  but  escaped 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  pursuivants,  while  on  the  road  towards  Lan- 
caster. His  guard,  it  seems,  having  locked  him  up  in  his  chamber 
at  night,  took  the  liberty  of  making  merry  below  stairs,  which 
Mr.  Whitaker  being  apprised  of,  made  his  advantage  of  the  occa- 
sion, and  in  the  dead  of  the  night  let  himself  down  out  of  the  window ; 
but  the  passage  being  very  strait,  he  was  forced  to  strip  himself  to 

* Yen.  Thomas  Whitaker. — From  Mr.  Knaresborough’s  Manuscript 
Collections. 


486 


1646] 


THOMAS  WHITAKER 


his  shirt,  and  through  haste  forgot  to  throw  out  his  clothes  before 
him,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to  make  the  best  of  his  way  that  night 
in  this  naked  condition.  After  wandering  some  miles,  meeting  with 
a poor  shelter,  he  ventured  to  sit  down  and  take  breath  a while,  being 
at  a loss  what  to  do  for  clothes  and  farther  security  of  his  person,  in 
a part  of  the  country  where  he  was  a stranger  to  the  roads  as  well 
as  to  the  people.  But  providence  declared  itself  in  his  favour; 
for  while  he  was  in  these  straits,  a Catholic  met  with  him,  and 
being  informed  of  his  character  and  condition,  conducted  him  to 
his  own  house,  and  took  such  precautions  for  his  concealment,  that 
the  good  man  made  a safe  and  effectual  escape  for  that  time,  and 
returned  to  his  people  and  the  exercise  of  his  functions,  leaving  the 
pursuivants  to  the  confusion  of  being  well  laughed  at  for  not  taking 
more  care  of  their  prisoner. 

‘ How  long  Mr.  Whitaker  enjoyed  his  liberty  after  this  I cannot 
learn;  only  I find  that  he  was  seized  a second  time,  and  that  in  the 
year  1643,  at  Mr.  MidgealVs  of  Place  Hall,  in  Goosenargh,  and  then 
he  was  effectually  conducted  to  Lancaster,  and  committed  to  the  castle 
or  county  gaol,  on  the  7th  of  August,  the  very  day  and  month  on 
which  three  years  after  he  and  his  two  companions  were  drawn 
on  hurdles  to  the  common  place  of  execution.  He  was  appre- 
hended by  a gang  of  priest-catcheis,  armed  with  clubs  and  swords; 
who,  it  seems,  fell  to  club-law  with  their  prisoner  immediately, 
and  ceased  not  to  beat  and  abuse  him  (threatening  also  to  murder 
him  upon  the  spot)  till  they  had  extorted  from  him  a confession  that 
he  was  a priest.  In  prison  he  was  treated  at  first  with  an  uncommon 
severity,  being  sequestered  from  the  other  prisoners,  and  thrown 
into  a nasty  dungeon,  where  solitude  and  darkness  were  his  portion, 
which  he  patiently  suffered  for  six  whole  weeks  before  he  was 
allowed  the  liberty  of  the  common  gaol,  and  the  company  of  his 
fellow  confessors. 

‘ An  ancient  priest,  his  fellow  prisoner,  who  has  left  behind  him 
a short  account  of  the  behaviour  of  the  three  martyrs,  always  speaks 
of  Mr.  Whitaker  as  a person  of  a most  saintly  life;  and  declares, 
from  his  own  observation  and  knowledge  (having  been  an  eye-witness 
of  his  conduct  for  so  long  a time),  that  he  was  still  the  first  and  last 
at  pra5^er,  or  rather  that  his  whole  employment  was  a continual 
communication  with  God,  either  in  mental  or  vocal  prayer;  and  that 
the  little  time  which  he  spared  from  his  holy  exercise  was  con- 
stantly employed  in  charitable  offices  about  such  of  his  fellow 
prisoners  as  by  sicknesses  or  age  stood  in  need  of  help.  He  was 
particularly  assiduous  with  regard  to  his  brethren,  the  other  three 

487 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1646 


priests;  the  more,  because  being  the  youngest  by  far,  he  looked  upon 
it  as  his  duty  to  serve  them  and  assist  them  upon  all  occasions ; and 
this  he  performed  with  pleasure,  and  at  the  same  time  w'ith  so  much 
humility,  deference,  and  respect,  as  if  he  had  verily  believed  them 
not  only  his  seniors  in  years,  but  his  superiors  in  authority,  and  was 
glad  to  be  serviceable  to  them  even  in  the  lowest  menial  offices. 

‘ Thus  did  this  holy  priest  employ  himself  during  the  three  years 
of  his  imprisonment;  but  when  the  assizes  drew  near,  and  he  had 
notice  given  to  prepare  for  his  trial,  he  shut  himself  up  in  a more 
strict  retirement,  and  a more  exact  spiritual  retreat  for  a whole  month ; 
joining,  during  that  time,  to  his  prayer  and  contemplation,  rigorous 
fasts,  with  other  penitential  exercises.  For,  as  he  was  by  nature  very 
timorous,  and  withal  very  sensible  of  his  own  w^eakness;  so  was  he 
remarkably  careful  to  place  his  trust  in  God  in  all  dangers,  and  ex- 
ceedingly diligent  in  the  use  of  prayer  and  other  proper  means,  to 
obtain  from  Him,  Who  strengthens  the  weak,  such  grace  and  helps 
as  were  necessary  for  his  support  in  the  day  of  battle. 

^ ‘ His  hearing  before  the  judges  was  quickly  over ; for  having  owned 
himself  a priest  to  the  pursuivants  and  soldiers,  who,  with  threats 
of  death,  extorted  this  confession  from  him,  and  these  appearing 
witnesses  against  him,  he  could  not,  and  would  not  deny  the  truth ; 
and  so  committing  his  cause  to  God,  and  his  condition  to  the  favour 
and  compassion  of  the  court,  he  said  no  more;  but  with  a meek 
and  humble  deportment  waited  in  silence  the  return  and  verdict 
of  the  jury,  who  after  a short  deliberation  brought  him  and  his 
two  companions  in  guilty  of  their  indictments;  and  the  same  day 
they  all  received  sentence  of  death  in  the  usual  form.’ 

Mr.  Whitaker  was  drawn  with  the  other  two  to  the  place  of  exe- 
cution, on  the  7th  of  August^  and  was  the  last  that  suffered.  He  was 
naturally  of  a faint-hearted  and  fearful  disposition;  and  at  the 
approaches  of  death  shewed  evident  marks  of  the  dread  and  anguish 
that  assaulted  his  soul.  This  gave  occasion  to  both  his  companions 
in  their  turns  to  exhort  and  encourage  him;  and  to  the  Protestants 
to  tempt  him  with  proffers  of  life,  if  he  w^ould  conform.  But,  not- 
withstanding his  natural  fears  were  heightened  by  the  sight  of  the 
barbarous  butchery  of  his  companions,  and  that  scene  of  blood 
which  he  had  before  his  eyes;  the  Almighty  Whom  he  earnestly 
invoked  supported  him  by  His  powerful  grace;  and,  when  it  came 
to  the  upshot,  he  generously  told  the  Sheriff,  His  resolution  was 
fixed  to  die  in  the  profession  of  the  Catholic  faith:  Use  your  pleasure 
with  me^  said  he,  a reprieve^  or  even  a pardon^  upon  your  conditions 
I utterly  refuse. 


488 


1646]  RICHARD  BRADLEY  AND  JOHN  FELTON 


‘ When  he  was  upon  the  ladder  he  prayed  devoutly  and  earnestly ; 
and  having  now  the  rope  about  his  neck  he  prayed  for  his  enemies, 
declaring  that  he  freely  forgave  them,  and  that  he  heartily  desired 
to  die  in  perfect  charity  with  all  the  world.  Then  resuming  his 
former  ejaculatory  prayers,  while  he  was  calling  for  mercy,  and 
recommending  his  departing  soul  into  the  hands  of  his  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  he  was  suddenly  flung  off  the  ladder,  and  executed.’ 

He  suffered  at  Lancaster,  August  7,  1646,  in  the  thirty-third  year 
of  his  age,  and  the  eighth  of  his  mission. 


RICHARD  BRADLEY  and  JOHN  FELTON, 
Priests,  S.J.,  Confessors.* 

These  two  religious  fathers  both  died  confessors  of  Christ 
within  the  same  month,  some  part  of  this  year  1646.  The 
former  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  pursuivants  was  com- 
mitted close  prisoner  at  Manchester,  and  died  of  the  gaol  disease 
before  he  was  brought  to  his  trial.  The  latter  venturing  to  go  into 
Lincoln  in  a disguise,  in  order  to  assist  Father  Hood,  who  looked 
for  his  trial  and  death  at  the  next  assizes,  was  there  apprehended 
upon  suspicion;  and  after  some  weeks’  imprisonment  in  that  city 
in  great  want  of  all  things,  was  translated  to  another  gaol,  and  lodged 
in  a cold  room  in  the  winter  season,  where  the  wind  blew  in  on  all 
sides.  Here  he  continued  destitute  of  all  human  aid  and  comfort, 
and  continually  afflicted  with  the  blasphemies  and  other  immoralities 
of  the  wretches  his  fellow  prisoners,  till  after  seven  months,  no 
witnesses  appearing  against  him,  he  was  discharged  indeed  from 
prison,  but  with  his  health  and  strength  so  much  impaired  that  he 
died  within  a month.  See  Florus  Anglo- B avaricus , pp.  73,  74,  who 
informs  us  (p.  75),  that  Father  Felton  for  twenty-seven  years  never 
omitted  preaching  on  all  Sundays  and  holidays. 

* From  Father  Keynes’s  Florus  Anglo -B avaricus,  Foley’s  Records,  etc. 


489 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1646 


THOMAS  VAUGHAN,  Priest, 
THOMAS  BLOUNT,  Priest, 
and  BENEDICT  COX,  O.S.B.,  Confessors. 

Thomas  VAUGHAN,  though  he  did  not  suffer  at  the 
common  place  of  execution,  was  nevertheless  a martyr  for  his 
character  and  religion;  and  that  in  the  time  of  these  troubles, 
though  I have  not  met  with  the  certain  year  of  his  death.  Mr. 
Austin^  in  his  Christian  Moderator , published  under  the  name  of 
W.  Birchley,  part  ii.,  giving  a list  of  the  priests  executed  in  several 
places  during  the  parliamentary  persecution  which  began  in  1641, 
closes  it  with  this  short  account  of  our  confessor,  ‘ Mr.  Thomas 
Vaughan,  after  very  hard  usage  aboard  Captain  Molton’s  ship,  soon 
after  died  at  Cardiff  in  South  Wales.’ 

He  was  of  the  ancient  family  of  the  Vaughans  of  Courtfield, 
and  was  nephew  to  the  famous  Dr.  Giffard,  who,  from  a priest  and 
professor  of  divinity  in  the  English  College  then  residing  at  Rhemes, 
became  a monk  of  the  venerable  Order  of  St.  Bennet,  and  first 
President  General  of  the  English  congregation;  and  at  length  was 
made  Archbishop  of  Rhemes,  and  Primate  of  France.  Mr.  Vaughan, 
as  appears  by  the  Doway  Diary,  entered  student  in  the  English 
College  of  Doway,  anno  1622;  and  having  taken  the  College  oath  was, 
by  Dr.  Kellison,  then  President,  presented  for  holy  orders  to  his 
uncle  the  Archbishop  of  Rhemes,  from  whom  he  received  all  his 
orders  in  September,  1627,  was  from  Doway  sent  upon  the  English 
mission  the  27th  of  August,  1628.  Other  particulars  relating  to  him 
I have  not  been  able  to  find. 

Some  time  also  during  these  troubles,  though  I have  not  found 
the  precise  year,  died  prisoner  for  his  faith  and  character,  Mr. 
Thomas  Blount,  another  priest  of  the  secular  clergy.  He  was  a 
younger  son  of  James  Blount,  Esq. ; performed  his  humanity  studies 
at  St.  Omers,  was  sent  from  thence  to  the  English  Seminary  of 
Valladolid,  but  after  six  months’  stay  there  returned  into  England; 
then  going  abroad  again,  he  entered  himself  a convictor  in  the 
English  College  of  Lisbon,  anno  1635,  where  he  finished  his  studies, 
and  was  made  priest.  He  was  sent  upon  the  mission,  April  14, 
1642,  and  having  for  some  years  discharged  the  duty  of  a laborious 
missioner  in  the  worst  of  times,  he  was  apprehended  and  committed 
to  the  common  gaol  in  Shrewsbury,  and  died  there. 

And  now  we  are  speaking  of  priests  that  died  prisoners  for  their 

490 


1647-50] 


SEQUESTRATIONS,  ETC. 


religion,  we  must  not  omit  to  mention  Father  Robert  Cox^  in  religion 
called  Father  Benedict^  an  eminent  religious  man  of  the  venerable 
Order  of  St.  Bennet^  who,  after  having  received  the  sentence  of 
death,  and  endured  a long  and  tedious  martyrdom  in  prison,  died 
in  the  Clink,  anno  1650.  We  are  forced  to  pass  over  the  sufferings 
of  divers  other  priests  in  those  evil  days,  for  want  of  proper  records. 


[ 1647-1650.  ] 

From  the  year  1646  till  the  year  1651,  I find  not  any  priests  put 
to  death  for  their  character ; though  otherwise  the  persecution  against 
Catholics  did  not  cease,  and  the  sequestrators  were  everywhere 
busy  in  sequestering  and  plundering  their  estates,  as  well  real  as 
personal.  That  the  reader  may  have  a better  idea  of  the  sufferings 
of  Catholics  in  this  kind,  I shall  here  transcribe  some  pages  out 
of  Mr.  KnaresborougK s manuscript  collections,  concerning  these 
sequestrations. 

The  Sequestration  of  two  parts  of  the  Catholic  estates,  real  and  personal,  pur- 
suant to  several  ordinances  of  the  Lords  and  Commons,  a.d.  1643,  1644,  dec. 

‘ The  first  of  these  ordinances  bears  date  April  the  first,  1643,  ^P" 
pointing  certain  persons  there  named  to  be  Commissioners  or  Seques- 
trators for  the  several  counties  of  England  and  Wales;  and  empower- 
ing them  forthwith  to  seize  as  well  all  the  monies  and  other  personal 
estate,  as  also  all  the  manors,  lands,  and  other  real  estate  of  notorious 
delinquents,  that  is  to  say,  of  all  persons  who  had  then  raised,  or 
should  afterwards  raise  arms  against  the  Parliament ; or  who  had  volun- 
tarily contributed,  or  should  contribute  any  monies,  horse,  plate, 
arms,  ammunition,  or  other  aid  or  assistance  towards  the  mainte- 
nance of  any  forces  raised  against  the  Parliament. 

‘ And  also  two  parts  of  all  the  estates  of  every  Papist,  or  which 
any  person  had  in  trust,  or  for  the  use  of  any  Papist;  this  to  be  let, 
set,  sold,  and  converted  and  applied  to  the  uses  of  the  Parliament, 
towards  supporting  the  charges  of  the  war. 

‘ A second  ordinance  passed  the  19th  of  August  the  same  year, 
containing  an  explanation  and  further  enlargement  of  the  fore-men- 
tioned ordinance  for  sequestering  the  estates  of  delinquents  and 
Papists.  In  this  is  explained  who  are  to  be  deemed  Papists,  and  who 
are  liable  to  the  penalty  mentioned  above ; that  is,  of  having  two  parts 

491 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1647-50 


of  their  estates  seized  for  the  use  of  the  Parliament.  These  are — 
I St,  All  such  as  have  willingly  harboured  any  Popish  priests  since 
the  29th  of  November,  1642,  or  that  should  hereafter  harbour  any. 
2dly,  All  that  had  been  already  convicted  of  Popish  recusancy. 
3dly,  or  that  have  been  at  Mass  any  time  within  one  whole  year  before 
the  26th  of  March,  1643,  or  should  hereafter  be  at  Mass;  or  whose 
children,  or  grand-children,  or  any  of  them  living  in  the  house  with 
them,  or  under  their  tuition,  shall  be  brought  up  in  the  Popish 
religion.  Finally,  all  such  persons  as  being  of  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  should  refuse  to  take  the  oath  of  abjuration,'*  by  which  they 
abjure  and  renounce  transubstantiation,  &c.,  ‘which  oath  any  two 
of  the  committee  men,  or  any  two  justices  of  the  peace;  or  for  want 
of  these,  the  mayor,  bailiffs,  or  head  officer  of  any  city  or  town 
corporate,  had  power  to  tender  to  any  suspected  Papist.  All  these 
are  here  declared  liable  to  the  penalty  above-mentioned;  that  is, 
two  parts  of  three  of  their  whole  estates,  real  and  personal,  were  to 
be  forthwith  seized,  sold,  and  disposed  of  for  the  uses  of  the  Parlia- 
ment. 

‘ And  to  the  end  that  a full  discovery  might  be  had  of  the  Catholic 
estates,  so  that  it  should  be  morally  impossible  for  them  to  convey 
away  any  part  of  their  effects,  or  conceal  or  screen  them  from  the 
commissioners’  knowledge,  by  the  assistance  of  their  Protestant 
friends,  or  otherwise,  the  said  sequestrators  were  further  empowered 
by  this  second  ordinance,  to  examine  upon  oath,  any  person  sus- 
pected to  be  aiding  in  concealing  these  men  or  their  effects,  or  in- 
trusted for  them,  or  who  should  owe  anything,  or  be  indebted  to 
any  Papist;  and  if  the  said  persons  should  refuse  to  be  examined,  or 
to  declare  the  whole  truth,  they  were  to  be  committed  to  safe  custody 
till  they  should  conform,  and  make  the  discovery  insisted  upon  by 
the  commissioners. 

‘ And  for  the  more  speedy  and  effectual  seizure  of  the  personal 
estates  of  the  said  delinquents  and  Papists,  the  commissioners  had 
power  to  authorise  their  several  collectors  and  agents  employed  under 
them,  to  break  open  all  locks,  bolts,  bars,  doors,  or  other  strength, 
where  monies  were  upon  probable  grounds  suspected  to  be  concealed, 
and  seize  the  same  into  their  possession ; with  this  further  engagement 
to  such  as  were  assisting  to  the  sequestrators,  that  for  their  reward 
they  were  to  have  one  shilling  in  the  pound  of  all  monies,  lands,  or 
goods  as  they  should  discover ; and  for  their  indemnity  the  protection 
of  both  houses  of  Parliament ; and  to  be  esteemed  as  persons  who  did 
acceptable  service  to  the  Commonwealth. 

‘ Finally,  amongst  the  remarkable  instructions  given  to  the 

492 


1647-50] 


SEQUESTRATIONS,  ETC. 


sequestrators,  consisting  of  thirteen  articles,  that  of  number  six 
ought  to  be  carefully  remembered,  viz.,  You  are  to  seize  two  parts  of 
the  estates,  both  real  and  personal,  of  all  Papists  {as  they  are  Papists), 
and  the  whole  estates  of  all  other  sorts  of  delinquents  mentioned  in  the 
said  ordinance,  whether  they  be  Papists  or  others  ; and  you  are  to  under- 
stand by  two  parts  of  Papists'  estates,  two  of  their  whole  lands,  and  two 
of  their  goods  into  three  to  be  divided. 

‘ Armed  with  these  powers,  the  sequestrators  set  out  towards 
their  respective  divisions,  and  fell  to  seize,  sell,  or  let  the  estates  of 
Papists  wherever  they  could  come  at  them.  And  in  the  south  and 
midland  counties  they  made  quick  despatch ; bringing  under  seques- 
tration, either  as  delinquents  or  convict  recusants,  the  whole  body 
of  the  Catholics  without  exception.  But  as  the  progress  of  the 
Parliament’s  victories  was  not  so  quick  in  the  north  and  west,  so 
neither  could  their  committees  execute  their  powers  with  that 
undisturbed  freedom,  nor  make  their  seizures  and  commit  their 
plunders  with  the  same  unlimited  and  uncontrolled  tyranny,  as  they 
did  in  those  counties  which  had  been  more  early  reduced,  &c. 

‘ But  after  His  Majesty’s  affairs  declined,  and  his  forces  were  so 
weakened  as  not  to  be  able  to  make  head  against  the  rebels,  then  the 
sequestrators  poured  in  upon  those  other  provinces,  and  fell  upon 
all  the  estates  of  the  loyalists  and  Catholics,  not  hitherto  seques- 
tered, with  rage  and  fury. 

‘ After  the  Independents  came  in  play,  they  made  great  changes 
in  their  commissions,  and  put  in  sequestrators  of  their  own  party, 
but  the  harvest  then  was  in  a great  measure  over.  The  Catholic 
estates  had  already  been  under  sequestration  seven  or  eight  years, 
and  the  Presbyterians  had  plundered  them  to  the  bare  walls,  so  that 
there  was  nothing  left  to  these  new  sequestrators.  However,  as 
they  were  a hungry  crew,  they  were  resolved  to  have  something 
from  the  Papists,  though  less;  and  thus  they  made  new  inquests, 
and  forced  many  of  these  oppressed  people  to  undergo  new  compo- 
sitions, upon  pretence  that  they  had  not  been  sequestered  according 
to  the  full  extent  and  meaning  of  the  late  ordinances. 

‘ Of  the  sufferings  of  the  Catholics  in  general,  and  of  the  miserable 
state  to  which  they  were  reduced  by  these  sequestrations,  take  this 
short  but  faithful  account  from  a cotemporary  writer,  an  eye- 
witness of  their  oppressions,  viz.,  Mr.  Austin,  under  the  name  of 
William  Birchley,  in  his  Christian  Moderator,  part  i.  p.  9,  &c: — 

“ Of  the  Papists,  says  he,  some  are  sequestered  for  delinquency, 
and  those  of  all  cavaliers  {cceteris  paribus)  the  most  severely,  though 
of  all  the  most  excusable,  because  wholly  depending  upon  the  plea- 

493 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1647-50 


sure  of  the  late  King,  and  infinitely  obliged  to  his  royal  lenity ; noting 
it  as  an  unanswerable  argument  of  their  fidelity  and  gratitude  towards 
such  as  deal  with  them  in  mercy ; as  also  that  their  declining  to  receive 
the  oaths  of  supremacy  and  allegiance^  for  which  they  have  heretofore 
been  so  violently  persecuted,  proceeded  not  from  any  aversion  to 
civil  obedience,  but  because  there  were  mingled  in  those  oaths 
certain  expressions  of  a pure  spiritual  nature,  repugnant  to  their 
consciences,  and  altogether  unnecessary  to  the  common  security. 

“ Others  are  equally  punished,  that  is,  their  whole  estate  seques- 
tered, allowing  only  a fifth  part  for  their  wives  and  children,  though 
in  true  reason  they  are  altogether  justifiable,  having  never  been  in 
any  engagement,  but  found  only  in  some  garrisons  of  the  King, 
whither  they  were  driven  for  refuge,  being  put  out  of  the  protection 
of  the  Parliament  by  public  proclamation,  their  houses  everywhere 
rifled,  their  goods  plundered,  and  lives  endangered  by  the  soldiers, 
whose  condition  seems  clearly  to  be  within  the  equity  of  that  article 
of  the  army’s  proposals,  August^  1647.*  That  the  King's  menial  ser- 
vants who  never  took  up  arms^  hut  only  attended  on  his  person^  according 
to  their  offices,  he  freed  from  composition;  much  more  those  who  had 
both  the  civil  reason  of  duty  and  the  unanswerable  argument  of 
necessity  to  plead  for  their  discharge:  and,  which  is  yet  more  hard, 
some  recusants  of  this  class  who  never  bare  arms,  but  were  only 
found  in  garrisons  for  their  own  personal  security  as  aforesaid,  are 
now  ranked  among  the  highest  delinquents,  and  their  estates  to  be 
sold,  such  as  Sir  Henry  Bedingfield,  Mr.  Bodenham,  Mr.  Gifford,  &c. 

“ As  for  the  single  recusants,  two-thirds  of  their  estates  are 
seized  upon,  only  for  the  cause  of  religion,  under  which  notion  are 
included  all  such  as  were  heretofore  convicted  of  not  resorting  to 
common  prayers,  or  do  now  refuse  the  oath  of  abjuration,  a new  oath 
made  by  the  two  Houses,  when  the  former  kind  of  service  was 
abolished,  wherein  the  practice  is  strangely  severe.  For  upon 
bare  information  the  estate  of  the  suspected  is  secured,  that  is,  his 
rents,  &c.,  suspended,  before  any  trial  or  legal  proof,  even  in  these 
times  of  peace:  and  being  once  thus  half  condemned,  he  has  no  other 
remedy  to  help  himself  but  by  forswearing  his  religion,  and  so  by 
an  oath  a thousand  times  harsher  than  that  ex  officio,  they  draw  out 
of  his  own  mouth  his  condemnation. 

“ When  the  sequestrators  have  thus  seized  into  their  hands 
two-thirds  of  the  most  innocent  recusants’  lands  and  goods,  then  come 
the  excisemen,  tax-gatherers,  and  other  collectors,  and  pinch  away 
no  small  part  of  the  poor  third  penny  that  was  left  them ; so  that  after 
these  deductions  I have  known  some  estates  of  three  hundred  pounds 

494 


1647-50] 


SEQUESTRATIONS,  ETC. 


a year  reduced  to  less  than  threescore — a lean  pittance  to  maintain 
them  and  their  children,  being  persons  for  the  most  part  of  good 
quality  and  civil  education.  And  as  for  priests,  it  is  made  as  great 
a crime  to  have  taken  orders  after  the  rites  of  their  Church  as  to 
have  committed  the  most  heinous  treason  that  can  be  imagined, 
and  they  are  far  more  cruelly  punished  than  those  that  murder  their 
own  parents. 

“ Besides  these  extreme  and  fatal  penalties  that  lie  upon  the 
recusants  merely  for  their  conscience,  there  are  many  other  afflictions 
whereof  f,w  take  notice,  which,  though  of  lesser  weight,  yet  being 
added  to  the  former,  quite  sink  them  down  to  the  bottom  of  sorrow 
and  perplexity ; as  their  continual  fear  of  having  their  houses  broke 
open  and  searched  by  pursuivants^  who  enter  at  what  hours  they 
please,  and  do  there  what  they  list,  taking  away  not  only  all  the  instru- 
ments of  their  religion,  but  oftentimes  money,  plate,  watches,  and 
other  such  Popish  idols,  especially  if  they  be  found  in  the  same  room 
with  any  pictures,  and  so  infected  with  a relative  superstition. 

“ Another  of  their  afflictions  is,  that  they,  I mean  these  single 
recusants,  have  no  power  to  sell  or  mortgage  the  least  part  of  their 
estates,  either  to  pay  their  just  debts,  or  defray  their  necessary  ex- 
penses, whereby  they  are  disabled  of  all  commerce,  and  their  credit 
being  utterly  lost  (upon  which  many  of  them  now  provide  even 
their  daily  bread),  they  must  needs  in  a short  time  be  brought  to  a 
desperate  necessity  if  not  absolute  ruin.  And  if  any,  the  most  quiet 
and  moderate  amongst  them,  should  desire  to  transplant  himself 
into  a milder  climate,  and  endeavour  to  avoid  the  offence  that  is 
taken  against  him  in  his  own  country,  he  cannot  so  dispose  of  his 
estate  here,  as  by  bill  of  exchange  or  any  other  way,  to  provide  the 
least  subsistence  for  himself  and  his  family;  a severity  far  beyond 
the  most  rigid  practice  of  the  Scotch  Kirk.  For  there,  as  I am  in- 
formed, the  persons  of  recusants  are  only  banished  out  of  the  kingdom 
and  prohibited  to  reside  at  their  own  homes  above  forty  days  in  a 
year,  which  time  is  allowed  them  for  the  managing  of  their  estate, 
and  their  estates  allowed  them  for  their  maintenance  abroad — a 
proceeding  which  their  principles  would  clearly  justify  if  they  could 
justify  their  principles.  But  in  England,  where  compulsion  on  the 
conscience  is  decried  as  the  worst  of  slaveries,  to  punish  men  so 
sharply  for  matters  of  religion  contrary  to  the  principles  publicly 
received,  is  a course  that  must  needs  beget  over  all  the  world  a strong 
suspicion  and  prejudice  against  the  honour  and  reputation  of  that  State 
which  at  the  same  time  can  practise  such  manifest  contradictions. 

“To  this  deplorable  condition  are  the  English  Catholics  now 

495 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1647-50 


reduced,  yet  they  bear  all  not  only  with  patience  but  even  silence; 
for  amongst  the  printed  complaints  so  frequent  in  these  times,  never 
any  thing  hath  been  seen  to  proceed  from  them,  though  always  the 
chief,  and  now  the  sole  sufferers  for  their  conscience,  except  (not 
to  be  altogether  wanting  to  themselves)  some  modest  petitions 
humbly  addressed  to  the  Parliament,  though  such  hath  been  their 
unhappiness,  that  more  weighty  affairs  have  still  disappointed  their 
being  taken  into  consideration;  else  were  they  admitted  to  clear 
themselves  of  the  mistakes  and  scandals  unjustly  imputed  to  them, 
they  would  not  doubt  fully  to  satisfy  all  ingenuous,  and  dispassionate 
men,  nay  even  whomsoever,  that  were  but  moderately  prejudiced 
against  them.”  So  far  Mr.  Austin. 

‘ Who  in  his  second  part  sets  down  the  following  passages, 
observed  by  himself,  upon  cases  depending  before  the  commissioners 
at  Haberdashers'  Hall^  which  will  further  demonstrate  the  grievances 
the  Catholics  endured  in  those  evil  days : — 

“ The  case  of  Mr.  Robert  Knightley,  a recusant  only,  a great  part 
of  whose  mansion-house  in  Essex  was  pulled  down  to  repair  the  fort 
at  Tilbury‘s  for  which  he  petitioned  at  Haberdashers'  Hall  in 
December^  1651,  to  have  satisfaction  out  of  the  two  sequestered  parts 
of  his  own  lands  there : but  in  regard  it  appeared  to  be  done  before 
January^  1649,  the  present  commissioners’  answer  was,  they  had 
no  power  to  relieve  him. 

“ On  the  nth  of  February^  1651,  was  heard  the  case  of  Mr. 
Parker y the  Lord  Mor ley's  only  son,  about  fourteen  years  of  age. 
He  petitioned  for  maintenance  out  of  his  father’s  sequestered 
estate;  but  because  it  was  suspected  the  child  might  incline  to  his 
father’s  religion,  who  is  a Papist,  it  was  denied  him,  unless  he  might 
be  taken  both  from  father  and  mother,  and  committed  to  the  govern- 
ment of  a mere  stranger  ; which  was  ordered  accordingly,  and  the 
poor  pittance  of  £100  per  annum  only  allowed  him  out  of  his  own 
and  father’s  estate. 

“ In  February y 1651,  Mr.  James  Hanham,  of  the  West^  petitions 
the  commissioners  at  Haberdashers'  Hall  to  this  effect:  that  he  had 
never  acted  anything  against  the  Parliament,  yet  two  parts  of  his 
estate  were  sequestered  with  such  rigour  for  his  recusancy,  that  he 
could  not  possibly  subsist  with  necessaries  by  the  remaining  thirds 
when  taxes  and  other  charges  were  deducted ; that  he  was  therefore 
constrained  to  borrow  upon  bond,  and  having  disbursed 
of  the  money,  it  seems  the  sequestrators  got  notice  that  the  petitioner 
had  somewhat  in  his  house  worth  a new  sequestration,  or  review, 
as  they  call  it;  thereupon  they  search  his  trunks,  find  the  remaining 

496 


1647-50] 


SEQUESTRATIONS,  ETC. 


j(^35,  pull  out  the  guilty  bag,  and  two  parts  of  it  they  sequester  into 
their  own  pockets  to  the  use  of  the  Commonwealth;  and  for  relief 
therein  Mr.  Hanham  appealed,  but  found  no  redress  at  present, 
more  than  an  order  for  the  sub-commissioners  in  the  country  to 
examine  the  business,  and  certify,  &c.  At  the  return  of  whose  cer- 
tificate I leave  the  petitioner  to  expect  his  doom. 

“ On  the  31st  of  March^  1652,  the  petition  of  one  Hamond  or 
Ammoty  was  read,  to  this  effect;  that  the  petitioner  never  did  bear 
arms  or  assist  the  enemies  of  the  Parliament,  yet  his  estate  had  lain 
under  sequestration  ever  since  the  year  1645,  and  not  one  penny 
allowed  him  for  his  maintenance.  That  the  petitioner,  being  a 
recusant,  did  in  the  time  of  the  late  war  continue  at  his  own  house 
as  long  as  he  could  without  apparent  danger  of  his  life ; but  consider- 
ing how  obnoxious  even  the  most  peaceable  of  his  religion  were 
to  be  affronted  and  ruined  by  the  daily  mischiefs  they  received  from 
some  disorderly  soldiers,  and  especially  seeing  one  of  his  neighbours 
(a  recusant)  slain  at  his  own  door,  the  petitioner  did  then,  and  not 
before,  fly  for  protection  to  a garrison  of  the  late  King’s,  without 
acting  anything  in  the  least  kind  against  the  Parliament.  And  there- 
fore humbly  prayed  he  might  have  a fifth  of  his  estate,  and  the 
arrears  allowed  him  to  buy  bread.  But  it  not  appearing  to  the 
commissioners  that  he  had  wife  or  children,  their  answer  was  they 
had  not  power  to  grant  him  any  relief. 

“ On  the  i6th  of  Aprif  1652,  the  case  of  Mrs.  Church  of  EsseXy  a 
recusant,  was  heard,  whose  petition  spake  to  this  effect;  that  her  late 
husband  in  his  lifetime  settled  a lease  of  Muck  Hall  (or  such  like  name) 
in  Essex,  of  considerable  value  upon  her,  in  lieu  of  jointure  for  divers 
years  yet  in  being,  and  was  held  of  the  late  dean  and  chapter  of  St. 
Paid's;  that  Alderman  Andrews  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  his  son  had 
bought  the  reversion  of  those  lands  at  Gurney  House,  and  had  since 
taken  a lease  for  seven  years  of  the  commissioners  for  sequestration 
in  Essex  of  the  whole  present  possession,  without  the  petitioner’s 
consent  or  knowledge,  and  without  any  regard  to  her  thirds;  and 
that  the  said  Mr.  Andrews  having  now  possession  of  the  whole 
estate,  had  demolished  the  petitioner’s  mansion-house,  and  did  refuse 
to  pay  the  petitioner  her  thirds,  whereby  she  was  driven  to  a 
necessity  of  wanting  bread,  being  a distressed  and  friendless  widow 
of  almost  eighty  years  of  age ; she  therefore  prayed  her  thirds  and  the 
arrears,  and  that  the  said  lease  might  be  annulled,  &c. 

“ The  first  was  charitably  granted,  but  as  to  the  lease,  and  what 
her  thirds  should  be,  she  was  left  to  the  mercy  of  Mr.  Andrews, 
who  I fear  does  forget  what  the  Father  of  mercies  says  in  Jer.  xxii. 

497  2 T 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1647-50 


3,  Execute  judgment  and  righteousness,  and  delwer  the  spoiled  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  oppressor,  and  do  no  wrong,  do  no  violence  to  the 
stranger  and  fatherless,  and  widow,  &c.  And  in  Matt,  xxiii.  14, 
Woe  unto  you  scribes,  arid  pharisees,  hypocrites,  for  ye  devour  widows' 
houses,  and  for  a pretence  make  long  prayer;  therefore  ye  shall  receive 
the  greater  damnation. 

“ That  which  in  this  case  did  most  exact  my  observation  was 
that  Mr.  Andrews  (a  person  of  quality)  should  make  use  of  his  power 
against  a poor  widow,  and  should  be  present,  and  openly  avow  the 
taking  of  her  estate  over  her  head,  with  so  little  regard  to  the  thirds 
which  is  allowed  her  by  the  Act  of  Parliament,  and  so  much  to  his 
own  benefit,  without  which  it  is  like  he  would  not  have  taken  it, 
and  with  which  the  petitioner  must  needs  suffer. 

“ From  Haberdashers^  Hall  give  me  leave  to  make  a step  into 
Moorfields,  where  on  the  19th  of  May  1650,  being  the  Lord’s  day, 
Richard  Ledsam  and  one  Ledbeater,  two  pursuivants,  apprehended 
Robert  Segar,  a poor  old  decrepid  man,  upon  a suspicion  (and  it  was 
but  a suspicion)  that  he  had  been  at  the  Spanish  ambassador’s  at 
Mass.  Upon  this  bare  surmise  the  poor  man  was  searched,  and  in 
his  pockets  they  found  an  old  prayer  book;  whereupon  he  was 
carried  before  a justice  of  peace  and  committed  to  the  Gatehouse 
at  Westminster,  where  he  lay  in  the  common  gaol  till  the  quarter 
sessions  in  January,  1651,  being  full  twenty  months  without  any 
discharge,  or  proceedings  against  him,  and  at  that  sessions  was 
acquitted  by  proclamation,  through  the  mercy  of  Justice  Scobell, 
but  was  detained  prisoner  (until  April,  1652)  by  Mr.  Weeks,  the 
keeper  of  the  prison,  for  the  rent  of  his  lodging,  for  which  the  said 
keeper  demanded  fourteen  pence  a week  besides  fees;  and  yet, 
as  I am  credibly  informed,  the  old  man  lay  on  the  boards  in  the 
common  gaol,  and  had  no  other  pillow  for  his  head  but  a hard  stone, 
for  which  he  must  now  pay  more  than  he  is  worth,  or  continue  till 
he  perish  in  prison,  being  above  eighty-six  years  of  age.” 

‘ And  now  I am  at  the  Gatehouse  I shall  give  you  the  supplement 
of  a like  sad  story,  mentioned  in  the  twenty-first  page  of  the  first  part 
of  this  Moderator , concerning  a great-bellied  gentlewoman,  com- 
mitted to  prison  on  the  24th  of  June,  1651 ; her  name  upon  inquiry 
I find  was  Delavall,  an  English  woman,  but  her  husband  a French 
man.  She  was  committed  to  the  Gatehouse,  and  with  much  impor- 
tunity got  leave  by  petition  to  go  out  upon  bail  till  she  was  brought 
to  bed,  but  was  an  actual  prisoner  full  seven  months  of  the  twelve 
which  is  prescribed  by  the  statute,  and  the  fine  of  one  hundred 
marks  stood  charged  upon  her  till  she  was  relieved  by  the  late  Act  of 

498 


i65i] 


PETER  WRIGHT 


oblivion^  and  all  this  poor  woman’s  sufferings  merely  grounded  upon  a 
bare  supposition  that  she  had  been  at  the  then  French  agent’s  in  Long 
Acre  at  Mass,  without  so  much  as  one  witness  that  there  was  any  Mass 
said  there  at  all,  it  being  the  truth  of  the  case  (if  I may  believe  their 
most  serious  protestations)  that  they  were  only  at  their  other  private 
devotions. 

See  much  more  in  this  author  of  the  unmerciful  severities  which 
the  Catholics  endured  in  those  days,  who  also  informs  us  that  the 
sequestrators  had  so  little  regard  to  charity,  or  even  common 
humanity,  that  they  ‘ tripartited  even  the  day-labourer’s  goods  and 
very  household  stuff,  and  have  taken  away  two  cows  where  the 
whole  stock  was  but  three.’ 


[ 1651.  ] 

PETER  WRIGHT,  Priest,  S.J  * 

PETER  WRIGHT  was  born  of  poor  but  virtuous  parents 
at  Slipton  in  Northamptonshire.  His  father  dying  when  he 
was  very  young,  the  circumstances  of  his  mother,  left  with 
a great  family  of  children,  obliged  him  to  seek  his  bread  in  service. 
He  had  for  his  master  a country  lawyer  with  whom  he  lived 
several  years;  and  being  young,  and  amongst  Protestants,  quickly 
forgot  the  pious  admonitions  of  his  dying  parent,  and  lost  his 
religion.  However  he  was  by  degrees  reclaimed  after  he  came  to 
man’s  estate;  and  going  abroad,  was  fully  reconciled  by  the  English 
fathers  of  the  Society  in  their  College  in  Liege,  to  which  Providence 
had  brought  him  whilst  he  was  designing  a pilgrimage  to  Rome. 
From  Liege  he  was  sent  to  Ghent  recommended  by  Father  Rector 
to  the  English  Catholics  there,  and  for  two  years  diligently  applied 
himself  to  his  humanity  studies  in  the  College  of  the  Flemish  Jesuits  ; 
till  in  the  year  1629  he  was  pitched  upon  by  the  English  fathers,  to 
be  one  of  the  number  who  were  to  be  sent  that  year  from  St.  Omers 
to  the  Seminary  of  Rome.  But  Mr.  Wright  petitioned  that  he 
might  rather  be  admitted  into  the  Society;  and  was  accordingly  re- 
ceived to  the  noviceship  at  Watten  ; where,  in  the  two  years  of  his 
stay,  he  gained  that  perfect  mastery  over  his  passions,  that  whereas 
by  nature  he  was  hasty  and  passionate,  from  that  time  he  was 

* Ven.  Peter  Wright. — From  his  Life,  printed  at  Antwerp  the  very  year 
he  suffered,  by  an  eye-witness  of  his  death;  see  also  Foley,  Records,  ii.; 
Catholic  Encydopcedia;  D.N.B, 


499 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1651 


remarkably  calm  and  sedate.  It  was  also  noted  that  he  took 
great  pleasure,  as  well  here  at  Watten  as  afterwards  during  the  course 
of  his  studies  at  Liege^  in  making  excursions  into  the  neighbouring 
villages,  and  catechising  the  children. 

Having  finished  his  divinity  studies,  and  his  third  year.’s  novice- 
ship in  the  Tertian  House  at  Ghent,  he  was  made  prefect  over  the 
scholars  in  the  College  of  St.  Omers;  though  nothing  could  suit  less 
with  his  inclinations  than  this  troublesome  office,  as  he  himself 
acknowledged ; but  he  made  a sacrifice  of  his  own  will  to  the  will  of 
God  notified  to  him  by  his  superiors ; and  that  he  might  the  more 
perfectly  overcome  this  repugnancy  of  nature, after  having  prostrated 
himself  to  God  in  prayer,  he  went  to  the  rector  of  the  College,  and 
generously  offered  to  continue  prefect,  if  the  superiors  thought 
proper,  during  the  whole  remainder  of  his  life.  But  not  long  after, 
his  provincial  destined  him  to  an  employment,  not  less  laborious 
indeed,  but  much  more  agreeable  to  his  zeal,  viz.,  to  a mission 
amongst  the  English  soldiers;  where  he  behaved  in  such  manner 
as  to  gain  the  esteem  and  affection  of  all,  and  to  reclaim  great  numbers 
of  them  from  their  errors  and  vices.  He  was  particularly  dear  to 
Sir  Henry  Gage  their  Colonel,  who  after  their  first  acquaintance  would 
not  part  with  him,  but  had  him  for  an  inseparable  companion  for  . 
seven  years,  partly  in  Flanders,  and  partly  in  England  ; till  Sir  Henry 
(who  was  governor  of  Oxford  for  the  King)  being  killed  in  the  civil 
wars  in  1644,  the  Marquis  of  Winchester  and  his  lady  desired  to 
have  Father  Wright  in  their  family,  with  whom  he  lived  till  his 
apprehension,  which  w^as  on  Candlemas  Day,  1650-1. 

As  the  privileges  of  the  peers  were  not  regarded  in  those  times 
of  confusion,  the  priest-catchers  watched  their  opportunity  of 
rushing  into  the  Marquis’s  house  on  Candlemas  Day  in  the  morning, 
at  the  very  time  that  Father  Wright  was  going  to  Mass,  and  had  not 
the  Marquis  stopped  them  for  a while  upon  the  stairs,  they  would 
have  seized  the  good  man  in  the  chapel,  if  not  at  the  altar  itself. 
But  this  delay  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  getting  out  of  the  window 
upon  the  leads;  where,  nevertheless,  he  could  not  be  long  concealed; 
for  the  pursuivants  finding,  upon  their  coming  into  the  oratory,  the 
altar  dressed,  and  all  things  ready  laid  out  for  Mass,  concluded  the 
priest  could  not  be  far  off ; and  perceiving  the  window  open,  imagined 
he  had  gone  out  that  way,  and  found  it  to  be  so  by  sending  a boy 
the  same  way,  who  discovered  the  father  upon  the  leads.  Thus  he 
fell  into  their  hands,  and  was  carried  before  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
Roules,  and  by  him  committed  to  Newgate  as  a suspected  priest, 
where  he  had  for  companions,  besides  two  priests  that  lay  under 

500 


i65i] 


PETER  WRIGHT 


sentence  of  death,  five  others  lately  apprehended  upon  the  same 
suspicion;  and  amongst  them  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cheney,  a priest  of  the 
secular  clergy,  who  was  his  bedfellow,  and  has  given  an  edifying 
account  of  Father  Wright's  behaviour  in  prison,  extant  in  his 
printed  life. 

In  the  first  sessions  after  the  apprehension  of  our  confessor  he 
was  not  called  to  the  bar;  and  two  of  his  companions  who  were 
tried,  viz.,  Mr.  Baker  and  Mr.  Cheney,  were  brought  in  not  guilty 
by  their  jury,  which  gave  the  Catholics  great  hopes  that  Father 
Wright  would  be  set  at  liberty,  without  being  brought  to  his  trial; 
and  very  industrious  they  were  to  procure  his  discharge ; but  when 
the  following  sessions  were  coming  on,  they  began  to  apprehend  that 
those  who  were  in  power  had  other  designs;  for  it  was  then  given 
out  that  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  had  sent  into  the  country  for  the 
apostate  Thomas  Gage,  to  come  up  and  appear  as  witness  against 
Father  Wright,  and  Father  Dade,  superior  of  the  English  Dominicans, 
at  that  time  also  prisoner  in  Newgate.  To  divert  this  blow,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  George  Gage,  an  eminent  clergyman,  used  his  best  endea- 
vours to  prevail  on  the  apostate,  who  was  his  brother,  not  to  involve 
himself  in  any  further  guilt  by  having  a hand  in  the  blood  of  the 
innocent.  He  promised  he  would  not,  and,  as  to  Father  Dade, 
was  as  good  as  his  word;  for  though  he  appeared  in  court  against 
him,  and  testified  that  he  knew  him  to  be  superior  of  the  Dommi- 
cans,  yet  he  qualified  this  testimony  by  adding  that  though  he  was 
their  superior,  possibly  he  might  be  no  priest,  as  St..  Francis  was 
superior  of  his  order,  and  yet  was  no  priest ; upon  which  Father  Dade 
was  acquitted  by  the  jury.  But  as  to  Father  Wright,  the  wretch 
notoriously  broke  his  promise,  and  swore  that  he  knew  him  to  be 
a priest  and  2.  Jesuit,  and  had  often  seen  him  say  Mass;  alleging  for 
the  reason  of  his  appearing  against  him,  an  old  grudge  that  he  had 
against  the  father,  for  having  done  him  an  ill  office,  as  he  pretended, 
with  his  elder  brother.  Sir  Henry  Gage. 

The  good  man  being  asked  by  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  what  he 
had  to  reply  to  this  testimony,  and  those  of  the  other  witnesses, 
Mayo,  Wadsworth,  &c.,  would  make  no  other  answer  than  this: 
My  Lord,  I give  Almighty  God  thanks,  from  the  bottom  of  7ny  heart 
that  He  has  been  pleased  I should  be  here  arraigned  {to  use  the  words  of 
St.  Peter),  not  as  a murderer,  nor  as  a thief,  nor  as  a reviler,  nor  as 
guilty  of  any  other  crime  but  my  religion  ; even  the  Catholic  religion, 
which  was,  is,  and  ever  will  be  illustrious  over  all  the  earth  ; and  I 
have  nothing  more  to  say.  The  judge  told  him  it  was  not  for  religion 
he  was  arraigned,  but  for  returning  into  England  after  having 

501 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1651 


received  the  order  of  priesthood,  and  seducing  the  people.  Father 
Wright  replied  that  the  persecutors  of  old  might,  with  as  good  a 
grace,  have  objected  to  the  apostles  and  the  primitive  priests,  their 
coming  into  heathen  countries  and  preaching  the  faith,  contrary 
to  the  laws  of  those  countries,  and  have  called  it  treason,  and  seducing 
the  people.  But  they  preached  the  Gospel,  said  the  judge,  you 
preach  errors  contrary  to  the  Gospel.  That  is  the  very  point  in 
question,  said  Father  Wright,  adding  at  the  same  time  that  all 
manner  of  errors  and  heresies  were  tolerated  in  England,  and  none 
persecuted  but  the  Catholic  religion,  which  was  a sign  of  its  being 
God’s  truth. 

The  jury  going  out  to  consult  about  their  verdict,  after  some  de- 
liberation, returned  him  guilty;  upon  which  the  confessor  made  a 
low  reverence  with  a serene  and  cheerful  countenance,  and  said  aloud, 
God  Almighty's  holy  name  be  blessed  now,  and  for  evermore.  The  next 
day,  being  Whitsun-eve,  he  received  the  sentence  of  death,  to  his  own 
great  comfort,  but  to  the  great  affliction  of  his  friends  and  penitents, 
who  saw  themselves  now  like  to  be  deprived  of  so  zealous  and  vir- 
tuous a pastor.  No  endeavours  were  neglected  to  save  his  life,  or 
at  least  to  obtain  a reprieve  for  him,  by  the  means  of  the  Spanish 
ambassador  and  others;  but  nothing  could  be  obtained;  the  less, 
because  it  being  the  Whitsun  holidays  neither  Council  nor  Parliament 
met.  In  the  meantime  great  was  the  concourse  of  Catholics  of  all . 
ranks  to  the  prison  from  morning  till  night  to  see  the  servant  of  God ; 
many  desired  to  make  their  confessions  to  him ; others  begged  some 
little  thing  which  they  might  keep  in  memory  of  him;  all  were 
edified  with  his  words  and  comportment,  and  departed  with  his 
blessing,  finding  a certain  spiritual  joy  in  their  souls  from  having  seen 
and  spoken  with  him.  As  for  his  own  part  he  prepared  himself  for 
his  exit  by  a general  confession  of  all  his  life  to  Mr.  Cheney;  and 
waited  for  death  with  so  much  unconcernedness,  that,  as  the  same 
gentleman  took  notice,  the  two  last  nights  of  his  life  he  slept  far 
more  quietly  than  ordinary,  and  so  sound  that  it  was  not  without 
difficulty  they  awaked  him  at  the  appointed  hour  of  five  o’clock, 
when  he  arose  the  last  morning  to  celebrate  the  sacred  mysteries; 
and  he  declared  in  confidence  to  a priest  of  the  Society  sent  to  him 
by  the  provincial,  that  he  never  in  all  his  life  had  experienced  so  much 
joy  as  he  then  found  in  his  soul  at  the  approach  of  his  dissolution. 

Whitsun- Monday  in  the  m^orning  he  celebrated  Mass  with  the 
assistance  of  Mr.  Cheney,  with  great  devotion.  And  when  the  time 
was  drawing  near  when  he  was  to  go  down  in  order  for  execution, 
hearing  the  knocking  at  the  iron  grate,  he  took  it  as  a summons 

502 


651] 


PETER  WRIGHT 


from  heaven,  and  cried  out,  I come^  sweet  Jesus,  I come.  Then  em- 
bracing Mr.  Cheney,  Farewell,  said  he,  my  chamber -fellow  and  bed- 
fellow, before  it  is  long  we  shall  see  one  another  again  in  heaven.  When 
he  was  called  out  to  the  hurdle,  he  went  with  so  much  alacrity  and 
speed  that  the  officers  could  scarce  keep  pace  with  him;  and  here 
turning  to  Mr.  Cheney,  Upon  this  bed,  says  he,  I shall  lie  alone,  as 
you  also  henceforward  will  have  your  bed  to  yourself.  Then  being 
placed  on  the  hurdle  he  made  a short  act  of  contrition;  and  in 
the  midst  of  mutual  embraces  was  absolved  by  Mr.  Cheney,  and  then 
drawn  away  to  Tyburn  through  the  streets  crowded  with  an  innu- 
merable multitude  of  people.  My  author  writes  that  he  himself 
was  eye-witness  of  this  last  procession  of  Father  Wright,  who  was 
drawn  on  the  hurdle  more  like  one  sitting  than  lying  down ; his  head 
was  covered,  his  countenance  smiling,  a certain  air  of  majesty,  and 
a courage  and  cheerfulness  in  his  comportment,  which  was  both 
surprising  and  edifying,  not  only  to  the  Catholics  who  crowded 
to  ask  his  benediction,  but  to  the  Protestants  themselves,  as  many 
of  them  publicly  declared.  He  adds  that  when  the  hurdle  came  over 
against  the  house  where  the  Marquis  of  Winchester  with  his  lady, 
children,  and  other  Catholics  of  distinction  were  waiting  to  see  him 
from  a balcony,  he  lifted  himself  up  as  much  as  his  pinions  would 
permit,  and  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  gave  them  his  last  blessing, 
which  they  all  received  with  their  heads  bowed  down. 

The  number  of  people  that  met  at  Tyburn,  to  be  spectators  of  the 
triumph  of  this  confessor  of  Christ,  was  computed  to  have  been  no 
less  than  20,000,  and  amongst  them  near  200  coaches  and  500  horse- 
men. Thirteen  malefactors  were  appointed  to  die  with  him,  to 
whom  the  father  endeavoured  to  give  seasonable  advice  for  the  wel- 
fare of  their  souls,  but  was  continually  interrupted  by  the  minister, 
and  therefore  desisted,  betaking  himself  to  silent  prayer,  in  which  he 
employed  about  an  hour,  standing  with  his  eyes  shut,  his  hands 
joined  before  his  breast,  his  countenance  sweet  and  amiable,  and 
his  whole  body  without  motion  as  one  in  deep  contemplation.  The 
minister  took  occasion  to  tell  him  it  was  not  yet  too  late,  that  he  might 
save  his  life,  if  he  would  renounce  the  errors  of  Popery;  but  Father 
Wright  generously  answered  him.  If  he  had  a thousand  lives  he  would 
most  willingly  give  them  all  up  in  defence  of  the  Catholic  religion. 

The  hangman  having  fitted  the  rope  to  his  neck,  the  confessor 
made  a short  speech  to  the  spectators,  in  these  or  the  like  words: — 

‘ Gentlemen,  this  is  a short  passage  to  eternity;  my  time  is  now  short, 
and  I have  not  much  to  speak.  I was  brought  hither  charged  with 
no  other  crime  but  being  a priest.  I willingly  confess  I am  a priest; 

503 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [165 


I confess  I am  a Catholic;  I confess  I am  a religious  man  of  the 
Society  oi  Jesus,  or  as  you  call  it,  2l  Jesuit.  This  is  the  cause  for  which 
I die;  for  this  alone  was  I condemned,  and  for  propagating  the 
Catholic  faith,  which  is  spread  through  the  whole  world,  taught 
through  all  ages  from  Christ’s  time,  and  will  be  taught  for  all  ages 
to  come.  For  this  cause  I most  willingly  sacrifice  my  life,  and  w^ould 
die  a thousand  times  for  the  same,  if  it  were  necessary;  and  I look 
upon  it  my  greatest  happiness,  that  my  most  good  God  has  chosen 
me  most  unworthy  to  this  blessed  lot,  the  lot  of  the  saints.  This 
is  a grace  which  so  unworthy  a sinner  could  scarce  have  wished, 
much  less  hoped  for.  And  now  I beg  of  the  goodness  of  my  God 
with  all  the  fervour  I am  able,  and  most  humbly  entreat  Him  that 
He  would  drive  from  you  that  are  Protestants  the  darkness  of  error, 
and  enlighten  your  minds  with  the  rays  of  truth.  And  as  for  you 
Catholics,  my  fellow  soldiers  and  comrades,  as  many  of  you  as  are 
here,  I earnestly  beseech  you  to  join  in  prayer  for  me  and  with  me 
till  my  last  moment ; and  when  I shall  come  to  heaven  I will  do  as 
much  for  you.  God  bless  you  all ; I forgive  all  men.  From  my  heart 
I bid  you  all  farewell  till  we  meet  in  a happy  eternity.’  Having 
spoken  to  this  effect,  he  again  recollected  himself  a while  in  prayer, 
and  then  the  cart  was  drawn  away,  and  he  was  suffered  to  hang  till 
he  quietly  expired.  His  dead  body  was  cut  down,  headed,  bowelled, 
and  quartered.  His  friends  were  permitted  to  carry  off  his  head  and 
quarters,  which  were  translated  to  Liege,  and  there  honourably 
deposited  in  the  college  of  the  English  Jesuits.  He  suffered  the 
19th  of  May,  1651,  cetatis  forty-eight,  Societatis  twenty-two. 

As  Father  Wright's  comportment  in  this  last  stage  of  life  was 
admired  by  the  generality  of  the  Protestants  that  w^ere  spectators 
of  his  death,  so  it  gave  occasion  to  several  conversions,  a thing  very 
usual  in  the  like  occasions. 


[ 1654.  ] 

From  the  year  1651  till  the  year  1654  I find  no  mention  of  any 
priests  put  to  death  for  their  character  and  religion;  but  in  the 
year  1654,  being  the  first  of  the  usurpation  of  Cromwell,  Mr.John 
Southworth  was  drawn  to  Tyburn  to  suffer  for  his  conscience,  of  whom 
we  shall  now  treat. 


504 


1654] 


JOHN  SOUTHWORTH 


JOHN  SOUTHWORTH,  Priest.^ 

JOHN  SOUTHWORTH  was  born  in  Lancashire  in  the  year 
1592,  being  a younger  son  of  the  ancient  family  of  the  South- 
worths  of  Salmeshury ^ formerly  possessed  of  a considerable 
estate,  but  which,  ever  since  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Queen 
Elizabeth^  has  been  in  a declining  condition.  He  was  sent  for  his 
education  to  the  English  College  of  Doway,  and  was  an  alumnus 
and  priest  of  that  house,  from  whence  he  was  sent  upon  the  English 
mission  on  the  13th  of  October,  anno  1619.  The  first  seat  of  his 
missionary  labours  was  his  native  country  of  Lancashire,  where  after 
some  years  employed  in  his  functions  he  was  apprehended,  brought 
upon  his  trial,  and  condemned  for  being  a priest,  in  1627.  How- 
ever, he  did  not  suffer  at  this  time,  but  was  reprieved,  and  con- 
tinued a close  prisoner  in  Lancaster  Castle,  where  in  the  following 
year,  as  we  have  seen  elsewhere,  he  was  the  man  that  gave  the  last 
absolution  to  Father  Arrowsmith  when  he  was  going  to  martyrdom. 

From  Lancaster  Castle  he  was,  I believe,  removed  to  Londott 
and  committed  to  the  Clink,  for  there  I find  him  in  April,  1630, 
when,  as  Mr.  Prynne  complains  in  his  Royal  Popish  Favourite,  pp. 
18,  19,  he  was,  at  the  instance  of  the  Queen,  released  with  fifteen 
other  priests,  and  delivered  to  the  Marquis  de  Chasteauneuf  the 
French  ambassador,  to  be  transported  beyond  the  seas.  If  ever  he 
went  abroad,  as  the  author  above  quoted  seems  to  question,  he 
quickly  returned  again  to  his  Master’s  work,  and  laboured  so 
diligently  therein,  that  he  is  complimented  by  Mr.  Prynne  (p.  24), 
with  the  title  of  a dangerous  seducer,  who  also  informs  us  ‘ that  he 
was  afterwards  committed  again  to  the  Clink  prison  by  the  Lords 
of  the  Privy  Council’s  warrant,  and  yet  for  all  that,  had  liberty  to 
walk  abroad  at  his  pleasure  (as  most  priests,  says  this  author,  during 
their  imprisonment  had,  the  more  safely  to  seduce,  as  he  calls  it. 
His  Majesty’s  good  subjects,  and  open  Masses  in  their  prisons  to 
boot),  whereupon  being  apprehended  and  brought  before  some 
of  the  high  commissioners,  and  refusing  to  give  bond  to  appear  before 
them,  he  was  sent  to  the  Clink  by  their  warrant  under  the  seal  of  the 
court,  June  24,  1640 — to  which  they  found  him  to  be  formerly 
committed  by  the  Lords,  and  to  be  then  a vagrant  prisoner — to  be 

* Ven.  John  Southworth. — From  Mr.  Knaresborough’s  Collections 
and  other  Memoirs  in  my  hands;  and  from  a Manusr'ript  sent  me  from  the 
English  College  of  St.  Omers;  see  also  Catholic  Eiicyclopcedia. 

505 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1654 


there  detained  under  the  keeper’s  custody,  &c.  But  within  a few 
days  after  he  was  absolutely  released  by  Secretary  Windehank' s 
warrant.’  So  Mr.  Prynne. 

Who  goes  on  in  the  following  page : — ‘ How  dangerous  a seducer 
this  Southworth,  alias  Southwell^  was,  appears  by  this  petition  of 
Robert  White ^ sub-curate  of  Margaret's^  Westminster , to  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  against  him,  in  the  last  great  sickness,  1636, 
which 

‘ Most  humbly  sheweth  that  the  petitioner,  ever  since  the 
beginning  of  this  grievous  visitation  in  Westminster,  &c.,  hath  ob- 
served two  Popish  priests  to  frequent  Westminster,  one  of  whom 
is  called  Southwell  [Southworth^,  who  is,  and  long  hath  been,  a 
prisoner  in  the  Gatehouse,  but  lives  about  ClerkemvelL  This  man, 
under  pretence  of  distributing  alms  sent  from  some  of  the  priests  in 
Somerset  House,  or  other  Papists,  doth  take  occasion  to  go  into 
divers  visited  houses  in  Westminster  ; and  namely,  to  the  houses 
of  one  William  Baldwin  and  William  Stiles  in  the  Kemp  Yard  in 
Westminster,  and  there  finding  Baldwin  near  the  point  of  death, 
did  set  upon  him  by  all  means  to  make  him  change  his  religion; 
whereunto  by  his  subtle  persuasions,  Baldwin  easily  consented  and 
received  the  sacrament  from  him,  according  to  the  Church  of  Rome, 
and  so  died  a Romish  Catholic.  And  in  the  same  manner  he  also  per- 
verted William  Stiles,  who  also  died  a Romish  Catholic.  And  South- 
well,  to  colour  and  hide  these  wicked  practices,  doth  fee  the  watch- 
man and  other  poor  people  thereabouts,  &c.  And  thus,  under  a 
pretence  of  relieving  the  bodies  of  poor  people,  he  poisons  their 
souls.’ 

The  petitioner  adds,  ‘ That  divers  poor  people,  newly  turned 
Romish  Catholics,  do  commonly  frequent  the  Mass  at  Denmark 
House;  and  three  of  those  poor  people  watched  all  night  with  William 
Stiles  immediately  before  he  died,  and  the  next  day  went  thither 
to  Mass.  A most  wicked  course,  says  he,  if  it  should  not  be 
remedied. 

‘ Upon  this,  Southwell  soon  after  was  apprehended,  indicted, 
arraigned,  and  the  premises  fully  proved  against  him  by  sundry 
witnesses;  and  yet  by  the  Queen’s  and  Windebank's  powerful  means, 
his  final  trial  was  put  off,  to  the  great  discontent  of  the  people,  and  he 
not  long  after  released.’  So  far  Mr.  Prynne,  p.  25. 

Any  other  particulars  relating  to  Mr.  Southworth' s missionary 
labours,  I have  not  been  able  to  find  for  want  of  proper  memoirs, 
or  any  more  of  him  till  his  final  apprehension  in  1654,  when  ‘ upon 
information  of  one  Jefferies,  a pursuivant,  says  my  St.  Omers  MS., 

506 


1654] 


JOHN  SOUTHWORTH 


whom  he  had  in  fee,  he  was  taken  out  of  bed  at  night  by  Colonel 
JVors/ey,  and  upon  his  own  confession  of  having  exercised  his  func- 
tions since  his  reprieve,  he  was  condemned,  and  dragged  to  Tyburn 
upon  a sledge,  placed  between  two  coiners,’  &c. 

As  to  what  passed  at  his  trial,  the  only  account  that  I have  been 
able  to  find,  is  penned  by  a Protestant  (who  appears  to  have  been  a 
moderate  dissenter)  in  a pamphlet,  entitled,  A letter  from  a gentleman 
in  the  city  to  a gentleman  in  the  country^  about  the  odiousness  of  perse- 
cution^ printed  in  1687,  p.  27.  ‘ The  last  Popish  priest,’  says  this 

author,  ‘ that  was  put  to  death  in  England  for  being  a priest  of  the 
Romish  Church,  was  put  to  death  in  the  time  of  Cromwell.  I 
suppose  we  are  not  to  doubt  of  the  passionate  heat  which  inflamed 
those  who  were  then  in  authority  against  the  Papists  and  Popery. 
They  looked  upon  the  Papists  as  mortal  enemies  to  their  govern- 
ment, and  as  fast  friends  and  devoted  servants  to  the  crown  and 
royal  family.  Notwithstanding  which,  when  the  said  priest  came 
upon  his  trial  at  the  sessions  house  in  the  Old  Bailey.,  and  upon  his 
arraignment  pleaded  that  he  was  not  guilty  of  treason,  but  acknow- 
ledging himself  a priest  of  the  Roman  Church,  it  clearly  appeared 
that  those  who  were  his  judges  did  their  utmost  to  preserve  his  life, 
and  to  prevent  the  execution  against  him  of  those  laws  upon  which 
he  stood  indicted ; for  they  did  for  many  hours  suspend  the  record- 
ing of  his  confession,  making  it  their  endeavour  to  prevail  with  him 
to  plead  not  guilty  to  the  indictment.  They  pressed  him  to  this  in 
the  public  court,  assuring  him  that  if  he  would  so  plead  his  life 
should  be  safe,  and  that  they  had  no  evidence  which  could  prove  him 
to  be  a priest.  And  when  the  old  man  [aged  about  seventy-two] 
would  not  be  drawn  to  deny  himself  to  be  a priest,  taking  it  to  be  a 
denying  of  his  religion,  and  that  the  court  was  compelled  to  give 
judgment  against  him,  the  magistrate  who  gave  the  sentence  [Ser- 
jeant Steef  Recorder  of  London]  was  so  drowned  in  tears  upon  that 
sad  occasion,  that  it  was  long  before  he  could  pronounce  the  sen- 
tence which  the  law  compelled,  as  he  professed  to  give.’  So  far  this 
writer  of  Mr.  Southworth's  trial  and  condemnation. 

As  to  his  execution,  he  was  drawn  to  Tyburn  on  the  28th  of 
June.,  1654.  What  happened  upon  this  occasion  take  here  from  an 
eye-witness  in  a letter  dated  the  30th  of  the  same  month. 

‘ As  I arrived  here  I was  invited  to  be  a spectator  of  the  martyr- 
dom of  Mr.  Southworth,  an  ancient  secular  priest.  He  had  formerly 
been  condemned  and  reprieved  in  Lancashire , &c.  At  his  execution, 
though  it  was  a stormy  and  rainy  day,  there  came  thousands  of 
people,  with  a great  number  of  coaches  and  horsemen.  He  made 

507 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1654 


a speech  at  the  gallows,  which  I send  you  with  these,  according  to  a 
copy  I had  from  one  of  the  same  profession,  who  stood  under  the 
gallows.  The  large  particulars  I have  not  as  yet,  nor  seek  to  send, 
on  confidence  you  will  have  them  from  better  hands.  Priests  fly 
hence  apace,  as  presaging  a greater  storm.  There  are  others  in  hold, 
and  search  made  after  more.  All  are  in  fears  and  suspense,  not 
knowing  where  to  dispose  themselves,  the  times  are  so  hard.  There 
is  now  another  priest  brought  from  Newcastle^  taken  at  Mass, 
with  the  man  of  the  house;  who  may  the  next  sessions  expect  their 
doom.  There  were  five  coiners  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  with 
Mr.  Southworth.  He  was  clothed  in  a priest’s  gown,  and  had  a four- 
cornered  cap.’  His  speech  was  as  follows: — 


Mr»  Southworth’s  Speech  at  Tyburn. 

‘ Good  people,  I was  born  in  Lancashire.  This  is  the  third  time 
I have  been  apprehended,  and  now  being  to  die,  I would  gladly  wit- 
ness and  profess  openly  my  faith,  for  which  I suffer.  And  though 
my  time  be  short,  yet  what  I shall  be  deficient  in  words  I hope  I shall 
supply  with  my  blood,  which  I will  most  willingly  spend  to  the  last 
drop  for  my  faith.  Neither  my  intent  in  coming  into  England^ 
nor  practice  in  England  was  to  act  any  thing  against  the  secular 
government.  Hither  I was  sent  by  my  lawful  superiors  to  teach 
Christ’s  faith,  not  to  meddle  with  any  temporal  affairs.  Christ 
sent  His  apostles;  His  apostles  their  successors;  and  their 
successors  me.  I did  what  I was  commanded  by  them,  who  had 
power  to  command  me,  being  ever  taught  that  I ought  to  obey 
them  in  matters  ecclesiastical,  and  my  temporal  governors  in 
business  only  temporal.  I never  acted  nor  thought  any  hurt 
against  the  present  Protector.  I had  only  a care  to  do  my  own 
obligation,  and  discharge  my  own  duty  in  saving  my  own  and  other 
men’s  souls.  This,  and  only  this,  according  to  my  poor  abilities, 
I laboured  to  perform.  I had  commission  to  do  it  from  him,  to 
whom  our  Sayiour,  in  His  predecessor  St.  Peter,  gave  power  to 
send  others  to  propagate  His  faith.  This  is  that  for  which  I die,  O 
holy  cause  ! and  not  for  any  treason  against  the  laws,  hly  faith 
and  obedience  to  my  superiors  is  all  the  treason  charged  against 
me;  nay,  I die  for  Christ’s  law,  which  no  human  law,  by  whom- 
soever made,  ought  to  withstand  or  contradict.  This  law  of  Christ 
commanded  me  to  obey  these  superiors,  and  this  Church,  saying, 
whoever  hears  them  hears  Flimself.  This  Church,  these  superiors 
of  it  I obeyed,  and  for  obeying,  die.  I was  brought  up  in  the  truly 

508 


1654] 


JOHN  SOUTHWORTH 


ancient  Roman  Catholic  apostolic  religion,  which  taught  me  that 
the  sum  of  the  only  true  Christian  profession  is  to  die.  This  lesson 
I have  heretofore  in  my  lifetime  desired  to  learn ; this  lesson  I come 
here  to  put  in  practice  by  dying,  being  taught  it  by  our  Blessed 
Saviour,  both  by  precept  and  example.  Himself  said.  He  that 
will  be  My  disciple,  let  him  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  Me,  Himself 
exemplarily  practised  what  he  had  recommended  to  others.  To 
follow  His  holy  doctrine,  and  imitate  His  holy  death,  I willingly  suffer 
at  present;  this  gallows  (looking  up)  I look  on  as  His  cross,  which  I 
gladly  take  to  follow  my  dear  Saviour.  My  faith  is  my  crime,  the 
performance  of  my  duty  the  occasion  of  my  condemnation.  I 
confess  I am  a great  sinner;  against  God  I have  offended,  but  am 
innocent  of  any  sin  against  man;  I mean  the  Commonwealth  and 
present  Government.  How  justly  then  I die,  let  them  look  to  who 
have  condemned  me.  It  is  sufficient  for  me  that  it  is  God’s  will:  I 
plead  not  for  myself  (I  came  hither  to  suffer),  but  for  you  poor  per- 
secuted Catholics  whom  I leave  behind  me.  Heretofore  liberty  of 
conscience  was  pretended  as  a cause  of  war;  and  it  was  held  a reason- 
able proposition  that  all  the  natives  should  enjoy  it,  who  should 
be  found  to  behave  themselves  as  obedient  and  true  subjects.  This 
being  so,  why  should  their  conscientious  acting  and  governing  them- 
selves, according  to  the  faith  received  from  their  ancestors,  involve 
them  more  than  all  the  rest  in  an  universal  guilt  ? which  conscien- 
tiousness is  the  very  reason  that  clears  others,  and  renders  them 
innocent.  It  has  pleased  God  to  take  the  sword  out  of  the  King’s 
hand  and  put  it  in  the  Protector’s.  Let  him  remember  that  he  is 
to  administer  justice  indifferently,  and  without  exception  of  persons. 
For  there  is  no  exception  of  persons  with  God,  whom  we  ought  to 
resemble.  If  any  Catholics  work  against  the  present  Government 
let  them  suffer ; but  why  should  all  the  rest  who  are  guiltless  (unless 
conscience  be  their  guilt)  be  made  partakers  in  a promiscuous  punish- 
ment with  the  greatest  malefactors  ? The  first  rebellion  was  of 
the  angels;  the  guilty  were  cast  into  hell,  the  innocent  remained 
partakers  of  the  heavenly  blessings. 

‘ Here  being  interrupted  by  some  officers  desiring  him  to  make 
haste,  he  requested  all  present  that  were  Catholics  to  pray  for  him 
and  with  him.  Which  done,  with  hands  raised  up  to  heaven,  and 
eyes  (after  a short  prayer  in  silence)  gently  shut,  thus  devoutly  de- 
meaned, he  expected  the  time  of  his  execution,  which  immediately 
followed,  and  which  he  suffered  with  an  unmoved  quietness,  deliver- 
ing his  soul  most  blessedly  into  the  hands  of  his  most  loving  God 
who  died  for  him,  and  for  whose  sake  he  died.’ 

509 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1654 


I 


The  following  Latin  epigram  was  made  by  a minister  on  the  death  ' 
of  this  gentleman: 

Relligio  in  varias  serpit  (modo  mobilis)  Hydras,  I 

Dum  colit  idolum  quisque  Deumque  suum. 

Nullus  ibi  Deus  est,  ubi  multitudo  Deorum; 

Relligio  varia  relligione  perit. 

Martyr  erat,  vindex  quia  relligionis  avitae, 

Unica  qu2e  nobis  ducta  per  aeva  fuit. 

Huic  Deus  afflavit,  sonuitque  tonitruhis  aer,* 

Fulgure  martyrium  testificante  suum. 

In  pluviam  versus  lachrimarum  est  imber  obortus, 

Athleta  ut  maneat  fortis  agone  suo. 

Claviger-\  ingressum  caelis  dabat  almus  apertis, 

Quippe  fide  ct  feriis  gestit  obisse  suis.  I 

N.B. — Mr.  Southworth's  body  was  sent  over  to  the  English  College  ! 
of  Doway  by  one  of  the  illustrious  family  of  the  Howards  of  Norfolk;  j 
and  deposited  in  the  church  near  St.  Augustine's  altar.  In  requital  j 
of  which,  as  I find  attested  in  the  records  of  the  house,  God  \vas 
pleased  by  the  prayers  and  relics  of  this  martyr  in  the  year  1656, 
wonderfully  to  recall  from  the  very  gates  of  death  the  Honourable 
Francis  Howard  of  Norfolk,  fifth  son  to  Henry  Earl  of  Arundel,  and 
brother  to  Thomas  and  Henry,  successively  dukes  of  Norfolk,  when 
absolutely  despaired  of  by  all  the  physicians,  and  having  all  the 
symptoms  of  a dying  man. 


[ 1678.  ] 

OATES’S  PLOT. 

IN  the  year  1660  King  Charles  H.  was  restored,  being  the  twelfth 
year  after  the  execrable  murder  of  his  royal  father.  Under  his 
government  the  'Catholics  had  reason  to  look  for  better  times, 
considering  the  services  they  had  done  both  his  father  and  himself; 
neither  was  this  prince  in  his  own  inclinations  any  ways  averse  from 
their  religion,  since  it  is  very  well  known  he  died  in  the  profession 
of  it.  Yet  such  was  his  indolence  (being  attentive  to  little  else  but 

* It  thundered,  lightened  and  rained  very  much  as  the  good  man  was 
going  to  Tyburn. 

t He  suffered  death  on  the  eve  of  St.  Peter  and  Paul. 

510 


1678] 


OATES’S  PLOT 


his  pleasures),  and  such  the  temper  of  the  Parliament  and  people, 
worked  up  at  that  time  to  a vehement  hatred  both  of  the  religion  and 
the  persons  of  Catholics  (in  order  to  exclude  the  Duke  of  York 
from  the  succession  to  the  crown),  that  this  king  gave  way  to  one  of 
the  most  violent  persecutions  that  the  Catholics  of  England  have 
undergone,  from  the  beginning  of  the  change  of  religion  to  this  day. 

This  persecution  was  set  on  foot  in  the  year  1678  (for  before  that 
time  the  Catholics  were  tolerably  easy)  upon  occasion  of  what  is 
commonly  called  Oateses  Plot^  a pretended  conspiracy  of  Catholics 
for  killing  the  King,  subverting  the  Government,  and  rooting  out  the 
Protestant  religion;  a plot  which  though  at  that  time  it  gained  a 
general  belief  throughout  the  kingdom,  is  now  allowed  by  all  unpre- 
judiced sober  men  to  have  been  as  villainous  and  malicious  a forgery 
as  ever  was  set  on  foot.  In  proof  of  which  the  reader  may  consult 
several  tracts  of  Sir  Roger  VEstrange^  and  some  of  the  best  Protestant 
historians,  such  as  Mr.  Eachard^  Mr.  Salmon^  Mr.  Higgons,  the 
continuator  of  Sir  Richard  Baker's  Chronicle,  &c.  So  that  Catholics 
have  reason  to  rank  those  that  suffered  on  this  occasion  amongst  the 
martyrs  of  religion ; since  in  reality  the  true  cause  of  their  death  was 
not  any  plot,  but  their  constancy  in  the  profession  of  their  religion, 
and  the  public  hatred  to  which  they  were  exposed  on  that  account. 

But  this  persecution  did  not  only  involve  those  that  were  accused 
of  the  plot,  it  took  in  also  all  the  Catholics  in  general;  the  prisons 
throughout  the  kingdom  were  quickly  filled  with  them;  and  the 
sanguinary  laws  of  Queen  Elizabeth  against  priests  were  put  in  exe- 
cution with  so  much  rigour,  that  I find  no  less  than  eight  priests 
put  to  death  merely  for  their  character,  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  in  less  than  six  weeks’  time,  besides  divers  others  condemned 
on  the  same  score. 

It  was  on  the  13th  of  August,  1678,  that  Dr.  Tongue  (who  is 
supposed  to  have  had  the  chief  hand  in  the  contrivance  of  this 
pretended  plot)  gave  in  his  first  information  to  the  King;  and  not 
long  after  Titus  Oates  was  produced  by  the  doctor  as  his  informer; 

‘ a person,’  says  the  Protestant  historian,  continuator  of  Baker, 

‘ who  had  been  dignified  with  holy  orders,  though  very  unworthy 
of  that  sacred  function.  He  was  sent  for  to  the  Council,  and 
there  swore  to  the  truth  of  the  papers  delivered  by  Tongue,  with 
a great  many  other  matters  not  therein  contained.  The  sum  of 
what  he  then  swore  was,  that  he  had  been  privy  to  many  consulta- 
tions and  discourses  of  the  Jesuits  about  killing  the  King.  That 
at  one  time  they  designed  to  shoot  him,  which  was  to  be  done  by 
two  men  whose  names  were  Grove  and  Pickering.  That  afterwards 

511 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1678 


it  was  thought  better  to  do  it  by  poison ; and  this  was  to  be  done 
by  Sir  George  Wakeman^  a Papist  and  physician  to  the  Queen. 
He  said  also  that  many  Jesuits  had  disguised  themselves,  and 
gone  into  Scotland  among  the  field  conventiclers  to  distract  the 
Government  there.  That  he  himself  was  sent  first  to  St.  Omers^ 
then  to  Paris^  and  afterwards  into  Spain^  to  negotiate  this  design. 
That  upon  his  return  with  many  letters  and  directions  from 
beyond  sea  to  the  Jesuits  here  in  England^  there  was  a great  consult 
held  by  them  in  different  rooms  in  a tavern  behind  St.  Clement's 
Church,  in  which  he  was  employed  to  carry  the  resolution  from 
room  to  room,  and  so  to  hand  them  round.  That  at  that  time  a 
fixed  resolution  was  taken  to  kill  the  King  in  one  or  other  of  the 
ways  above-mentioned,  &c.  These  things  were  sworn  by  him 
the  first  day  he  appeared  before  the  Council.  Upon  this  he  was 
sent  that  very  night  with  a guard  to  seize  upon  the  Jesuits  and 
their  papers.  And  for  two  or  three  days  after  he  was  almost  per- 
petually employed  night  and  day  either  in  apprehending  persons 
he  had  sworn  against,  or  in  attending  the  Council.  This  fatigue 
he  made  use  of  afterwards  for  an  excuse  to  palliate  several  gross 
inconsistencies  that  appeared  in  the  evidence  delivered  by  him  at 
different  times.  Upon  his  oath  there  were  apprehended  Sir 
George  Wakeman  above-mentioned,  Mr.  Edward  Coleman^  secretary 
to  the  Duchess  of  York,  Mr.  Richard Langhorn,  an  eminent  counsellor 
at  law,  all  Papists  and  laymen;  Thomas  Whitehread,  John  Gaz'an, 
Anthony  Turner,  William  Ireland,  William  Marshall,  William  Rumley, 
James  Corker,  and  Thomas  Pickering,  Jesuits  and  monks,  who  were 
accused  by  him  of  being  actors  in,  or  privy  to  the  plot. 

‘ That  this  plot,’  continues  the  Protestant  historian,  ‘ as  sworn  to 
by  Oates,  was  a wicked  forgery  and  imposture,  is,  I believe,  little 
doubted  at  present  by  thinking  unprejudiced  men.  The  character 
of  the  informer  is  no  small  diminution  of  its  credit;  for  though  he 
had  worn  the  habit  of  a clergyman,  he  was  a fellow  of  a most  infamous 
life.  He  had  been  once  presented  for  perjury.  He  had  been  made 
a chaplain  in  one  of  the  King’s  ships,  but  was  dismissed  upon  a 
complaint  of  some  unnatural  practices  not  fit  to  be  named.  He 
afterwards  procured  a qualification  to  be  chaplain  to  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  and  that  Duke  being  a Roman  Catholic,  Oates  expressed 
soon  after  an  inclination  to  the  Popish  religion,  not  from  any  motive 
of  conscience,  but  thinking  probably  to  reap  some  small  advantage 
by  that  vile  condescension.  But  he  found  himself  disappointed; 
for  he  quickly  perceived  he  had  lost  all  hopes  from  the  Church  of 
England,  to  starve  in  that  of  Rome.  At  last  he  was  sent  to  the  English 

512 


1678] 


OATES’S  PLOT 


Seminary  of  Jesuits  at  St.  Omers,  where  he  was  treated  with  great 
contempt.  From  St.  Omers  he  had  been  sent  through  France  into 
Spain,  and  from  thence  returned  to  England,  where  he  soon  after 
broached  the  plot.  Whether  in  this  he  was  animated  by  a spirit  of 
revenge  for  the  ill  usage  he  had  received  from  \.h.t  Jesuits,  or  by  hopes 
of  reward  for  the  discovery,  or  whether  he  was  an  instrument  of 
others  to  swear  what  was  prepared  for  him,  has  been  variously 
thought,  but  must  remain  a doubt  till  the  great  day  when  all  secrets 
shall  be  revealed. 

‘ That  there  has  been,’  continues  the  historian,  ‘and  ever  will  be, 
a Popish  plot  for  the  restoring  that  religion  amongst  us,  will  be 
easily  believed  by  such  as  know  the  restless  temper  of  the  Church 
and  Court  of  Rome.  But  that  they  should  design  to  compass  this 
by  killing  the  King,  or  by  the  violent  methods  sworn  to  by  Oates 
and  his  associates,  appears  incredible  from  the  palpable  falsehoods 
and  inconsistencies  in  their  evidence.’ 

As  to  the  other  chief  witnesses  of  the  plot,  viz.,  William  Bedloe, 
the  historian  gives  his  character  in  the  following  lines : — ‘ Soon 
after  this,  Oates's  discovery  was  confirmed  by  a new  evidence 
perfectly  suited  to  the  old  one.  His  name  was  William  Bedloe, 
a person  who  had  gone  through  many  various  circumstances  of  life, 
and  had  been  very  infamous  in  every  one  of  them.  He  was 
thoroughly  possessed  of  all  those  qualifications  that  go  to  the  com- 
pleting of  an  eminent  rogue.  He  was  of  a base  birth  and  mean 
parentage,  so  that  little  care  being  taken  of  his  education,  or  of  any 
provision  for  him,  he  was  forced  to  make  his  way  in  the  world  by 
himself.  He  might  have  done  this  in  an  honest  way,  being  not 
without  capacity.  But  a natural  certain  bent  towards  wickedness, 
which  is  found  in  some  dispositions,  made  him  choose  a contrary 
course.  He  was  first  a poor  foot-boy,  or  runner  on  errands;  and 
afterwards  got  into  a livery  in  the  family  of  the  Lord  Bellasis. 
After  this  he  turned  a kind  of  post  or  letter-carrier  beyond  sea,  in 
which  condition  he  got  acquainted  with  the  names  and  concerns  of 
people  of  fashion.  He  made  use  of  this  to  put  in  practice  a hundred 
rogueries,  being  of  a bold  and  daring  temper,  with  a good  turn  of 
wit  and  address.  Thus  he  ran  through  all  the  arts  and  methods  of 
sharping,  going  under  false  names,  and  borrowing  money,  or  other 
valuable  things  by  forged  recommendations,  or  by  personating 
men  of  figure.  He  travelled  over  France  and  Spain  under  the 
character  of  a person  of  quality,  robbing  and  cheating  wherever  he 
went.  In  the  course  of  this  sort  of  life  he  had  been  put  into  several 
prisons,  &c.  He  was  just  got  out  of  prison,  where  he  was  fed  out 

513  2 K 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1678 


of  the  alms-basket,  when  the  reward  and  encouragement  were  offered  i 
to  the  discoverers  of  Godfrey's  murder.  Upon  this  he  went  from 
London  to  Bristol,  and  in  the  way  thither  sent  a letter  to  Secretary 
Coventry,  with  a desire  that  he  might  be  seized  at  Bristol.  This  was  ! 
done  accordingly  with  great  noise,  that  he  might  be  looked  on  as  a 
great  discoverer.  On  November  the  5th  he  was  sent  to  London, 
where  he  was  dubbed  a captain  and  the  King’s  evidence;  and,  like 
Oates  before  him,  had  guards  and  subsistence  at  the  King’s  charge  ; 
at  Whitehall.  When  he  was  examined  before  the  Secretary  of  State 
in  the  King’s  presence,  he  said  he  had  seen  Godfrey's  body  at  | 
Somerset  House,  and  that  a servant  of  Lord  Bellasis  offered  him  1 
,^4,000  to  assist  in  carrying  it  away.  That  upon  this  he  went  out  of  | 
town  to  Bristol,  but  that  his  conscience  so  haunted  him,  that  it  forced  | 
him  to  discover  it.  Being  asked  if  he  knew  anything  of  the  plot,  he  j 

denied  it  upon  oath.  He  said  indeed  that  he  had  heard  of  40,000  I 

men  to  be  sent  from  Spain,  who  were  to  meet  as  pilgrims  at  St.  ! 

Jago's  and  to  be  shipped  from  thence  to  England,  which  was  all  ! 

he  knew.  This  was  a strange  story;  40,000  pilgrims  was  an  army  1 
in  disguise  never  heard  of  but  in  Bedloe's  evidence  and  the  comedy  ; 
of  the  Rehearsal.  And  he  could  not  give  any  account  of  the  fleet 
that  was  to  transport  such  extraordinary  invaders.  But  it  plainly 
appeared  he  had  been  better  instructed  before  the  next  day ; for  being 
then  brought  before  the  House  of  Lords,  he  abounded  in  discoveries, 
and  accused  Lord  Bellasis,  Lord  Powis,  Lord  Arundell  of  Wardour, 
and  Coleman,  of  a design  to  kill  the  King;  and  told  the  House  he  had 
begun  to  put  a narrative  of  the  plot  in  writing,  and  desired  time  to  i 
finish  it.  When  he  was  asked  whether  he  knew  Titus  Oates,  he 
positively  denied  it ; but  afterwards  he  brought  himself  off  by  saying  ! 
he  knew  him  only  by  the  name  of  Ambrose. 

‘ Four  days  after,  his  discoveries  were  much  enlarged.  He  said 
40,000  men  were  to  be  ready  in  London.  That  10,000  men  were  to  ' 
be  sent  from  Flanders,  besides  the  pilgrims  of  St.  Jago  in  Spain  ; 
that  Hull  was  to  be  surprised  just  at  the  critical  time  the  plot  was 
discovered ; that  he  was  told  that  all  the  Roman  Catholics  of  any  figure 
in  England  were  acquainted  with  this  plot,  with  many  other  particu- 
lars too  long  and  trivial  to  be  enumerated.  There  cannot  be  a more 
surprising  example  of  the  force  of  universal  prejudice  than  that  such 
an  evidence  should  gain  attention,  much  more  belief,  among  so  many 
wise  men  that  heard  it.  How  could  it  be  thought  that  40,000  effective 
men  should  be  ready  in  London  for  such  a design,  when  probably  there 
is  not  that  number  of  Papists  to  be  found  throughout  the  city,  ■ 
though  we  take  in  women  and  children,  &c. 

514 


1678] 


OATES’S  PLOT 


‘ The  Parliament  believed  all  these  strange  stories ; and  the  King 
was  forced  to  drive  with  the  tide,  and  appear  as  zealous  as  they. 
Through  the  course  of  this  month  nothing  was  heard  of  but  addresses 
and  proclamations  against  Papists.  And  on  the  30th  of  November 
the  King  came  and  passed  the  Bill  for  disabling  Papists  from  sitting 
in  either  House  of  Parliament.’ 

So  far  the  historian,  who  adds  in  the  same  place  the  following 
account  of  Mr.  Staley ^ condemned  and  executed  about  this  time, 
though  not  properly  for  the  plot: — 

‘ The  next  remarkable  occurrence,’  says  he,  ‘ was  the  trial  of  Mr. 
William  Staley,  a Popish  banker,  for  treasonable  words.  One 
Carstairs,  a Scotchman,  a man  of  a very  ill  character,  happened  to 
be  in  an  eating-house  in  Covent  Garden,  where  Staley  was  at  dinner, 
in  the  next  room  to  him.  Carstairs  pretended  he  heard  him  say 
in  French,  that  the  King  was  a rogue,  and  persecuted  the  people 
of  God,  and  that  he  would  stab  him  if  nobody  else  would.  These 
words  he  wrote  down,  and  went  next  morning  to  Staley,  telling  him 
he  would  swear  these  words  against  him,  and  demanded  a sum 
of  money  of  him.  Staley  was  much  perplexed.  He  saw  the  danger 
of  such  an  accusation  at  such  a time;  but  he  was  under  difficulties, 
and  refused  to  part  wdth  the  money.  So  he  was  apprehended,  and 
five  days  after  tried  and  cast.  The  evidence  against  him  was  posi- 
tive, and  being  strangers  he  did  not  know  their  character.  He  could 
only  urge  how  improbable  it  was,  he  should  say  such  things  in  a 
public  room,  and  that  in  a part  of  the  town  where  French  was  so  well 
understood.  He  was  asked  while  under  condemnation,  whether 
he  knew  anything  of  the  plot;  but  he  denied  it,  as  also  the  words 
sworn  against  him.  He  was  executed  at  Tyburn,  where  he  behaved 
himself  very  decently.’  His  trial  was  succeeded  by  that  of  Mr. 
Edward  Coleman,  of  whom  we  shall  now  treat. 


EDWARD  COLEMAN,  Gentleman  * 

Edward  COLEMAN  was  a minister’s  son,  born  in  Suffolk, 
and  educated  in  the  University  of  Cambridge,  who  afterwards 
became  a zealous  convert  to  the  Catholic  faith.  ‘ This 
gentleman,’  says  the  continuator  of  Baker,  ‘ was  secretary  to  the 

* Ven.  Edward  Coleman. — From  his  printed  Trials  and  I.etters;  the 
Compendium  or  Short  View  of  the  Trials  relating  to  the  Plot  ; his  Dying 
Speech;  the  Continuator  of  Baker’s  Chronicle;  see  State  Trials  ; Gillow; 
Catholic  Encyclopcedia;  D.N.B.;  Tablet,  August,  1922. 

515 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1678 


Duchess  of  York,  a great  bigot  in  his  religion,  and  of  a busy  head. 
This  engaged  him  in  many  projects  for  the  restoring  of  Popery  here, 
or  at  least  procuring  a liberty  of  conscience  for  those  of  that  profes- 
sion. He  had  been  engaged  in  a correspondence  with  Pere  Le  Chaise, 
the  French  king’s  confessor,  since  the  year  1674,  in  the  course  of 
which  he  was  continually  entertaining  him  with  schemes  and  pro- 
jects for  advancing  the  interest  of  the  French  king  and  the  Church 
of  Rome.'  These  letters  being  seized  were  produced  at  his  trial, 
which  came  in  at  the  Old  Bailey,  November  28,  1678. 

‘ The  evidence  against  him  were  Oates  and  Bedloe,  with  his  own 
papers.  The  two  first  charged  him  with  having  been  privy  to  several 
consults  for  killing  the  King,  and  to  another  for  raising  rebellion  in 
Ireland,  and  that  he  had  received  a commission  [from  the  General 
of  xht  Jesuits^  to  be  Secretary  of  State.  As  to  his  letters,  they  showed, 
beyond  contradiction,  that  he  had  been  busy  in  projects  for  intro- 
ducing Popery;  and  some  warm  expressions  which  he  had  let  fall 
were  made  use  of  to  represent  him  as  a more  dangerous  person  than 
he  really  was.  But  all  this  had  no  manner  of  relation  to  the  plot, 
there  not  appearing  throughout  all  his  letters  the  least  intention 
of  hurting  the  King,  or  of  using  violence  of  any  sort  to  compass  his 
undertakings,  but  much  that  implied  the  contrary. 

‘ He  pleaded  this  himself  when  he  came  to  make  his  defence. 

As  to  Oates  and  Bedloe,  he  observed  (which  was  very  true)  that  wTen 
he  appeared  before  the  Council  Oates  did  not  know  him.  Oates 
excused  himself  by  alleging  the  weakness  of  his  sight,  the  candle- 
light, and  Coleman's  change  of  wig  and  habit;  but  he  said  as  soon  as 
he  heard  him  speak  he  knew  him.  He  observed  also,  that  wTen 
Oates  first  appeared  before  the  Council  he  charged  him  only  wfith  a 
letter,  and  some  matters  so  slight  that  the  Council  w^as  ready  to  let 
him  go  at  large;  wTereas,  had  he  knowm  these  things  he  now  charged 
against  him,  that  was  the  proper  time  to  mention  them.  Oates  ! 
answered  this  by  complaining  of  the  great  fatigue  he  had  undergone 
for  two  days  and  nights  before  in  Jesuits,  &c.,  which,  he  said,  : 

had  so  exhausted  his  spirits  that  he  did  not  know'  w'hat  he  said.  This 
was  a wretched  evasion,  but  it  wxnt  dowm  at  that  time.  In  the 
third  place,  he  said,  that  w'hereas  Oates  had  swore  he  w’as  privy 
to  a consult  about  the  21st  of  August,  in  London,  he  offered  to 
prove  that  he  was  then  out  of  town,’  having  left  London  on  the  1 
15th  of  that  month,  without  ever  returning  till  the  31st,  late  at  i 
night. 

‘ As  to  Bedloe,  he  could  only  answ'er  him  by  solemnly  protesting  | 
he  had  never  seen  him  till  then  in  his  life ; and  concluded  his  defence  | 

516  ; 

i 

i 


1678] 


EDWARD  COLEMAN 


with  an  asseveration  that  he  had  seen  Oates  but  once  before,  and 
Bedloe  never.’  Baker's  Chronicle,  p.  692. 

‘ The  Chief  Justicein  summing  up  the  evidence,’ says  Mr.  Salmon, 
in  his  examination  of  Bishop  Burnet's  history,  p.  792,  ‘ did  not  much 
insist  upon  the  testimony  Oates  had  given  of  Coleman's  design  to  kill 
the  King,  but  said  it  was  plain  that  Coleman  intended  to  bring  in 
Popery,  and  subvert  the  Protestant  religion,  by  requiring  the  assis- 
tance of  a foreign  power ; and  that  he  who  subverted  the  Protestant 
religion,  by  consequence  brought  in  a foreign  authority;  that  this 
was  acting  in  derogation  of  the  crown,  and  in  diminution  of  the 
King’s  supremacy,  and  an  endeavour  to  bring  the  nation  under  a 
foreign  dominion,  namely,  the  Pope’s;  and  though  he  might  hope  to 
bring  in  Popery  by  procuring  a dissolution  of  the  Parliament,  and  a 
toleration, it  was  to  be  supposed  other  methodswould  have  been  taken 
if  these  had  failed,  by  his  confederates  at  least,  if  not  by  himself;  and 
he  who  enters  upon  an  unlawful  act  is  guilty  of  all  the  consequences 
that  attend  it,  though  he  did  not  design  them;  whereupon  Coleman 
was  convicted. 

‘ The  Chief  Justice  having  pronounced  the  sentence,  Coleman 
declared  his  innocency  as  to  any  design  against  the  King’s  life,  and 
said  he  renounced  all  the  mercy  that  God  could  shew  him,  if  he  had 
not  discovered  all  he  knew  to  the  House  of  Commons ; or  if  he  ever 
made  or  received  or  heard  of  any  proposition  towards  invading  the 
King’s  life,  his  crown,  or  dignity;  or  to  procure  any  invasion  or  dis- 
turbance in  order  to  introduce  any  new  form  of  government,  or 
bring  in  Popery  by  force;  and  in  this  he  persisted  till  he  died.’  So 
Mr.  Salmon,  agreeably  to  Mr.  Coleman's  printed  trial. 

The  continuator  of  Baker's  Chronicle  adds,  ‘ that  before  his 
execution  many  were  sent  to  him  from  both  Houses,  with  promise 
of  a pardon  if  he  would  make  discoveries;  but  he  either  would  not, 
or,  which  is  as  probable,  could  not  make  any  such.  So  that  some  time 
after,  [on  Tuesday  the  3rd  of  December],  he  was  executed,  and 
suffered  with  great  composedness  and  devotion,  denying  all  that 
had  been  sworn  against  him.  There  went  about  an  idle  story,  that 
he  refused  to  confess  upon  promise  of  a pardon  from  the  Duke  of 
York;  and  that  when  he  found  his  death  unavoidable,  he  cried  out 
in  a passion.  There  is  no  faith  in  man  ! But  it  was  very  plain,  and  he 
could  not  be  ignorant,  that  the  fury  of  the  times  was  such,  that  the 
King  had  it  not  in  his  power  to  pardon  him,  if  he  had  been  ever  so 
willing.’  So  far  the  Protestant  historian. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1678 


Mr,  Coleman's  last  Speech. 

‘ It  is  now  expected  I should  speak,  and  make  some  discovery  of 
a very  great  plot.  I know  not  whether  I shall  have  the  good 
fortune  to  be  believed  better  now  than  formerly;  if  so,  I do  solemnly 
declare,  upon  the  words  of  a dying  man,  I know  nothing  of  it.  And 
as  for  the  raising  of  sedition,  subverting  the  government,  stirring 
up  the  people  to  rebellion,  altering  the  known  laws,  and  contriving 
the  death  of  the  King,  I am  wholly  ignorant  of  it ; nor  did  I ever  think 
to  advance  that  religion  (which  people  think  I am  so  zealous  of) 
hereby.  I thank  God  I am  of  it,  and  declare  I die  of  it;  nor  do  I 
think  it  prejudicial  to  King  or  government.  But  though  I am,  as 
I said,  a Roman  Catholic,  and  have  been  so  for  many  years,  yet  I 
renounce  that  doctrine  (which  some  [wrongfully]  say  the  Romish 
Church  doth  usher  in  to  promote  their  interest)  that  kings  may  be 
murdered,  and  the  like;  I say,  I abominate  it.’ 

Here  he  was  interrupted,  and  told  if  he  had  anything  to  say  by 
way  of  confession,  or  sorrow  for  his  guilt,  he  might  proceed;  other- 
wise it  was  unseasonable  to  go  on.  He  said,  he  had  nothing  to  con- 
fess, that  he  had  never  any  intention  to  subvert  the  government,  or 
to  act  any  thing  contrary  to  law,  but  what  every  rnan  of  a contrary 
religion  would  do  in  a peaceable  manner  if  he  could.  He  added  that 
the  witness  who  swore  against  him  did  him  wrong;  and  as  for  Bedloe^ 
upon  the  word  of  a dying  man,  he  never  saw  his  face  before  his  trial. 
He  also  declared,  upon  the  word  of  a dying  man,  that  he  knew  nothing 
of  the  death  of  Sir  Edmundhury  Godfrey^  for  that  he  was  a prisoner 
at  that  time.  ‘ Then  after  some  private  prayers  and  ejaculations  to 
himself,  says  the  conclusion  of  his  printed  trial,  the  sentence  was 
executed;  he  was  hanged  by  the  neck,  cut  down  alive,  his  bowels 
burnt,  and  himself  quartered.’ 


1679] 


WILLIAM  IRELAND,  ETC. 


[ 1679.  ] 

WILLIAM  IRELAND,  Priest,  SJ., 
THOMAS  PICKERING,  Lay-Brother,  O.S.B., 
JOHN  GROVE,  Layman  * 

WILLIAM  IRELAND,  alias  Ironmonger,  was  of  a gentle- 
man's family,  his  uncle  was  killed  in  the  King’s  service 
and  his  relations,  the  Gijfards  and  Pendrells,  were  instrumen- 
tal in  saving  King  Charles  11. , after  the  defeat  at  Worcester.  He 
was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  brought  up  at  St.  Omers,  entered  the 
Society  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  September  7,  1655,  in  which  he  had  the 
character  of  a man  of  extraordinary  piety  and  regularity,  and  a won- 
derful evenness  of  mind  in  all  events.  He  was  sent  upon  the 
English  mission  anno  1677,  and  was  apprehended  upon  the  first 
breaking  out  of  Oates's  plot.  He  suffered  much  in  prison  from  the 
loathsomeness  of  the  place,  and  the  load  of  his  chains,  and  was 
at  length  brought  on  his  trial  on  the  17th  of  December,  1678,  together 
with  Thomas  Pickering,  a lay-brother  of  the  Order  of  St.  Bennet, 
professed  in  the  English  monastery  of  Doway;  and  John  Grove,  a 
Catholic  layman,  employed  as  a servant  by  the  English  Jesuits  in 
their  affairs  about  town. 

‘ There  were  arraigned  with  them,’  says  the  continuator  of  Baker, 
‘ Thomas  Whitebread  and  John  Fenwick,  both  Jesuits.  Oates  and 
Bedloe  swore  against  Ireland  directly,  that  he  had  been  present  at  a 
consult  held  in  August  for  killing  the  King ; and  Oates  swore  the  same 
positively  against  Whitebread  and  Fenwick.  But  Bedloe  charged 
those  two  only  by  hearsay,  so  that  for  want  of  two  positive  witnesses, 
they  must  have  been  acquitted  by  the  jury  in  course.  Upon  this 
occasion  the  court  committed  a most  enormous  and  crying  act  of 
injustice;  for  when  they  saw  these  two  must  be  cleared,  they,  by  a 
quirk  in  law,  pretended  to  discharge  the  jury  of  them,  and  put 
off  their  trial  to  another  time,  though  they  had  pleaded  to  the 
indictment,  and  the  jury  was  sworn,  and  the  witnesses  examined. 
They  pretended  indeed  they  had  precedents  for  this;  but,  as  a great 

* Ven.  William  Ireland,  Thomas  Pickering,  and  John  Grove. — From 
a Short  View  of  the  Trials  relating  to  the  Plot  ; Floras  Anglo-Bavaricus  ; 
a Manuscript  sent  me  from  St.  Omers;  and  the  Continuator  of  Baker’s 
Chronicle;  see  also  State  Trials  ; Foley,  Records,  v. 

5^9 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


man  observes,  precedents  against  reason  only  prove  that  the  like 
injustice  has  been  committed  before.  As  to  Pickering  and  Grove, 
Oates  and  Bedloe  swore  that  they  were  appointed  to  shoot  the  King ; 
and  that  the  latter,  being  a layman,  was  to  have  ^£1,500,  and  the 
former,  who  was  a priest  [a  religious  man],  30,000  Masses,  which  at  a 
shilling  a Mass  amounts  to  the  same  sum;  that  they  used  to  walk 
together  in  St.  James's  Park  with  pistols  for  that  purpose;  that  one 
time  Pickering  had  an  opportunity  to  shoot  at  the  King,  but  that 
the  flint  of  his  pistol  was  loose ; another  time  there  was  no  powder 
in  the  pan;  and  again  the  third  time,  the  gun  was  charged  only 
with  bullets,  by  which  accidents  the  King’s  life  was  saved.  These 
disasters^  one  upon  another,  made  a very  unlikely  story;  but  it  was 
all  imputed  to  a special  providence,  which  solved  the  difficulty  at 
once.  The  prisoners  absolutely  denied  the  whole,  and  Pickering 
averred  that  he  had  never  shot  off  a pistol  in  his  life.  Ireland 
brought  witnesses  to  prove  that  he  was  in  Stajfordshire  at  the  time 
Oates  swore  he  was  in  London.  But  Oates  producing  a woman 
who  said  she  saw  him  in  London  about  the  middle  of  August,  which 
was  the  time  he  swore  to,  this  defence  was  overruled.  So  that 
they  were  found  guilty,  condemned,  and  executed;  but  denied 
steadfastly  to  the  last  moment,  all  that  was  sworn  against  them,’ 
So  far  the  historian. 

Mr.  Ireland,  after  his  condemnation,  being  carried  back  to  New- 
gate, wrote  there  a journal  which  shewed  where  he  was  every  day, 
and  who  saw  him  from  the  3rd  of  August  to  the  14th  of  September, 
being  the  time  of  his  absence  from  London.  The  chief  places  were 
Tixhal,  Holywell,  Wolverhampton,  and  Boscohel ; the  persons  that 
saw  him  were  of  great  quality,  as  my  Lord  Aston  and  his  family; 
Sir  John  Southcot  and  his  family ; Madam  Harwell,  and  hers ; several 
of  the  Giffords  of  Chillington;  several  of  Sir  John  Winjord's  relations; 
Madam  Crompton,  and  Mr.  Bidolph  of  Bidolph;  Sir  Thomas  Whit- 
greave,  Mr.  Chetwin,  Mr.  Gerard  and  his  family;  Mr.  Heningham 
and  his ; the  Pendrels  of  Boscohel,  and  above  forty  more ; nor  is  there 
one  day  during  the  whole  time,  in  which  there  are  not  produced 
above  a dozen  of  these  witnesses. 

On  Friday  the  24th  of  January,  after  two  reprieves.  Father 
Ireland  and  Mr.  Grove  were  drawn  from  Newgate  to  Tyburn,  abused 
all  the  way,  and  pelted  by  the  mob,  whose  insults  they  endured  with 
a Christian  and  cheerful  patience.  At  the  place  of  execution, 
Mr.  Ireland  spoke  as  follows : — 

‘ We  are  come  hither  as  on  the  last  theatre  of  the  world,  and  do 
therefore  conceive  we  are  obliged  to  speak.  First,  then,  we  do  con- 

520 


! 


1679] 


WILLIAM  IRELAND,  ETC. 


fess,  that  we  pardon  all  and  every  one  whatsoever,  that  have  any 
interest,  concern,  or  hand  in  this  our  death.  Secondly,  we  do 
publicly  profess  and  acknowledge,  that  we  are  here  obliged,  if  we 
were  guilty  ourselves  of  any  treason,  to  declare  it,  and  that  if  we  knew 
any  person  faulty  therein  (although  he  were  our  father),  we  would 
detect  and  discover  him;  and  as  for  ourselves,  we  would  beg  a thou- 
sand and  a thousand  pardons  both  of  God  and  man;  but  seeing  we 
cannot  be  believed,  we  must  beg  leave  to  commit  ourselves  to  the 
mercy  of  Almighty  God,  and  hope  to  find  pardon  of  Him  through 
Christ. 

‘ As  for  my  own  part,  having  been  twenty  years  in  the  Low 
Countries,  and  then  coming  over  in  June  was  twelvemonth,  I had 
returned  again,  had  I not  been  hindered  by  a fit  of  sickness.  On  the 
3rd  of  August  last  I took  a journey  into  Stajfordshire,  and  did  not 
come  back  to  town  till  the  14th  of  September,  as  many  can  witness, 
for  a hundred  and  more  saw  me  in  Staffordshire,  and  thereabouts; 
therefore  how  I should  in  this  time  be  acting  here  treasonable  stra- 
tagems, I do  not  well  know  or  understand.’ 

Here  one  of  the  sheriffs  told  him,  he  would  do  well  to  make 
better  use  of  his  time  than  to  spend  it  in  such  like  expressions,  for 
nobody  would  believe  him;  not,  said  he,  that  we  think  much  of  our 
time,  for  we  will  stay,  but  such  kind  of  words  arraign  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court  by  which  you  were  tried. 

Then  Mr.  Ireland  proceeded,  ‘ I beg  of  God  Almighty  to  shower 
down  a thousand  and  a thousand  blessings  upon  his  Majesty,  on 
her  sacred  Majesty,  on  the  Duke  of  York,  and  all  the  royal  family, 
and  also  on  the  whole  kingdom.  As  for  the  Catholics  that  are  here, 
we  desire  their  prayers  for  a happy  passage  into  a better  world,  and 
that  God  would  be  merciful  to  all  Christian  souls.  And  as  for 
all  our  enemies,  we  earnestly  desire  that  God  would  pardon  them 
again  and  again;  for  we  pardon  them  heartily,  from  the  bottom  of 
our  hearts ; and  so  I beseech  all  good  people  to  pray  for  us  and  with 
us.’ 

Then  Mr.  Groves  said,  ‘ We  are  innocent,  we  lose  our  lives  wrong- 
fully, we  pray  God  to  forgive  them  that  are  the  causers  of  it.’ 

Then  having  commended  their  departing  souls  into  the  hands 
of  their  Creator,  they  were  executed  according  to  sentence;  Father 
Ireland  being  then  in  the  forty-third  year  of  his  age,  and  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  his  entering  into  religion. 

Mr.  Pickering  was  reprieved  till  the  9th  of  May,  either  in  hopes  of 
his  n\aking  discoveries,  or  because  the  King  was  very  unwilling  to 
consent  to  his  death.  But  on  the  day  aforesaid  he  was  drawn  to 

521 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 

Tyburn  and  there  executed.  He  expressed  a very  great  joy  that  he 
was  so  happy  as  to  yield  up  his  life  to  God,  in  a case  where  his 
conscience  assured  him  his  religion  was  his  only  guilt;  and  he  took 
it  upon  his  salvation,  that  he  was  innocent  in  thought,  word,  and 
deed,  of  all  that  was  laid  to  his  charge.  Being  taxed  for  a priest, 
he  replied  with  a smile,  Noy  I am  hut  a lay-hrother.  He  prayed 
for  his  accusers  and  enemies;  and  when  he  was  just  upon  the  point 
of  being  turned  off,  being  called  upon  by  some  to  confess  his  guilt, 
pulling  up  his  cap,  and  looking  towards  them  with  an  innocent 
smiling  countenance.  Is  thisy  said  he,  the  countenance  of  a man  that 
dies  under  so  gross  a guilt?  And  so  he  ended  a pious,  religious  life 
with  a holy  death,  cetatis  anno  fifty-eight,  and  went  smiling  off  the 
stage;  regretted  by  many  who  esteemed  him  a very  harmless  man, 
and  of  all  men  living  the  most  unlikely,  and  the  most  unfit  for  that 
desperate  undertaking  of  which  he  was  accused.  He  was  of  a 
loyal  stock,  his  father  having  lost  his  life  in  the  King’s  quarrel  during 
the  civil  wars. 


Next  comes  on  the  trial  and  execution  of  the  pretended  murderers 
of  Sir  Edmundbury  Godfrey.  This  knight  was  the  Justice  of  Peace  to 
whom  Oates  had  brought  three  copies  of  his  narrative  of  the  plot, 
and  had  made  oath  before  him  to  the  truth  of  it,  on  the  27th  of 
September y 1678;  and  on  the  12th  of  October y being  Saturday  y he 
was  missed,  and  seen  no  more  till  his  body  was  found  in  a ditch  on 
Primrose  Hilly  with  his  sword  thrust  through  him,  on  the  Thursday 
following.  The  people  upon  this  concluded  that  he  was  murdered 
by  the  Catholics y because  he  had  taken  Oates's  depositions;  and 
nothing  more  contributed  to  confirm  them  in  the  belief  of  the 
plot  than  this  unhappy  incident.  It  will,  I believe,  remain  a secret  to 
the  day  of  judgment,  who  they  were  that  really  committed  this 
murder;  though  the  arguments  of  Sir  Roger  U Estrange y in  his  his- 
tory of  the  times,  have  made  it  highly  probable  that  it  was  the 
justice  himself ; for  as  to  the  particular  persons  against  whom  it  was 
sworn  by  PrancCy  there  are  all  the  reasons  in  the  world  to  believe 
them  innocent.  And  as  to  any  other  Catholics,  as  the  continuator 
of  Baker's  Chronicle  very  well  observes,  ‘ that  they  should  murder 
this  gentleman,  because  he  had  taken  Oates's  depositions,  seems  not 
likely;  for  the  only  motive  they  must  have  for  it  must  be  revenge; 
for  these  depositions  being  immediately  after  laid  before  the 
Council  could  not  be  suppressed  by  killing  him.  And  there  could 
be  no  grounds  even  for  resentment;  for  he  was  entirely  passive  in 

522 


1679] 


WILLIAM  IRELAND,  ETC. 


the  matter,  and  it  was  not  without  reluctancy  that  he  was  brought 
to  do  what  he  did ; and  he  lived  in  good  terms  with  them  before.  So 
that  it  seems  improbable  that  the  Papists  should,  at  so  critical  a 
season,  do  such  an  act,  which  must  enrage  the  fire  already  kindled 
against  them,  only  for  the  sake  of  an  unprofitable  and  unprovoked 
revenge.’  So  far  the  historian,  who  adds  that  a proclamation  was 
published,  October  20,  with  a pardon,  and  ^£500  reward  to  the  dis- 
coverers of  the  murder ; the  hopes  of  which  reward  brought  Bedloe 
first  upon  the  stage;  who  deposed  that  he  had  seen  Godfrey's  body 
at  Somerset  House,  and  that  a servant  of  Lord  Bellasis  offered  him 
;(^4,ooo  to  assist  in  carrying  it  away.  Sometime  after  another  evi- 
dence was  produced,  and  ‘ this  was  one  Miles  Prance,  a goldsmith, 
who  worked  for  the  Queen’s  chapel  at  Somerset  House.  This  person 
had  in  his  house  a lodger,  whose  name  wdisjohn  Wren,  with  whom 
he  had  had  some  difference  about  his  rent  which  was  in  arrear. 
It  seems  Prance  had  laid  out  of  his  house  two  or  three  nights  the 
week  before  the  murder.  Wren  calling  to  mind  this  absence,  but 
forgetting  the  difference  of  a week’s  time,  either  really  suspected 
he  was  then  employed  in  the  murder,  or  used  it  as  a ground  of  accu- 
sation, so  that  he  went  and  informed  against  him.  Prance  was 
taken  up  by  a warrant  of  Council,  and  Bedloe,  who  was  the  first  dis- 
coverer, was  called  upon  to  give  an  account  of  him.  Bedloe  fore- 
seeing this  had  found  means  to  get  a sight  of  him  privately  before, 
so  that  when  he  was  planted  in  the  room  where  Prance  was  brought, 
he  started  up,  and  with  a cursed  oath  cried  out,  This  is  one  of  the 
rogues  I saw  with  a dark  lantern  about  Sir  Edmundhury  Godfrey's 
body,  but  he  was  then  in  a periwig.  Prance  was  brought  before 
the  committee  of  Council,  where  Bedloe  charged  him  directly  with 
the  murder,  and  Wren  with  being  out  of  his  house  those  nights  that 
Godfrey  was  missing.  He  denied  the  least  knowledge  of  the  murder 
or  the  plot.  He  was  sent  to  Newgate,  where  also  at  first  he  denied 
everything;  but  at  last  (whether  compelled  by  barbarous  usage,  as 
he  afterwards  swore,  is  uncertain)  he  made  a confession.  But  after- 
wards again  he  retracted  it  before  the  King  in  Council.  And  thus  he 
went  on  for  some  time  denying  one  day,  and  confessing  another,  till 
at  last  he  settled  upon  a confession.’  {Baker's  Chronicle,  p.  695.) 

The  persons  accused  by  Prance  as  actors  in  the  murder  were 
Lawrence  Hill,  servant  to  Dr.  Godden,  Robert  Green,  an  ancient 
feeble  man,  cushion-keeper  of  the  Queen’s  chapel,  and  Henry  Berry, 
the  porter  of  Somerset  House.  They  were  brought  on  their  trial 
the  loth  of  February,  1678-79,  Prance  and  Bedloe  appearing  as  evi- 
dences. And  though  Bedloe  in  his  formal  information  had  not 

523 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


mentioned  any  of  the  three,  nor  even  at  the  trial  could  charge 
them  with  having  seen  them  about  the  dead  body,  but  named  quite 
different  persons,  yet  were  they  found  guilty  by  the  jury.  ‘ They  | 

brought  witnesses  (says  Baker's  Chronicle),  to  prove  that  they  , 

came  home  in  a good  hour,  on  those  nights  in  which  the  fact  was  i 

said  to  be  done.  Those  who  lived  in  Godden's  lodgings  deposed  ‘ 

that  no  dead  body  could  be  brought  thither  [as  was  pretended  by  | 

Prance'] , for  they  were  every  day  in  the  room  that  Prance  had  named.  i 

And  the  sentinels  of  the  night  [in  which  he  was  pretended  to  be  j 

carried  out  in  a sedan]  said  they  saw  no  sedan  brought  out.  This  | 

defence  was  very  strong,  but  it  was  forced  to  give  way  to  the  fury  1 

of  the  times;  for  they  were  found  guilty,  condemned,  and  executed.  I 

But  they  denied  to  the  last  moment  all  that  was  sworn  against  them.’  1 

The  same  historian  tells  us  (p.  689),  ‘ That  there  were  other  in-  ! 

formations  given  in  upon  oath  a few  years  after,  of  many  foul  and  j . 

enormous  practices  with  the  author  of  this  discovery  [Prance] , and  j ^ 

with  others.  And  that  in  those  times,  I speak  (says  he)  with  horror,  j ! 

perjury  and  subornation  grew  so  common  that  no  dependence  can,  -i, 

I think,  be  reasonably  had  on  any  information  of  that  kind,  viz.^  } 

such  as  Prance's  and  Bedloe's  were.’  ] 

Mr.  Hill  and  Mr.  Green  were  carried  to  Tyburn^  February  21, 
and  there  executed.  Mr.  Hill  upon  this  occasion  spoke  as  follows : — 

‘ I am  now  come  to  the  fatal  place  of  execution,  and  in  a little 
time  must  appear  before  the  tribunal  of  God  Almighty,  who  knoweth 
all  things;  and  I hope  it  will  be  happy  for  me,  because  I am  inno- 
cently put  to  death.  I take  God,  men  and  angels  to  witness,  I am 
innocent  of  the  death  of  Justice  Godfrey  : and  believe  it  will  be  well 
for  me,  because  I die  innocently;  and  hope,  through  the  merits  of 
my  blessed  Saviour,  to  be  saved.  I do  confess,  as  I lived,  so  I die 
a Roman  Catholic,  desiring  such  to  pray  for  me.  God  bless  and 
preserve  his  Majesty  and  this  poor  nation,  and  lay  not  innocent 
blood  to  its  charge.  So  I bid  you  all  farewell  in  Jesus  Christ,  into 
whose  hands  I commend  my  spirit.’ 

Then  Mr.  Green  spake  thus : ‘ I desire  all  your  prayers ; and  as  for 
Sir  Edmundhury  Godfrey^  I know  not  whether  he  be  dead  or  alive; 
for  in  my  days  I never  saw  him  with  my  eyes  as  I know  of ; and  if 
false  people  will  swear  against  me  I cannot  help  it.  I pray  to  God  to 
bless  my  King  and  all  good  people.’ 

Captain  Richardson  told  him  he  had  a fair  trial,  and  wished  him 
not  to  reflect  upon  others,  but  to  prepare  himself  for  death.  To 
which  Mr.  Green  replied,  ‘ I pray  God  Almighty  forgive  them  all; 

I never  saw  Sir  Edmnndbury  Godfrey  to  my  knowledge  in  my  life.’ 

524 


1679] 


THOMAS  WHITEBREAD,  ETC. 


Mr.  Berry  was  executed  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month.  He  was 
brought  back  to  the  Protestant  religion  in  prison  by  Dr.  Lloyd,  or 
rather  declared  he  never  was  indeed  a Catholic,  though  for  interest 
he  had  some  time  professed  himself  such.  He  persisted  to  the  end 
in  denying  the  fact  of  which  he  had  been  accused;  and  as  the  cart 
was  drawing  away  he  lifted  up  his  hands  and  said,  As  I am  innocent, 
so  receive  my  soul,  O Jesus. 


THOMAS  WHITEBREAD,  WILLIAM 
HARCOURT,  JOHN  FENWICK,  JOHN 
GAVAN,  ANTHONY  TURNER,  Priests,  SJ  * 

Thomas  WHITEBREAD,  alias  Harcot,  was  born  in  Essex, 
of  a gentleman’s  family,  and  after  a pious  education  at  home 
was  sent  to  the  Seminary  of  St.  Omers,  where  he  studied  his 
humanity  under  the  Eathers  of  the  Society;  and  then  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  entered  upon  his  noviceship  at  Watten,  September  the 
7th,  1635.  And  having  made  his  first  vows,  and  finished  his  course 
of  philosophy  and  divinity,  being  now  priest,  he  was  sent  upon  the 
English  mission,  in  which  he  laboured  with  great  fruit,  and  a remark- 
able zeal  for  the  conversion  of  souls,  for  above  thirty  years;  sparing 
no  pains  in  bringing  back  the  strayed  sheep  to  the  fold  of  Christ, 
for  which  end  also  he  composed  and  published  some  controversial 
tracts  yet  extant  in  print. 

At  length  he  was  made  Provincial  or  chief  superior  of  his  order 
in  England.  At  which  time  going  over  to  make  his  visitation  amongst 
his  brethren  in  their  college  at  Liege,  and  preaching  to  them,  as  the 
custom  is,  at  the  renovation  of  their  vows,  on  St.  James's  Day,  July 
25,  1678  (that  is,  about  two  months  before  the  persecution  begun), 
upon  that  text  of  the  gospel  of  the  day,  Potestis  bibere  calicem  quern 
ego  bibiturus  sum?  Dicunt  ei,  possumus.  Can  you  drink  the  chalice 
which  I am  to  drink?  they  say  to  him.  We  can  (St.  Matt.  xx.  22), 
he  not  obscurely  discovered  the  foresight  he  had  of  that  storm 
which  afterwards  arose,  and  of  his  own  and  his  brethren’s  sufferings 
on  that  occasion.  Eor  after  having  told  them  the  times  were  now 

* Ven.  Thomas  Whitebread,  William  Harcourt,  John  Fenwick,  John 
Gavan,  and  Anthony  Turner. — From  their  printed  trials  and  speeches, 
and  the  Compendium,  or  Short  View  of  the  Trials  in  Oates’s  Plot,  printed  in 
1679.  Item,  from  Florus  Anglo-Bavaricus  ; and  other  monuments  in  my 
hands;  see  also  State  Trials  ; Foley,  Records,  v. 

525 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679  ' 

indeed  quiet,  but  God  only  knew  how  long  they  would  be  so,  he  most  ! 

remarkably  thus  repeated  his  text  (says  Father  Joseph  Wakeman^ 
one  of  those  that  were  then  present,  in  a manuscript  in  my  hands) : 

‘ Potestis  bibere  calicem,  &c.  Can  you  undergo  a hard  persecution  ? 

Are  you  contented  to  be  falsely  betrayed  and  injured,  and  hurried  | 

away  to  prison  ? Possumus.  We  can,  blessed  be  God  ! Potestis  i 

bibere^  etc.  Can  you  suffer  the  hardships  of  a gaol  ? Can  you  sleep 
on  straw,  and  live  on  hard  diet  ? Can  you  lie  in  chains  and  fetters  ? 

Can  you  endure  the  rack  ? Possumus.  We  can,  blessed  be  God  ! ; 

Potestis  bibere  calicem.  See.  Can  you  be  brought  to  the  bar,  and 
hear  yourselves  falsely  sworn  against  ? Can  you  patiently  receive  ' 

the  sentence  of  an  unjust  judge,  condemning  you  to  a painful  and  ig-  ; 

nominious  death,  to  be  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  ? Possumus.  \ 

We  can.  Which  clausula^  as  I take  it,  he  always  uttered  with  his  j 

hands  joined  before  his  breast  and  his  eyes  up  to  heaven  in  manner  | 

of  prayer.’  So  far  Father  Wakeman  in  his  testimony  given  the  28th  j 

of  May,  1681,  and  confirmed  by  the  subscription  of  Father  John  | 

Warner,  then  rector  of  Liege,  afterwards  provincial,  who  was  also  ! 

present  at  that  exhortation. 

Soon  after  his  return  to  England  this  storm  broke  out;  and  he 
was  apprehended  by  Oates  at  a time  that  he  was  labouring  under  a 
grievous  illness;  and  being  committed  to  prison,  and  loaded  with 
chains,  suffered  much  in  his  body,  whilst  his  soul  received  a continual 
support  from  God  by  the  means  of  mental  prayer,  to  which  he  was 
always  much  addicted.  After  many  months’  imprisonment,  his 
trial  came  on  at  the  Old  Bailey  on  the  13th  of  June,  1679,  where  four  ' 
of  his  companions  were  arraigned  with  him,  who  also  afterwards 
suffered  with  him.  These  were, 

1.  Father  William  Harcourt,  alias  Waring,  whose  true  name  was 
Barrow,  a native  of  Lancashire,  who  entered  into  the  Society  at  the  i 
age  of  twenty-three,  October  12,  1632,  was  sent  upon  the  mission 

in  1646,  where  he  laboured  for  five-and- thirty  years,  and  deservedly 
gained  the  love  arpd  esteem  of  all  that  knew  him.  He  was  rector  of 
London  at  the  time  of  his  apprehension,  and  venerable  for  his  grey 
hairs,  being  seventy  years  of  age — having  been  reserved  till  this  time 
to  meet  with  that  death  which  he  had  every  day  prayed  for  for  twenty 
years. 

2.  Father  Femcick,  whose  true  name  was  Caldwell,  a native 

of  the  bishopric  of  Durham,  born  of  Protestant  parents,  who  turned 
him  off  upon  his  conversion  to  the  Catholic  faith.  He  was  edu-  , 

cated  in  the  Seminary  of  St.  Omers,  entered  into  the  Society  at  the  ' : 

age  of  twenty-eight,  anno  1656,  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission 

526 


1679] 


THOMAS  WHITEBREAD,  ETC. 


anno  1675,  and  being  procurator  for  his  brethren,  and  a diligent 
labourer  in  the  vineyard  of  his  Master,  was  apprehended  soon  after 
the  breaking  out  of  the  plot.  He  suffered  much  in  prison  from  his 
chains  and  bolts,  so  that  it  was  once  under  deliberation  whether 
his  leg  must  not  be  cut  off.  He  was  in  the  fifty-first  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  twenty-third  of  his  religious  profession. 

3.  Father  Gavan^  or  Gawen,  a native  of  London^  educated 
in  the  Seminary  of  St.  Omers,  where  for  his  candour  and  innocence 
he  was  called  the  Angel.  He  entered  into  the  Society  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  anno  1660,  performed  his  higher  studies  partly  at  Liege 
and  partly  at  Rome;  then  being  sent  into  England  in  1671 , he  was  for 
eight  years  a diligent  preacher  and  zealous  labourer  in  the  vineyard, 
and  brought  over  many  converts  to  the  Church.  He  was  thirty-nine 
years  of  age,  and  had  been  nineteen  years  in  the  Society.  And, 

4.  Father  Anthony  Turner^  a native  of  Leicestershire^  and  a 
minister’s  son,  brought  up  in  the  University  of  Cambridge^  and  there 
made  Bachelor  of  Arts,  who  being  converted  to  the  Catholic  religion 
went  over  to  Rome.,  where  he  passed  through  the  course  of  his  philo- 
sophy in  the  English  College,  and  then  was  sent  to  Watten  to  the  novi- 
ciate of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  anno  1653,  being  then  twenty-four 
years  of  age.  He  learned  his  divinity  at  Liege,  and  being  made 
priest  was  sent  upon  the  mission,  where  he  laboured  for  about 
eighteen  years,  his  residence  being  chiefly  at  Worcester.  He  had 
a great  talent  for  preaching  and  controversy,  and  an  ardent  desire  of 
suffering  for  his  faith.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  persecution  he 
went  up  to  London  and  delivered  himself  up  to  a Justice  of  Peace, 
acknowledging  that  he  was  a priest  and  a Jesuit.  He  was  fifty  years 
of  age,  and  had  been  in  the  Society  twenty-two  years. 

These  five  were  all  brought  to  the  h2ir  June  the  13th.  ‘ At  this 

trial,’  says  the  continuator  of  BakeEs  Chronicle,  ‘ appeared  a new 
evidence,  Stephen  Dugdale,  who  had  been  bailiff  to  Lord  Aston. 
His  carriage  and  behaviour  gave  more  credit  to  the  plot  than  that  of 
Oates  and  Bedloe.  But  in  some  time  this  new  witness  proved  as 
bad  as  the  rest.  Oates  and  Bedloe  repeated  the  evidence  they  had 
given  before,  excepting  that  Bedloe  charged  them  now  upon  his 
own  knowledge  with  what  he  had  before  only  spoken  of  by  hearsay. 
And  the  reason  he  gave  was,  that  the  practices  of  Reading  [accused 
of  tampering  with  Bedloe'],  had  engaged  him  to  soften  his  evidence. 
This  was  an  open  confession  of  perjury,  which  ought  to  have  set  him 
aside  for  a witness  ever  after;  and  Judge  Wylde,  a worthy  and  ancient 
judge,  told  him  when  he  said  this,  he  was  a perjured  man  and 
ought  to  come  no  more  into  courts,  but  go  home  and  repent.  But 

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MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


people  were  not  yet  cool  enough  for  reflection,  so  that  not  only  this 
passed  over,  but  the  judge  was  turned  out  for  his  freedom.  Dugdale 
confirmed  Oates's  and  Bedloe's  evidence  by  accounts  of  the  consul- 
tations of  the  Jesuits  in  Staffordshire  about  the  same  time.  Prance^ 
too,  added  his  part  towards  the  charge  against  Har court  : and  said, 
moreover,  that  he  told  him  of  50,000  men  that  were  to  be  in  readiness 
to  establish  Popery. 

On  the  other  hand  Father  Whitehread  objected  to  Oates's  evi- 
dence, says  Mr.  Salmon^  in  his  examination  of  Burnet^  ‘ that  he  was 
not  a credible  witness,  having  taken  contradictory  oaths;  and  that 
it  was  not  probable  he  should  trust  a man  in  a conspiracy  against  the 
King’s  life,  whom  by  his  own  confession  he  had  never  seen,  and 
whom  they  had  dismissed  from  St.  Omers  for  his  irregular  life.  The 
prisoners  also  produced  fifteen  young  gentlemen,  students  at  St. 
Omers,  who  deposed  that  Oates  was  at  St.  Omers  at  the  time  he  swore 
he  was  at  the  consult  at  London.  They  deposed  also  that  several 
of  the  persons,  whom  Oates  swore  came  over  with  him,  were  in 
Flanders  at  that  time.  Other  witnesses  deposed  that  Gavan  was  in 
Staffordshire  at  the  time  Oates  swore  he  was  in  London.  They 
urged  farther,  that  the  witnesses  who  swore  against  them  were  vicious, 
profligate  persons  of  desperate  fortunes,  and  who  made  a livelihood 
of  swearing,  and  desired  that  the  court  would  permit  them  to  shew 
what  Oates  had  deposed  in  Ireland's  trial.  Whereupon  Sir  John 
Southcote  and  the  Lady  Southcote  and  several  other  persons  deposed 
that  Ireland  was  in  Staffordshire  when  Oates  swore  he  was  in  town. 
Whitehread  also  observed  that,  at  his  first  trial,  when  Oates  was 
pressed  to  declare  who  had  seen  him  in  town,  he  could  not  name 
one;  but  he  said  he  had  not  seen  much  company,  and  stayed  but  six 
days;  and  now  he  swore  he  came  over  on  the  17th  of  April,  and  his 
witnesses  deposed  they  saw  him  here  in  the  beginning  of  May, 
which  must  be  a great  deal  more  than  six  days;  and  consequently 
his  oath  either  at  this  or  the  former  trial  is  false.  They  said  it  was 
probable  also  that  Oates  was  disgusted  at  his  being  turned  out  of  the 
College  of  St.  Omers,  and  this  might  be  the  ground  of  his  malice 
against  them.  As  to  Dugdale,  that  he  ran  away  from  the  Lord 
Aston,  having  lost  £300  of  his  lordship’s  money;  that  it  was  strange 
there  should  be  a plot,  wherein  so  many  persons  of  honour  and 
quality  were  said  to  be  concerned,  and  no  footsteps  of  it  should  appear, 
no  arms  bought,  no  men  listed,  or  any  provision  made  to  put  it  in 
execution;  and,  in  short,  that  there  was  no  manner  of  reason  to  in- 
duce the  jury’s  belief,  but  downright  swearing.  And  as  to  the 
prisoners  themselves,  they  appealed  to  the  world  for  the  innocence 

528 


1679] 


THOMAS  WHITEBREAD,  ETC. 


and  unblameableness  of  their  lives  hitherto,  whereas  it  was  evident 
how  viciously  and  scandalously  their  accusers  had  lived.’  So  far 
Mr.  Salmon. 

However,  Lord  Chief  Justice  ScroggSy  who  behaved  himself  very 
partially  in  this  whole  trial,  directed  the  jury  to  find  them  guilty, 
and  according  to  his  direction  the  jury  brought  in  their  verdict. 
The  comportment  of  the  prisoners  was  all  the  while  very  edifying, 
not  the  least  passion  or  alteration  appearing  in  them,  either  at  the 
invectives  of  the  judge,  or  the  clamours  of  the  people  (for  never 
was  any  bear-baiting  more  rude  and  boisterous  than  this  trial), 
but  they  made  a clear  and  candid  defence,  with  a cheerful  and 
unconcerned  countenance,  says  a priest  an  eye-witness;  so  that  a 
stander-by  said.  If  there  had  been  a jury  of  Turks  they  had  been 
acquitted.  The  next  day  they  all  received  the  sentence  of  death, 
according  to  the  usual  form,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason. 

After  sentence  received  they  were  sent  back  to  Newgate y there 
to  prepare  themselves  for  their  exit.  Where  the  day  before  the 
execution  my  Lord  Shaftesbury  was  with  Father  Gavan  and  Father 
Turnery  promising  the  King’s  pardon  if  they  would  acknowledge 
the  conspiracy.  Father  Gavan  answered,  ‘ he  would  not  murder 
his  soul  to  save  his  body;  for  that  to  acknowledge  the  plot  would 
be  acknowledging  what  he  knew  not,  and  what  he  did  believe  was 
not.’  On  Friday y therefore,  being  the  20th  of  Juney  they  were  all 
laid  on  sledges,  and  drawn  from  Newgate  to  Tyburn.  Father  White- 
bread  and  Father  Har court  were  on  one  sledge.  Father  Turner  and 
Father  Gavan  on  another,  and  Father  Fenwick  on  a third  by  himself. 
Their  comportment  was  modestly  cheerful  and  religious,  which 
served  not  a little  to  allay  the  fury  of  the  people.  They  prayed 
devoutly  at  the  place  of  execution.  And  each  of  them  made  a speech, 
which  we  must  not  here  omit. 

Father  Whitehread's  Speech. 

I suppose  it  is  expected  I should  speak  something  to  the  matter 
I am  condemned  for,  and  brought  hither  to  suffer;  it  is  no  less  than 
the  contriving  and  plotting  His  Majesty’s  death,  and  the  alteration 
of  the  government  of  the  Church  and  State.  You  all  either  know, 
or  ought  to  know,  I am  to  make  my  appearance  before  the  face  of 
Almighty  God,  and  with  all  imaginable  certainty  and  evidence  to 
receive  a final  judgment,  for  all  the  thoughts,  words,  and  actions 
of  my  whole  life.  So  that  I am  not  now  upon  terms  to  speak  other 
than  the  truth;  and,  therefore,  in  His  most  holy  presence,  and  as  I 
hope  for  mercy  from  His  Divine  Majesty,  I do  declare  to  you  here 

529  2 L 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


present,  and  to  the  whole  world,  that  I go  out  of  the  world  as  inno- 
cent, and  as  free  from  any  guilt  of  these  things  laid  to  my  charge  in 
this  matter,  as  I came  into  the  world  from  my  mother’s  womb; 
and  that  I do  renounce  from  my  heart  all  manner  of  pardons,  absolu- 
tions, dispensations  for  swearing,  as  occasions  or  interest  may  seem 
to  require,  which  some  have  been  pleased  to  lay  to  our  charge,  as 
matters  of  our  practice  and  doctrine,  but  is  a thing  so  unjustifiable 
and  unlawful,  that  I believe,  and  ever  did,  that  no  power  on  earth 
can  authorise  me,  or  anybody  so  to  do.  As  for  those  who  have  most 
falsely  accused  me  (as  time,  either  in  this  world,  or  in  the  next  will 
make  appear)  I do  heartily  forgive  them,  and  beg  of  God  to  grant 
them  His  holy  grace,  that  they  may  repent  of  their  unjust  proceed- 
ings against  me ; otherwise  they  will  in  conclusion  find  they  have  done 
themselves  more  wrong  than  I have  suffered  from  them,  though 
that  has  been  a great  deal.  I pray  God  bless  His  Majesty  both 
temporally  and  eternally,  which  has  been  my  daily  prayer  for  him, 
and  is  all  the  harm  that  I ever  intended  or  imagined  against  him. 
And  I do  with  this  my  last  breath,  in  the  sight  of  God  declare,  that 
I never  did  learn,  or  teach,  or  believe,  nor  can  as  a Catholic  believe, 
that  it  is  lawful  upon  any  occasion  or  pretence  whatsoever  to  design 
or  contrive  the  death  of  His  Majesty,  or  any  hurt  to  his  person; 
but  on  the  contrary  all  are  bound  to  obey,  defend,  and  preserve 
his  sacred  person,  to  the  utmost  of  their  power.  And  I do,  more- 
over, declare  that  this  is  the  true  and  plain  sense  of  my  soul,  in  the 
sight  of  Him  who  knows  the  secrets  of  my  heart,  and  as  I hope  to 
see  His  blessed  Face,  without  any  equivocation  or  mental  reservation. 
This  is  all  I have  to  say  concerning  the  matter  of  my  condemnation ; 
that  which  remains  for  me  now  to  do,  is  to  recommend  my  soul  into 
the  hands  of  my  blessed  Redeemer,  by  whose  only  merits  and  passion 
I hope  for  salvation. 


Father  HarcourVs  Speech. 

The  words  of  dying  persons  have  been  always  esteemed  as  of 
greatest  authority,  because  uttered  then,  when  shortly  after  they 
are  to  be  cited  before  the  high  tribunal  of  Almighty  God.  This 
gives  me  hopes  that  mine  may  be  looked  upon  as  such ; therefore  I 
do  here  declare,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  the  whole  court 
of  heaven,  and  this  numerous  assembly,  that  as  I hope  by  the  merits 
and  passion  of  my  Lord  and  sweet  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  for  eternal 
bliss,  I am  as  innocent  as  the  child  unborn  of  anything  laid  to  my 
charge,  and  for  which  I am  here  to  die. 

Sheriff  How. — Or  Sir  Edmundbury  Godfrey's  death  ? 

530 


1679] 


THOMAS  WHITEBREAD,  ETC. 


Har court. — Or  Sir  Edmundbury  Godfrey’s  death. 

Sher.  How. — Did  not  you  write  that  letter  concerning  the 
despatch  of  Sir  Edmundbury  Godfrey? 

Har  court. — Noy  sir  ; these  are  the  words  of  a dying  man^  I would  not 
do  it  for  a thousand  worlds. 

Sher.  How. — How  have  you  lived  ? 

Harcourt. — I have  lived  like  a man  of  repute  all  my  life^  and  never 
was  before  the  face  of  a judge  till  my  trial : no  man  can  accuse  me. 
I have  from  my  youth  been  bred  up  in  the  education  of  my  duty  towards 
God  and  man.  And  I do  utterly  abhor  and  detest  that  abominable 
false  doctrine  laid  to  our  charge,  that  we  can  have  licenses  to  commit 
perjury,  or  any  sin  to  advantage  our  cause,  being  expressly  against 
the  doctrine  of  St.  Pauf  saying.  Non  sunt  facienda  mala^  ut  eveniant 
bona — Evil  is  not  to  be  done  that  good  may  come  thereof.  And 
therefore  we  hold  it  in  all  cases  unlawful  to  kill  or  murder  any  person 
whatsoever,  much  more  our  lawful  King  now  reigning,  whose  person 
and  temporal  dominions  we  are  ready  to  defend  with  our  lives 
and  fortunes  against  any  opponent  whatsoever,  none  excepted.  I 
forgive  all  that  have  contrived  my  death,  and  humbly  beg  pardon  of 
Almighty  God  for  them.  And  I ask  pardon  of  all  the  world.  I 
pray  God  bless  His  Majesty  and  grant  him  a prosperous  reign. 
The  like  I wish  to  his  royal  consort,  the  best  of  queens.  I humbly 
beg  the  prayers  of  all  those  who  are  in  the  communion  of  the  Roman 
Church,  if  any  such  be  present. 

Mr.  Turner's  Speech. 

Being  now,  good  people,  very  near  my  end,  and  summoned  by 
a violent  death  to  appear  before  God’s  tribunal,  there  to  render  an 
account  of  all  my  thoughts,  words,  and  actions  before  a just  Judge, 
I conceive  I am  bound  in  conscience  to  do  myself  that  justice  as  to 
declare  upon  oath  my  innocence  from  the  horrid  crime  of  treason 
with  which  I am  falsely  accused.  And  I esteem  it  a duty  I owe  to 
Christian  charity,  to  publish  to  the  world  before  my  death  all  that 
I know  on  this  point,  concerning  those  Catholics  I have  conversed 
with  since  the  first  noise  of  the  plot,  desiring  from  the  bottom  of 
my  heart  that  the  whole  truth  may  appear,  that  innocence  may  be 
cleared  to  the  greater  glory  of  God,  and  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the 
King  and  country.  As  to  myself  I call  God  to  witness,  that  I was 
never  in  my  whole  life  present  at  any  consult  or  meeting  of  the 
Jesuits y where  any  oath  of  secrecy  was  taken,  or  the  sacrament  as 
a bond  of  secrecy,  either  by  me,  or  any  one  of  them,  to  conceal  any 
plot  against  his  sacred  Majesty ; nor  was  I ever  present  at  any  meeting 

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MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


or  consult  of  theirs,  where  any  proposal  was  made,  or  resolve  taken 
or  signed,  either  by  me  or  any  of  them,  for  taking  away  the  life  of 
our  dread  sovereign;  an  impiety  of  such  a nature  that,  had  I been 
present  at  such  a meeting,  I should  have  been  bound  by  the  laws  of 
God,  and  by  the  principles  of  m}^  religion  (and  by  God’s  grace  would 
have  acted  accordingly),  to  have  discovered  such  a devilish  treason 
to  the  civil  magistrate,  to  the  end  they  might  have  been  brought  - 
to  condign  punishment.  I was  so  far,  good  people,  from  being  in 
September  last  at  a consult  of  the  Jesuits  at  Tixhal,  in  Mr.  Ewer's  | 
chamber,  that  I vow  to  God,  as  I hope  for  salvation,  I never  was  so 
much  as  once  that  year  at  Tixhal,  my  Lord  Aston's  house.  ’Tis  I 
true  I was  at  the  congregation  of  Jesuits  held  on  the  24th  of 
April  was  twelvemonth;  but  in  that  meeting,  as  I hope  to  be 
saved,  we  meddled  not  with  State  affairs,  but  only  treated 
about  the  concerns  of  our  province,  which  is  usually  done  by  us, 
without  offence  to  temporal  princes,  every  third  year  all  the 
world  over. 

Sheriff  How. — You  do  only  justify  yourselves  here.  We  will  not 
believe  a word  that  you  say.  Spend  your  time  in  prayer,  and  we  will 
not  think  our  time  too  long. 

I am,  good  people,  as  free  from  the  treason  I am  accused  of  as  the 
child  that  is  unborn,  and  being  innocent  I never  accused  myself 
in  confession  of  anything  that  I am  charged  with.  Certainly,  if 
I had  been  conscious  to  myself  of  any  guilt  in  this  kind,  I should  not 
so  frankly  and  freely,  as  I did  of  my  own  accord,  have  presented 
myself  before  the  King’s  most  honourable  Privy  Council.  As  for 
those  Catholics  which  I have  conversed  with  since  the  noise  of  the 
plot,  I protest  before  God,  in  the  words  of  a dying  man,  that  I 
never  heard  any  one  of  them,  either  priest  or  layman,  express  to  me 
the  least  knowledge  of  any  plot,  that  was  then  on  foot  amongst  the 
Catholics  against  the  King’s  most  excellent  Majesty,  for  the  advanc- 
ing the  Catholic  religion.  I die  a Roman  Catholic,  and  humbly 
beg  the  prayers  of  such  for  my  happy  passage  into  a better  life.  I 
have  been  of  that  religion  above  thirty  years,  and  now  give  God 
Almighty  infinite  thanks  for  calling  me  by  His  holy  grace  to  the  know- 
ledge of  this  truth,  notwithstanding  the  prejudice  of  my  former 
education.  God  of  His  infinite  goodness  bless  the  King  and 
all  the  royal  family,  and  grant  His  Majesty  a prosperous  reign  here 
and  a crown  of  glory  hereafter.  God  in  His  mercy  forgive  all  those 
which  have  falsely  accused  me,  or  have  had  any  hand  in  my  death. 

I forgive  them  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  as  I hope  myself  for 
forgiveness  at  the  hands  of  God. 

532 


679] 


THOMAS  WHITEBREAD,  ETC. 


Mr.  Turner's  Prayer, 

O God,  who  hast  created  me  to  a supernatural  end,  to  serve  Thee 
in  this  life  by  grace,  and  enjoy  Thee  in  the  next  by  glory,  be  pleased 
to  grant,  by  the  merits  of  Thy  bitter  death  and  passion,  that  after 
this  wretched  life  shall  be  ended,  I may  not  fail  of  a full  enjoyment 
of  Thee  my  last  end  and  sovereign  good.  I humbly  beg  pardon 
for  all  the  sins  which  I have  committed  against  Thy  Divine  Majesty, 
since  the  first  instant  I came  to  the  use  of  reason  to  this  very  time. 
I am  heartily  sorry,  from  the  very  bottom  of  my  heart,  for  having 
offended  Thee,  so  good,  so  powerful,  so  wise,  and  so  just  a God,  and 
purpose,  by  the  help  of  Thy  grace,  never  more  to  offend  Thee, 
my  good  God,  whom  I love  above  all  things. 

O sweet  Jesus,  who  hast  suffered  a most  painful  and  ignominious 
death  upon  the  cross  for  our  salvation,  apply,  I beseech  Thee,  unto 
me  the  merits  of  Thy  sacred  Passion,  and  sanctify  unto  me  these 
sufferings  of  mine,  which  I humbly  accept  of  for  Thy  sake,  in  union 
of  the  sufferings  of  Thy  sacred  Majesty,  and  in  punishment  and 
satisfaction  of  my  sins. 

O my  dear  Saviour  and  Redeemer,  I return  Thee  immortal 
thanks  for  all  Thou  hast  pleased  to  do  for  me  in  the  whole  course 
of  my  life ; and  now  in  the  hour  of  my  death,  with  a firm  belief  of  all 
things  Thou  hast  revealed,  and  a steadfast  hope  of  obtaining  everlast- 
ing bliss,  I cheerfully  cast  myself  into  the  arms  of  Thy  mercy,  whose 
arms  were  stretched  upon  the  cross  for  my  redemption.  Sweet  Jesus 
receive  my  spirit. 

Mr.  Gavan's  Speech, 

Dearly  beloved  countrymen,  I am  come  to  the  last  scene  of 
mortality,  to  the  hour  of  my  death;  an  hour  which  is  the  horizon 
between  time  and  eternity ; an  hour  which  must  either  make  me  a 
star  to  shine  for  ever  in  heaven  above,  or  a firebrand  to  burn  ever- 
lastingly amongst  the  damned  souls  in  hell  below;  an  hour  in  which, 
if  I deal  sincerely,  and  with  a hearty  sorrow  acknowledge  my  crimes, 
I may  hope  for  mercy;  but  if  I falsely  deny  them  I must  expect 
nothing  but  eternal  damnation;  and,  therefore,  what  I shall  say  in 
this  great  hour,  I hope  you  will  believe.  And  now  in  this  hour  I do 
solemnly  swear,  protest,  and  vow,  by  all  that  is  sacred  in  heaven  and 
on  earth,  and  as  I hope  to  see  the  face  of  God  in  glory,  that  I am  as 
innocent  as  the  child  unborn,  of  those  treasonable  crimes  which 
Mr.  Oates  and  Mr.  Diigdale  have  sworn  against  me  in  my  trial, 
and  for  which  sentence  of  death  was  pronounced  against  me  the  day 

533 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


after  my  trial.  And  that  you  may  be  assured  that  what  I say  is  true, 
I do  in  like  manner  protest,  vow,  and  swear,  as  I hope  to  see  the  face 
of  God  in  glory,  that  I do  not,  in  what  I say  unto  you,  make  use  of 
any  equivocation,  or  mental  reservation,  or  material  prolation,  or 
any  such  like  way  to  palliate  truth.  Neither  do  I make  use  of  any 
dispensations  from  the  Pope,  or  anybody  else;  or  of  any  oath  of 
secrecy,  or  any  absolutions  in  confession,  or  out  of  confession,  to 
deny  the  truth ; but  I speak  in  the  plain  sense  which  the  words  bear ; 
and  if  I do  speak  in  any  other  sense,  to  palliate  or  hide  the  truth,  I 
wish  with  all  my  soul  that  God  may  exclude  me  from  His  heavenly 
glory,  and  condemn  me  to  the  lowest  place  of  hell  fire;  and  so  much 
to  that  point. 

And  now,  dear  countrymen,  in  the  second  place,  I do  confess  and 
own  to  the  whole  world  that  I am  a Roman  Catholic  and  a priest, 
and  one  of  that  sort  of  priests  CdXXtd  Jesuits.  And  now,  because  they 
are  so  falsely  charged  for  holding  king-killing  doctrine,  I think  it 
my  duty  to  protest  to  you,  with  my  last  dying  words,  that  neither  I 
in  particular,  nor  the  Jesuits  in  general,  hold  any  such  opinion,  but 
utterly  abhor  and  detest  it ; and  I assure  you  that  amongst  the  vast 
numbers  of  authors  which  among  th.Q  Jesuits  have  printed  philosophy, 
divinity,  cases,  or  sermons,  there  is  not  one,  to  the  best  of  my  know- 
ledge, that  allows  of  king-killing  doctrine,  or  holds  this  position, 
that  it  is  lawful  for  a private  person  to  kill  a king,  although  an  heretic, 
although  a pagan,  although  a tyrant;  there  is,  I say,  not  one  Jesuit 
that  holds  this,  except  Mariana  the  Spanish  Jesuit^  and  he  defends  it 
not  absolutely,  but  only  problematically,  for  which  his  book  was 
called  in,  and  that  opinion  expunged  and  censured.  And  is  it  not  a 
sad  thing  that  for  the  rashness  of  one  single  man,  whilst  the  rest 
cry  out  against  him,  and  hold  the  contrary,  that  a whole  religious 
order  should  be  sentenced } But  I have  not  time  to  discuss  this 
point  at  large,  and  therefore  I refer  you  all  to  a royal  author,  I mean 
the  wise  and  victorious  King  Henry  the  Fourth  of  France^  the  royal 
grandfather  of  our  present  gracious  King,  in  a public  oration  which 
he  pronounced  in  defence  of  the  Jesuits^  amongst  other  things, 
declaring  that  he  was  very  well  satisfied  with  the  Jesuits'  doctrine 
concerning  kings,  as  being  conformable  to  the  best  doctors  in  the 
Church.  But  why  do  I relate  the  testimony  of  one  single  prince, 
when  the  whole  Catholic  world  is  the  Jesuits'  advocate  therein  ? 
Does  not  Germany^  France^  Italy^  Spain^  and  Flanders,  trust  the 
education  of  their  youth  to  them  in  a very  great  measure  } Do  not 
they  trust  their  own  souls  to  be  governed  by  them,  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  sacraments  } and  can  you  imagine  so  many  great  kings 

534 


1679] 


THOMAS  WHITEBREAD,  ETC. 


and  princes,  and  so  many  wise  States  should  do,  or  permit  this  to  be 
done  in  their  kingdoms,  if  the  Jesuits  were  men  of  such  damnable 
principles  as  they  are  now  taken  for  in  England? 

In  the  third  place,  dear  countrymen,  I do  protest  that  as  I never 
in  my  life  did  machine,  or  contrive  either  the  deposition  or  death  of 
the  King,  so  now  at  my  death  I do  heartily  desire  of  God  to  grant 
him  a quiet  and  happy  reign  upon  earth,  and  an  everlasting  crown 
in  heaven.  For  the  judges  also,  and  the  jury,  and  all  those  that  were 
any  ways  concerned,  either  in  my  trial,  accusation,  or  condemnation, 
I do  humbly  beg  of  God  to  grant  them  both  temporal  and  eternal 
happiness.  And  as  for  Mr.  Oates  and  Mr.  Dugdale,  I call  God  to 
witness,  they  by  false  oaths  have  brought  me  to  this  untimely  end. 
I heartily  forgive  them  because  God  commands  me  so  to  do ; and  I 
beg  God  for  His  infinite  mercy  to  grant  them  true  sorrow  and  re- 
pentance in  this  world,  that  they  may  be  capable  of  eternal  happiness 
in  the  next.  And  having  discharged  my  duty  towards  myself,  and 
my  own  innocence;  towards  my  order,  and  its  doctrine;  to  my  neigh- 
bour and  the  world,  I have  nothing  else  to  do  now,  my  great  God,  but 
to  cast  myself  into  the  arms  of  your  mercy.  I believe  you  are  one 
Divine  essence  and  three  Divine  persons ; I believe  that  you  in  the 
second  person  of  the  Trinity  became  man  to  redeem  me;  and  I be- 
lieve you  are  an  eternal  rewarder  of  the  good,  and  an  eternal  chastiser 
of  the  bad.  In  fine,  I believe  all  you  have  revealed  for  your  own 
infinite  veracity;  I hope  in  you  above  all  things,  for  your  infinite 
fidelity;  and  I love  you  above  all  things,  for  your  infinite  beauty 
and  goodness;  and  I am  heartily  sorry  that  ever  I offended  so 
great  a God  with  my  whole  heart.  I am  contented  to  undergo 
an  ignominious  death  for  the  love  of  you,  my  dear  Jesu,  seeing 
you  have  been  pleased  to  undergo  an  ignominious  death  for  the 
love  of  me. 


Mr.  Fenwick's  Speech. 

Good  people,  I suppose  you  expect  I should  say  something  as 
to  the  crime  I am  condemned  for,  and  either  acknowledge  my  guilt, 
or  assert  my  innocency.  I do  therefore  declare  before  God  and  the 
whole  world,  and  call  God  to  witness  that  what  I say  is  true,  that  I 
am  innocent  of  what  is  laid  to  my  charge,  of  plotting  the  King’s 
death,  and  endeavouring  to  subvert  the  government,  and  bring  in  a 
foreign  power,  as  the  child  unborn,  and  that  I know  nothing  of  it 
but  what  I have  learned  from  Mr.  Oates  and  his  companions,  and 
what  comes  originally  from  them. 

Sher.  How. — If  you  can  make  a good  conclusion  to  your  own  life, 

535 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


it  will  do  well;  consider  if  your  letters  did  not  agree  with  the  evi- 
dence, that’s  another  matter. 

Fenwick. — I assure  you  I do  renounce  all  treason  from  my  very  heart. 
I have  always  and  ever  shall  disown  the  opinions  of  such  devilish  prac- 
tices as  these  are  of  king-killing.  If  I speak  not  the  whole  frame  of  my 
hearty  I wish  God  may  exclude  me  from  His  glory. 

Sher.  How. — Those  that  murdered  Sir  Edmundbury  Godfrey, 
said  as  you  do. 

Fenwick. — As  for  Sir  Edmundbury  Godfrey,  / protest  before  God, 
I know  nothing  of  it  ; 1 never  saw  the  man  in  my  life, 

Sher.  How. — For  my  part  I am  of  opinion  you  had  a hand 
in  it. 

Fenwick. — Now  that  I am  a dying  man,  do  you  think  I would  go 
and  damn  my  soul? 

Sher.  How. — I wish  you  all  the  good  I can,  but  I’ll  assure  you  I 
believe  never  a word  you  say. 

Fenwick. — / pray  for  His  Majesty  every  day,  and  wish  him  all 
happiness  with  all  my  heart.  Also  I do  with  all  my  soul  pardon  all 
my  accusers.  If  the  judge  or  jury  did  anything  amiss,  I pardon  them 
with  all  my  soul,  and  all  persons  directly  or  indirectly.  I am  very  willing 
and  ready  to  suffer  this  death.  I pray  God  pardon  me  my  sins,  and 
save  my  soul. 

And  as  to  what  is  said  and  commonly  believed  of  Roman  Catholics 
that  they  are  not  to  be  believed  or  trusted,  because  they  can  have 
dispensations  for  lying,  perjury,  killing  kings,  and  other  the  most 
enormous  crimes,  I do  utterly  renounce  all  such  pardons,  dispensa- 
tions, and  withal  declare  that  it  is  a most  wicked  and  malicious 
calumny  cast  upon  Catholics  who  do  all,  with  all  their  hearts  and 
souls,  hate  and  detest  all  such  wicked  and  damnable  practices;  and 
in  the  words  of  a dying  man,  and  as  I hope  for  mercy  at  the  hands 
of  God,  before  whom  I must  shortly  appear  and  give  an  account  of 
all  my  actions,  I do  declare  that  what  I have  said  is  true;  and  I hope 
Christian  charity  will  not  let  you  think  that,  by  the  last  act  of  my 
life,  I would  cast  away  my  soul,  by  sealing  up  my  last  breath  with  a 
damnable  lie. 

Then  they  were  at  their  private  devotions  for  about  an 
hour. 

When  they  had  ended  their  prayers  and  the  ropes  were  about 
their  necks,  there  came  a horseman  in  full  speed  from  Whitehall, 
crying,  as  he  rode,  A pardon,  a pardon,  and  with  difficulty  he  made 
through  the  press  to  the  Sheriff,  who  was  under  the  gallows  to  see 

536 


1679] 


THOMAS  WHITEBREAD.  ET^C. 


execution  performed.  This  pardon  expressed,  How  the  King  most 
graciously,  and  out  of  his  inclination  to  clemency,  had  granted  them  their 
lives,  which  by  treason  they  had  forfeited,  upon  condition  they  would 
acknowledge  the  conspiracy , and  lay  open  what  they  knew  thereof. 
They  all  thanked  His  Majesty  for  his  inclination  of  mercy  towards 
them;  but  as  to  any  conspiracy  they  knew  of  none,  much  less  were 
guilty  of  any;  and  therefore  could  not  accept  of  any  pardon  upon 
those  conditions. 

In  fine,  after  a short  recollection,  the  cart  was  drawn  away,  and 
they  were  permitted  to  hang  till  they  were  dead ; and  then  were  cut 
down  and  quartered.  Their  quarters  were  given  to  their  friends, 
by  whom  they  were  interred  in  the  churchyard  of  St.  Giles-in-the- 
Fields.  Divers  Catholics  dipped  their  handkerchiefs  in  their  blood, 
which,  as  we  are  credibly  informed,  have  been  instruments  of  great 
cures.  It  was  very  observable  that  Sir  Thomas  Armstrong,  who  was 
present  at  the  execution,  and  expressed  a more  than  ordinary  joy 
on  that  occasion,  was  himself  five  years  after,  on  the  selfsame  day, 
brought  to  suffer  the  same  death,  in  the  same  place.  Father  White- 
bread  suffered  in  the  sixty-first  year  of  his  age,  and  the  forty-fourth 
of  his  religious  profession. 

Two  other  priests  of  the  same  Society  died  in  prison  not  long 
after  the  beginning  of  this  persecution,  viz..  Father  Edward  Mico, 
socius  to  the  provincial,  accused  and  apprehended  by  Oates,  and 
hurried  away  to  prison  whilst  he  was  labouring  under  a violent  fever. 
He  perished  in  Newgate,  December  the  3d,  1678,  being  found  dead 
on  his  knees,  says  a manuscript  in  my  hands,  oppressed  with  the  weight 
of  his  irons.  And  Father  Thomas  Mom/or alias  Bedingfield,  who  in 
like  manner  perished  in  the  Gatehouse,  December  21,  the  same  year. 
And  in  the  February  following.  Father  Francis  Nevill,  an  ancient 
missioner  of  the  same  Society,  being  now  eighty-four  years  of  age, 
and  having  spent  forty-eight  of  them  in  the  English  mission,  was 
apprehended  in  the  house  of  a Catholic  gentleman,  and  flung  down 
stairs  by  the  pursuivants,  and  so  brought  to  his  end.  Also  Father 
Thomas  Jenison  of  the  same  Society,  accused  by  Oates  of  the  plot, 
after  enduring  for  a twelvemonth  the  incommodities  of  his  prison, 
died  on  the  27th  of  September,  1679. 


537 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


RICHARD  LANGHORNE,  Esq.^ 

Richard  LxANGHORNE  was  an  eminent  counsellor  at 
law,  an  upright  and  religious  man,  who,  being  a zealous 
Catholic,  was  pitched  upon  by  Oates  and  his  associates  as 
a proper  person  to  impeach  as  a ringleader  in  their  pretended  plot. 
He  was  therefore  apprehended  among  the  first  that  fell  into  the 
hands  of  those  miscreants;  and  committed  to  Newgate,  October  the 
7th,  1678,  and  after  above  eight  months’  close  imprisonment,  was 
tried  at  the  Old  Bailey,  on  Saturday  the  14th  of  June,  1679.  Here 
Oates  swore,  ‘ That  he  (Mr.  Langhorne)  was  acquainted  with  the 
consultations  for  killing  the  King  and  was  consenting  to  them; 
and  that  he  had  in  his  custody  the  patents  for  the  lords  in  the  Tower 
{Powis,  Stafford,  Petre,  Arundell  and  Bellasis),  and  one  for  himself, 
to  be  advocate  of  the  army.  And  Bedloe  swore  that  he  had  seen  him 
register  treasonable  letters  relating  to  the  plot.  In  answer  to  this 
evidence  he  called  the  same  witnesses  that  had  been  brought  the  day 
before  (by  the  five  Jesuits)  to  prove  Oates  perjured.  And  whereas 
Oates  had  named  Mrs.  ’5  house,  in  which  he  said  he  lay  during 
the  time  of  the  consult,  he  produced  Mrs.  Grove  to  testify  he  never 
was  there  about  that  time,  which  was  confirmed  by  her  maid.  He 
argued  also  many  things  relating  to  the  improbability  of  the  evidence, 
but  the  times  were  not  yet  good  enough  to  bear  reason:  so  that  he 
was  brought  in  guilty,  and  condemned  with  the  five  Jesuits,  who 
were  tried  the  day  before  him.  He  was  reprieved  for  some  time  in 
hopes  that  he  would  make  discoveries ; but  he  persisted  to  the  last  in 
affirming  that  he  could  make  none,  and  that  all  that  was  sworn 
against  him  was  false.  He  spent  the  time  allowed  him  in  writing 
some  devout  and  well-composed  meditations.’  So  far  the  continua- 
tor  of  BakePs  Chronicle. 

Mr.  Langhorne  was  drawn  to  Tyburn  on  the  14th  day  of  July,  1679, 
where  he  delivered  to  Mr.  How,  the  Sheriff,  the  speech  which  he 
had  prepared,  desiring  it  might  be  published.  ’Tis  extant  in  print 
(published  with  Mr.  Langhorne' s Memoirs  and  Devotions),  and  con- 
tains— I.  An  ample  declaration  of  his  allegiance  to  the  King.  2.  A 
solemn  profession  of  his  innocency  as  to  all  the  m^atters  of  which  he 
was  accused  by  Oates  and  Bedloe.  3.  A declaration  that  he  believed 
it  would  be  a damnable  sin  in  him  to  conceal  any  treason  or  treason- 

* Ven.  Richard  Langhorne. — From  his  printed  trial  and  dying  speech; 
and  from  Baker’s  Chronicle  ; see  also  Fole}^  Records,  v.;  Gillow. 

538 


1679] 


RICHARD  LANGHORNE 


able  design  whatsoever  against  His  Majesty’s  person  and  govern- 
ment, and  that  no  power  on  earth  or  even  in  heaven  could  dispense 
with  him  to  tell  a lie,  or  to  commit  any  sin,  or  do  any  evil  that  good 
might  come  of  it.  All  which,  as  he  solemnly  professed  in  the 
presence  of  God,  and  as  he  hoped  for  any  benefit  from  the  Passion 
of  Christ,  was  understood  by  him  in  the  plain  and  ordinary  sense 
and  acceptation  of  the  words,  without  any  evasion,  or  equivo- 
cation, or  mental  reservation.  After  which  he  goes  on  as 
follows : — 

‘ Having  made  this  declaration  and  protestation  in  the  most  plain 
terms  that  I can  possibly  imagine,  to  express  my  sincere  loyalty  and 
innocency,  and  the  clear  intention  of  my  soul,  I leave  it  to  the 
judgment  of  all  good  and  charitable  persons,  whether  they  will  be- 
lieve what  is  here  in  this  manner  affirmed  and  sworn  by  me  in  my 
present  circumstances,  or  what  is  sworn  by  my  accusers. 

‘ I do  now  further  declare  that  I die  a member  (though  an  un- 
worthy one)  of  that  holy  Catholic  and  Apostolic  Church  of  Christ 
mentioned  in  the  three  holy  and  public  creeds,  of  which  Church 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  the  invisible  Head  of  influence,  to  illuminate, 
guide,  protect,  and  govern  it  by  His  holy  Spirit  and  grace,  and  of 
which  Church  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  as  the  successor  of  St.  Peter, 
the  Prince  of  the  Apostles,  is  the  visible  head  of  government  and 
unity. 

‘ I take  it  to  be  clear,  that  my  religion  is  the  sole  cause  which 
moved  my  accusers  to  charge  me  with  the  crime  for  which,  upon 
their  evidence,  I am  adjudged  to  die,  and  that  my  being  of  that 
religion  which  I here  profess,  was  the  only  ground  which  could  give 
them  any  hope  to  be  believed,  or  which  oould  move  my  jury  to  believe 
the  evidence  of  such  men. 

‘ I have  had  not  only  a pardon,  but  also  great  advantages  as  to 
preferments  and  estates  offered  unto  me,  since  this  judgment  was 
against  me,  in  case  I would  have  forsaken  my  religion,  and  owned 
myself  guilty  of  the  crime  charged  against  me,  and  charged  the  same 
crimes  upon  others;  but  blessed  be  my  God,  who  by  His  grace  hath 
preserved  me  from  yielding  to  those  temptations,  and  strengthened 
me  rather  to  choose  this  death  than  to  stain  my  soul  with  sin,  and  to 
charge  others  against  truth  with  crimes  of  which  I do  not  know  that 
any  person  is  guilty. 

‘ Having  said  what  concerns  me  to  say  as  to  myself,  I now  humbly 
beseech  God  to  bless  the  King’s  Majesty  with  all  temporal  and 
eternal  blessings,  and  to  preserve  him  and  his  government  from  all 
treasons  and  traitors  whatsoever,  and  that  His  Majesty  may 

539 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 

never  fall  into  such  hands  as  his  royal  father  of  glorious  memory 
fell  into. 

‘ I also  humbly  beseech  Thee,  O God,  to  give  true  repentance  and 
pardon  to  all  my  enemies,  and  most  particularly  to  the  said  Mr. 
Oates  and  Mr.  Bedloe,  and  to  all  who  have  been  any  ways  accessory 
to  the  taking  away  of  my  life,  and  the  shedding  of  my  innocent  blood, 
or  to  the  preventing  the  King’s  mercy  from  being  extended  unto 
me ; and  likewise  to  all  those  who  rejoice  at  the  judgment  given  against 
me,  or  at  the  execution  of  the  said  judgment;  and  to  all  those  who 
are  or  shall  be  so  unchristianly  uncharitable,  as  to  disbelieve,  and  to 
refuse  to  give  credit  unto  my  now  protestations. 

‘ And  I beseech  Thee,  O my  God,  to  bless  this  whole  nation,  and 
not  to  lay  the  guilt  of  my  blood  unto  the  charge  of  this  nation,  or 
of  any  other  particular  person  or  persons  of  this  nation.  Unite 
all,  O my  God,  unto  Thee  and  Thy  Church,  by  true  faith,  hope,  and 
charity,  for  Thy  mercies’  sake. 

‘ And  for  all  those  who  have  shewed  charity  to  me,  I humbly 
beg,  O my  Jesus,  that  Thou  wilt  reward  them  all  with  blessings  both 
temporal  and  eternal.’ 

So  far  his  printed  speech,  of  which  he  could  speak  but  a small 
part  at  the  place  of  his  execution. 

When  the  hangman  was  putting  the  rope  over  his  head,  he  took 
it  into  his  hands  and  kissed  it.  Then  after  having  spoken  something 
to  the  Sheriff,  he  asked  the  executioner  whether  the  rope  was  right 
or  no  } He  said.  Yes;  and  asked  him  whether  he  did  forgive  him  ? 
to  which  Mr.  Langhorne  replied,  I freely  do.  Then  he  betook  him- 
self to  his  prayers,  recommending  himself  to  God  in  silence.  The 
writer  said  to  him.  The  Lord  have  mercy  on  your  soul.  iMr.  Lang- 
horne answered.  The  Lord  in  heaven  reward  your  charity.  Then 
crossing  himself  he  prayed  again.  Blessed  Jesus,  into  Thy  hands 
I recommend  my  soul  and  spirit  ; now  at  this  instant  take  me  into 
paradise.  I am  desirous  to  be  with  my  Jesus.  I am  ready,  and  you 
need  stay  no  longer  for  me.  So  the  cart  was  drawn  away,  and  he 
was  executed. 

After  these  trials  and  executions,  and  the  dying  protestations  of 
so  many  men,  to  whose  lives  and  morals  nothing  could  be  objected, 
the  people  began  by  degrees  to  open  their  eyes,  and  not  to  give  such 
full  credit  to  the  oaths  of  those  profligate  wretches  Oates  and  Bedloe. 
So  that  when  Sir  George  Wakeman  and  the  three  monks,  Mr.  Corker, 
Mr.  Marsh,  and  Mr.  Rumley,  were  brought  upon  their  trial  at  the 
Old  Bailey,  July  the  i6th,  both  judge  and  jury  plainly  discovered 
that  no  regard  was  to  be  had  to  the  swearing  of  those  miscreants; 

540 


679] 


WILLIAM  PLESSINGTON 


and  the  prisoners  were  all  brought  in  7iot guilty.  And  from  this  time 
the  credit  of  the  plot  very  much  declined.  However,  the  persecution 
against  Catholics  still  continued,  by  which  many  priests  were  con- 
demned to  die  for  their  character,  of  whom  we  shall  now  treat,  ac- 
cording to  the  order  of  time  in  which  they  suffered. 


WILLIAM  PLESSINGTON,  Priest.=^ 

WILLIAM,  or,  as  others  call  him,  John  Plessington^  was 
born  at  the  Dimples  near  Garstang  in  Lancashire.  He  was 
descended  of  the  ancient  family  of  the  Plessingtons  of  Ples- 
sington  near  Blackburn^  being  a younger  son  of  Mr.  Robert  Plessington^ 
who  in  the  time  of  the  civil  wars  was  governor  for  the  King  of 
Greenow  Castle,  and  suffered  imprisonment  and  loss  of  his  estate 
for  his  loyalty.  The  son,  after  having  made  some  proficiency  in 
grammar  learning  (whether  at  home  or  abroad  I have  not  found), 
was  sent  to  the  English  College  of  St.  Alban  the  martyr  in  Valladolid, 
where  he  finished  his  higher  studies  and  was  made  priest.  What 
time  he  came  upon  the  mission  into  England,  I have  not  yet  learnt, 
nor  the  particulars  of  his  missionary  labours;  only  that  his  residence 
was  chiefly  with  Mr.  Massey  of  Paddington  in  Cheshire  ; and  that  his 
zeal  in  his  function,  joined  to  a certain  candour,  and  agreeableness 
in  conversation,  as  it  made  him  esteemed  and  loved  by  the  good,  so 
it  raised  him  enemies  amongst  those  that  were  not  good,  who  caused 
him  to  be  apprehended,  and  prosecuted  on  the  score  of  his  priestly 
character. 

He  was  brought  upon  his  trial  at  Chester  upon  an  indictment 
of  high  treason,  for  having  taken  orders  in  the  Church  of  Rome, 
and  remaining  in  this  kingdom  contrary  to  the  statute  of  27  Eliza- 
beth. The  witnesses  that  appeared  against  him  were,  Margaret 
Plat,  George  Massey,  and  Robert  Wood.  These  swore  they  had  seen 
him  exercise  his  priestly  functions,  and  upon  their  testimony  he  was 
brought  in  guilty  and  received  sentence  of  death  as  in  cases  of  high 
treason.  One  of  these  witnesses  was  crushed  to  death  by  an  acci- 
dent not  long  after;  another  died  in  a hog-sty,  and  the  third  lingered 
away  in  anguish  and  misery. 

* Ven.  William  Plessington. — From  a short  Manuscript  account  of  him, 
and  from  his  printed  speech. 


541 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


As  to  Mr.  Plessingtotiy  he  was  kept  in  prison  nine  weeks  after  his 
condemnation,  and  then  on  July  the  19th,  1679,  was  drawn  to  the 
place  of  execution  at  West  Chester^  and  there  spoke  to  the  people  as 
follows : — 

‘ Dear  Countrymen,  I am  here  to  be  executed,  neither  for  theft, 
murder,  nor  anything  against  the  law  of  God,  nor  any  fact  or  doc- 
trine inconsistent  with  monarchy  or  civil  government.  I suppose 
several  now  present  heard  my  trial  the  last  assizes,  and  can  testify 
that  nothing  was  laid  to  my  charge  but  priesthood;  and  I am  sure 
that  you  will  find  that  priesthood  is  neither  against  the  law  of  God 
nor  monarchy,  or  civil  government,  if  you  will  consult  either  the 
Old  or  New  Testament  (for  it  is  the  basis  of  religion);  for  no  priest 
no  religion,  St.  Paid  tells  us  in  Hebrews  the  viith  and  12th.  The 
priesthood  being  changed,  there  is  made  of  necessity  a change  of 
the  law,  and  consequently  the  priesthood  being  abolished,  the  law 
and  religion  is  quite  gone. 

‘ But  I know  it  will  be  said  that  a priest  ordained  by  authority 
derived  from  the  See  of  Rome  is  by  the  law  of  the  nation  to  die  as  a 
traitor.  But  if  that  be  so,  what  must  become  of  all  the  clergymen  of 
the  Church  of  England  ? for  the  first  Protestant  bishops  had  their 
ordination  from  those  of  the  Church  of  Rome^  or  none  at  all,  as  appears 
by  their  own  writers;  so  that  ordination  comes  thence  derivatively 
to  those  now  living. 

‘ As,  in  the  primitive  times,  Christians  were  esteemed  traitors^ 
and  suffered  as  such  by  national  laws,  so  are  the  priests  of  the  Roman 
Church  here  esteemed  and  suffer  as  such.  But  as  Christianity 
then  was  not  against  the  law  of  God,  monarchy,  or  civil  policy,  so 
now  there  is  not  any  one  point  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith  (of  which 
faith  I am)  that  is  inconsistent  therewith,  as  is  evident  by  induction 
in  each  several  point. 

‘ That  the  Pope  hath  power  to  depose  or  give  licence  to  murder 
princes,  is  no  point  of  our  belief.  And  I protest  in  the  sight  of  God 
and  the  court  of  heaven,  that  I am  absolutely  innocent  of  the  plot 
so  much  discoursed  of,  and  abhor  such  bloody  and  damnable  designs ; 
and  although  it  be  nine  weeks  since  I was  sentenced  to  die,  there  is 
not  anything  of  that  laid  to  my  charge,  so  that  I may  well  take  comfort 
in  St.  Peter's  words  (i  Pet.  iv.  15,  16),  Let  none  of  you  suffer  as  a 
murderer^  or  as  a thief ^ or  as  an  evil-doer.,  or  as  a busybody  in  other 
men's  matters;  yet  if  any  man  suffer  as  a Christian,  let  him  not  be 
ashamed  or  sorry.  I have  deserved  a worse  death;  for  though  I have 
been  a faithful  and  true  subject  to  my  King,  I have  been  a grievous 
sinner  against  God.  Thieves  and  robbers  that  rob  on  highways 

• 542 


1679] 


WILLIAM  PLESSINGTON 


would  have  served  God  in  a greater  perfection  than  I have  done,  had 
they  received  so  many  favours  and  graces  from  Him  as  I have. 

‘ But  as  there  was  never  sinner  who  truly  repented  and  heartily 
called  to  Jesus  for  mercy  to  whom  He  did  not  shew  mercy,  so  I hope, 
by  the  merits  of  His  passion.  He  will  have  mercy  on  me,  who  am 
heartily  sorry  that  ever  I offended  Him. 

‘ Bear  witness,  good  hearers,  that  I profess  that  I undoubtedly 
and  firmly  believe  all  the  articles  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith,  and  for 
the  truth  of  any  of  them,  by  the  assistance  of  God,  I am  willing  to 
die ; and  I had  rather  die  than  doubt  of  any  point  of  faith  taught  by 
our  holy  Mother  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

‘ In  what  condition  Margaret  Plat,  one  of  the  chiefest  witnesses 
against  me,  was  before,  and  after  she  was  with  me,  let  her  nearest 
relations  declare. 

‘ George  Massey,  another  witness,  swore  falsely  when  he  swmre 
I gave  him  the  sacrament  and  said  Mass  at  the  time  and  place  he 
mentioned;  and  I verily  think  that  he  never  spoke  to  me,  or  I to  him, 
or  saw  each  other  but  at  the  assizes  week.  The  third  witness,  Robert 
Wood,  was  suddenly  killed.  But  of  the  dead  why  should  I speak  ? 
These  were  all  the  witnesses  against  me,  unless  those  that  only  de- 
clared what  they  heard  from  others.  I heartily  and  freely  forgive 
all  that  have  been  or  are  any  way  instrumental  to  my  death,  and 
heartily  desire  that  those  that  are  living  may  heartily  repent. 

‘ God  bless  the  King  and  the  royal  family,  and  grant  his  Majesty 
a prosperous  reign  here,  and  a crown  of  glory  hereafter.  God  grant 
peace  to  the  subjects,  and  that  they  live  and  die  in  true  faith,  hope, 
and  charity.  That  which  remains  is  that  I recommend  myself  to 
the  mercy  of  my  Jesus,  by  whose  merits  I hope  for  mercy.  O Jesus, 
be  to  me  a Jesus.’  Which  having  said,  and  recommended  his 
departing  soul  to  God,'he  was  turned  off  and  executed. 


543 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


PHILIP  EVANS,  Priest,  SJ.,  and  JOHN 
LLOYD,  Priest.* 

PHILIP  EVANS  was  born  in  Monmouthshire  in  1645,  was 
educated  at  St.  Omers,  and  entered  into  the  Society  the  7th 
of  September,  1665,  being  then  twenty  years  old.  After 
having  finished  his  noviceship  and  his  higher  studies,  with  great 
satisfaction  to  his  superiors,  he  was  made  priest,  and  sent  upon  the 
English  mission  in  1675.  South  Wales  was  the  province  assigned 
him,  which  he  diligently  cultivated  for  near  four  years,  having  the 
character  of  an  unwearied  labourer  in  the  vineyard,  zealous  in  gaining 
souls  to  Christ,  and  fearing  no  dangers  where  the  glory  of  his  Lord 
and  his  neighbour’s  salvation  called  him  forth.  When  the  persecu- 
tion broke  out  on  account  of  Oates's  plot,  he  was  advised  by  some 
friends  to  withdraw  himself,  his  zeal  having  made  him  so  well  known 
in  that  country,  and  withal  so  obnoxious  to  the  persecutors;  but  he 
would  not  hear  of  any  such  counsel,  but  chose  rather  to  risk  his 
life  like  a good  shepherd  with  and  for  his  sheep, than  run  away  like 
the  hireling  and  leave  them  to  the  mercy  of  the  wolves.  He  was 
apprehended  not  long  after  by  Justice  Logher,  and  upon  his  refusing 
the  oaths,  was  committed  to  Cardiff  gaol,  where  for  above  three  weeks 
he  was  kept  alone  in  a dungeon  or  cellar  under  ground,  no  one  being 
suffered  to  come  near  him,  or  speak  to  him,  till  at  length  Mr.  Johii 
Lloyd,  a virtuous  priest  of  the  secular  clergy,  was  committed  to  the 
same  prison,  and  from  that  time  till  death  was  his  constant  companion. 
Five  months  passed  before  any  could  be  induced  to  appear  as  wit- 
nesses against  these  confessors  of  Christ,  till  at  length  two  poor 
wretches,  a mother  and  her  daughter,  appeared  against  Father  Evans, 
and  some  others  against  Mr.  Lloyd;  and  they  were  both  found  guilty 
by  their  jury  of  the  high  treason  of  priesthood. 

When  the  sentence  was  pronounced.  Father  Evans  with  a cheerful 
countenance  bowing  himself  down  returned  thanks  to  the  judge, 
and  so  with  great  joy  went  back  with  his  companion  to  his  lodging 
in  the  gaol.  However,  their  execution  was  deferred  for  some  time; 
yea,  so  long,  that  it  was  thought  they  would  not  suffer;  and  they  had 
even  liberty  sometimes  to  go  out  of  prison  and  to  recreate  them- 
selves ; when  behold  on  a sudden  orders  came  for  their  being  executed 

* Ven.  Philip  Evans  and  Ven.  John  Lloyd. — From  Flortis  Anglo-Bavari- 
cus;  Short  Memorandums  upon  their  death,  published  in  print,  etc.;  see 
also  Foley,  Records,  v. ; Gillow. 


544 


1679] 


PHILIP  EVANS  AND  JOHN  LLOYD 


the  next  day.  My  author,  Florus  Anglo-Bavaricus  (p.  179),  tells  us 
that  when  these  orders  came,  Mr.  Evans  was  actually  abroad  engaged 
in  an  innocent  recreation;  and  that  when  the  jailer  called  upon  him 
to  acquaint  him  with  the  news,  and  to  bring  him  back  to  prison, 
he  unconcernedly  replied.  What  haste  is  there?  let  me  first  play  out 
my  game  ; and  so  he  did,  and  then  returned  to  the  prison.  Here  he 
could  scarce  contain  himself  for  joy;  which  he  expressed  as  well  by 
taking  up  his  harp,  for  he  was  a musician,  and  playing  upon  it,  as  by 
several  other  tokens  of  a soul  perfectly  transported  with  the  thoughts 
of  the  happiness  now  so  near  at  hand,  of  dying  for  his  faith  and 
character.  And  now  the  irons  were  put  upon  his  feet,  which  he 
joyfully  kissed;  and  many  Catholics  flocking  to  the  prison,  he  took 
that  opportunity  of  making  them  a short  exhortation  to  constancy 
in  their  faith  and  patience  in  their  sufferings. 

‘ On  the  next  day,  being  the  22nd  oi  July,  1679,  about  nine  of  the 
clock  in  the  morning,  the  Under- Sheriff,  Mr.  Charles  Evans,  came 
to  the  cellar  in  the  gaol  where  the  confessors  were  kept,  and  imme- 
diately a smith  was  sent  for  to  take  off  their  irons,  which  were  so 
hard  set  on  that  the  smith  was  above  an  hour  in  taking  off  Mr. 
Evans's  alone,  which  was  not  done  without  great  pain  to  him ; notwith- 
standing which  he  never  gave  the  least  sign  of  impatience  or  trouble, 
but  encouraged  the  man  to  go  on  with  his  work  without  fear  of  hurt- 
ing him.  When  they  were  brought  out  of  the  cellar,  they  desired 
to  walk  on  foot  to  the  place  of  execution,  but  were  refused  and  put 
both  upon  one  cart ; their  arms  pinioned ; all  the  way  reading  in  their 
books.  When  they  arrived  at  the  place  of  execution,  they  followed 
St.  Andrew's  example,  saying.  Welcome  good  cross,  and  falling  upon 
their  knees,  kissed  the  post  of  the  gallows,  and  remained  praying 
there  a good  while.  When  they  had  done,  they  asked  which  was  to 
die  first  ? the  Sheriff  answered,  Mr.  Evans  ; he,  bowing,  spake  these 
few  words : — 

‘ I need  not  tell  you  why  we  are  brought  here  to  suffer ; our  sen- 
tence of  condemnation  is  a sufficient  witness  that  it  was  not  for  a 
plot,  or  any  other  crime,  but  for  being  priests;  consequently  I do 
die  for  religion  and  conscience’  sake.  I shall  not  speak  much  of 
the  goodness  of  my  cause,  because  I think  it  will  be  needless;  but  it 
is  so  good  that  I would  not  give  the  happiness  of  dying  for  it,  for  all 
the  crowns  of  the  world.  Sure  if  a man  ever  speaks  truth,  it  must 
be  at  the  hour  of  death,  therefore  I hope  no  body  will  doubt  of 
what  I say.  If  I have  or  had  any  enemies  in  the  world,  which  I 
do  not  know  that  ever  I had  any  in  my  life,  I do  heartily  forgive  them 
for  any  thing  done  or  said  against  me ; and  if  I have  offended  any  body, 

545  2M 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


I am  heartily  sorry  for  it  and  ask  them  forgiveness.  I pray  God  bless 
and  prosper  the  King.  I beg  the  prayers  of  all,  and  in  particular 
of  the  Catholics  here  present,  d'hat  done,  he  kneeled  down  again 
with  some  friends  about  him,  and  having  said  some  prayers,  he 
took  his  leave  of  them,  and  went  up  the  ladder ; upon  which  he  spoke 
again  these  words  : Sure  this  is  the  best  pulpit  a man  can  have  to 
preach  in,  therefore  I cannot  forbear  to  tell  you  again  that  I die  for 
God  and  religion’s  sake;  and  I think  myself  so  happy  that  if  I had 
never  so  many  lives,  I would  willingly  give  them  all  for  so  good  a 
cause.  If  I could  live,  it  would  be  but  for  a little  time,  though  I am 
but  young ; happy  am  I that  can  purchase  with  a short  pain  an  ever- 
lasting life.  I do  forgive  all  those  that  have  had  any  hand  in  my 
death,  accusation,  or  condemnation:  I ask  again  forgiveness  of  every 
body;  I give  thanks  to  all  those  that  have  been  kind  to  me,  and  to 
you,  Mr.  Sheriff.  Adieu,  Mr.  Lloyd^  though  for  a little  time,  for 
we  shall  shortly  meet  again.  Pray  for  me  all;  and  I shall  return  it, 
when  it  pleaseth  God  that  I shall  enjoy  the  beatifical  vision.  If 
any  of  you  that  see  me  die  thus  willingly  for  my  religion,  have  any 
good  thought  upon  it,  I shall  think  myself  happy.  Then  he  made 
a stop,  and  after  a little  while,  said  with  a clear  and  cheerful  voice. 
In  manus  tuas^  Domine  commendo  spiritum  rneum  ; and  so  giving  the 
sign,  the  executioner  turned  him  over,  and  the  ladder  being  very 
short  it  stirred  with  him ; then  Mr.  Richard  Jones  ^ one  of  the  Sheriff’s 
bailiffs,  took  his  legs  from  it,  and  turned  them  after  his  body.  All 
that  were  present  can  justify  that  he  never  looked  better  nor  more 
cheerful  than  he  did  then;  all  this  will  be  testified  if  need  be  by 
credible  persons  as  well  Protestants  as  Catholics,’  says  the  printed 
account  of  his  death. 

‘ During  the  time  of  Mr.  Evans's  execution,  Mr.  Lloyd  stood  by 
with  as  much  constancy  and  cheerfulness  as  any  man  could  have; 
and  before  he  went  up  the  ladder,  he  said  these  words  following 
more  distinctly  and  heartily  than  ever  he  did  in  his  life,  by  the  report 
of  those  that  have  known  him  these  many  years. 

‘ My  fellow-sufferer  has  declared  the  cause  of  our  death,  therefore 
I need  not  repeat  it ; and  besides  I never  was  a good  speaker  in  my 
life.  I shall  only  say,  that  I die  in  the  true  Catholic  and  apostolic 
faith,  according  to  these  words  in  the  creed,  I believe  the  holy  Catholic 
Church  ; and  with  those  three  virtues,  faiths  hope,  and  charity.  I 
forgive  all  those  that  have  offended  me ; and  if  I have  offended  any 
body  I am  heartily  sorry  for  it  and  ask  them  forgiveness.  I beg 
the  prayers  of  all,  and  in  particular  of  the  Catholics  here  present, 
desiring  them  to  bear  their  crosses  patiently,  and  to  remember  that. 

546 


1679] 


NICHOLAS  POSTGATE 


passage  of  Holy  Scripture,  Happy  are  they  that  suffer  persecution  for 
justice,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  I'hen  he  went  up  the 
ladder,  and  there  gave  thanks  to  all  those  that  had  been  kind  to 
him,  and  in  particular  to  the  Sheriff;  then  he  made  a little  stop; 
after  which  he  said:  Mr.  Came,  you  have  always  been  my  benefactor, 
pray  for  me  now;  then  he  knocked  his  breast  three  times,  and  said 
in  Latin,  Lord  have  mercy  upon  me,  a sinner,  and  Into  Thy  hands, 
Lord,  I recommend  my  spirit  ; so  gave  the  sign  and  was  turned 
over.’ 

They  suffered  at  Cardiff  in  Glamorganshire,  July  22.  Father 
Evans  was  thirty-four  years  old  when  he  suffered,  of  which  he  had 
spent  fourteen  in  the  Society. 


NICHOLAS  POSTGATE,  vulgo  POSKET, 

Priest.* 

Nicholas  postgate  was  bom  at  Klrkdale  House,  in  the 
parish  of  Eyton,  in  Yorkshire,  about  the  end  of  the  sixteenth 
century.  His  parents  were  Catholics,  and  great  sufferers  for 
their  religion.  He  performed  all  his  studies  in  the  English  College 
of  Doway,  where  he  was  admitted  convictor  (being  already  grown  up 
to  man’s  estate)  in  1621 ; took  the  College  oath  the  12th  of  March, 
1623;  was  promoted  to  minor  orders  December  28,  1624;  to  the 
order  of  sub-deacon  December  18,  1627;  to  the  order  of  deacon, 
March,  1628,  and  made  priest  the  20th  of  March  the  same  year. 
He  has  a very  fair  character  in  the  Diary,  or  journal  of  the  College; 
from  whence  he  was  sent,  with  proper  faculties,  upon  the  English 
mission,  the  29th  of  June,  1630.  His  missionary  labours  were 
employed  in  his  native  country  of  Yorkshire,  for  about  fifty  years, 
with  great  benefit  to  innumerable  souls;  many  hundreds,  some  say 
a thousand,  having  been  reclaimed  from  their  errors  or  vices  by 
his  ministry.  His  residence,  at  least  for  the  latter  part  of  his  life, 
was,  as  we  learn  from  Mr.  Ward  (Canto  IV.  of  The  Reformation), 
who  says  he  knew  him  well,  upon  a lingy  moor,  called  Blackamoor, 

* Ven.  Nicholas  Postgate. — From  the  Douay  Diary,  and  other  monu- 
ments; see  also  Knaresborough  MSS.;  Gillow;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia; 
D.N.B.;  Camm,  Forgotten  Shrines. 

547 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 

about  two  miles  from  Mulgrave  Castle  and  five  miles  from  Whithy. 
This  author  writes  of  him  as  follows: — 

‘ Nor  spared  they  Father  Posket's  blood, 

A rev’rend  priest  devout  and  good, 

Whose  spotless  life  in  length  was  spun 
To  eighty  years,  and  three  times  one. 

Sweet  his  behaviour,  grave  his  speech, 

He  did  by  good  example  teach. 

His  love  right  bent,  his  will  resign'd, 

Serene  his  look,  and  calm  his  mind. 

His  sanctity  to  that  degree 
As  angels  live,  so  lived  he. 

A thatched  cottage  was  the  cell 
Where  this  contemplative  did  dwell ; 

Two  miles  from  Mulgrave  Castle ’t  stood. 

Shelter’d  by  snow-drifts,  not  by  wood, 

Tho’  there  he  liv’d  to  that  great  age. 

It  was  a dismal  hermitage. 

But  God  placed  there  the  saint’s  abode. 

For  Blackamoor's  greater  good.’ 

The  holy  man  was  apprehended  by  one  Reeves,  an  exciseman, 
an  implacable  enemy  of  Catholics,  at  the  house  of  Matthew  Lythis 
at  Little-Beck,  near  Whitby,  and  was  with  his  harbourer  committed 
to  York  gaol.  When  his  trial  came  on,  he  was  indicted  for  high 
treason,  not  as  a plotter,  but  as  a priest.  The  witnesses  that  appeared 
against  him  were  Elizabeth  Wood,  Elizabeth  Baxter,  and  Richard 
Morrice. 

These  deposed  that  they  had  seen  him  baptize  and  exercise  other 
priestly  functions ; and  upon  their  evidence  he  was  found  guilty  by 
his  jury,  and  condemned  to  die,  which  sentence  was  no  ways  un- 
welcome to  him,  who  had  been  learning  to  die  all  his  lifetime. 

The  day  allotted  for  his  triumphant  exit  was  the  7th  of  August, 
1679;  on  which  day  in  the  morning,  amongst  other  visitors,  w’ent 
to  see  him,  Mrs.  Fairfax,  wife  to  Mr.  Charles  Fairfax  of  York,  and 
Mrs.  Meynel  of  Kilvington.  These  ladies  having  done  their  devo- 
tions, went  together  to  his  room,  to  take  their  last  leave  of  him,  and 
to  crave  his  blessing.  The  confessor  seeing  them  in  great  concern, 
whereas  he  was  cheerful,  came  up  to  them,  and  laying  his  right  hand 
upon  the  one,  and  his  left  upon  the  other,  they  being  both  at  that 
time  big  with  child,  he  spoke  these  words  to  them:  Be  of  good  heart, 
children,  you  shall  both  be  delivered  of  sons,  and  they  will  be  both  saved. 
Immediately  after  he  was  laid  upon  a sledge,  and  drawn  through  the 
streets  to  the  place  of  execution,  where  he  suffered  with  great  con- 
stancy. The  two  ladies  were  soon  after  brought  to  bed  of  sons, 

548 


NICHOLAS  POSTGATE 


1679] 

who  were  both  baptized,  and  both  died  in  their  infancy.  This, 
says  the  Reverend  Mr.  Knareshorough^  in  a paper  which  I have  now 
before  me,  was  told  me  by  Mrs.  Fairfax,  one  of  the  parties,  the 
5th  of  October,  1705. 

At  the  gallows  he  spoke  little;  the  substance  of  his  words  was, 
‘ I die  in  the  Catholic  religion,  out  of  which  there  is  no  salvation; 
Mr.  Sheriff,  you  know  I die  not  for  the  plot,  but  for  my  religion. 
I pray  God  bless  the  King  and  the  royal  family.  Be  pleased,  Mr. 
Sheriff,  to  acquaint  his  Majesty,  that  I never  offended  him  in  any 
manner  of  way.  I pray  God  give  him  His  grace,  and  the  light  of 
truth.  I forgive  all  that  have  wronged  me,  and  brought  me  to  this 
death,  and  I desire  forgiveness  of  all  people.’  He  was  executed 
according  to  sentence;  his  quartered  body  was  given  to  his  friends 
and  interred.  One  of  his  hands  is  preserved  in  Doway  College. 
The  following  inscription  was  put  upon  a copper  plate,  and  thrown 
into  his  coffin : — 

‘ Here  lies  that  reverend  and  pious  divine.  Dr.  Nicholas  Postgate, 
who  was  educated  in  the  English  College  at  Doway.  And  after  he 
had  laboured  fifty  years  (to  the  admirable  benefit  and  conversion  of 
hundreds  of  souls),  was  at  last  advanced  to  a glorious  crown  of 
martyrdom  at  the  city  of  York,  on  the  7th  of  August,  1679,  having 
been  priest  fifty-one  years,  aged  eighty-two.’ 

The  unhappy  Reeves  who  apprehended  him  never  had  the  fzo 
reward  which  he  looked  for,  but  after  having  suffered  for  some  time 
an  extreme  torture  in  body  and  mind,  was  found  drowned  in  a small 
brook. 


CHARLES  MAHONY,  Priest,  O.S.F  * 

He  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  entering  amongst  the  religious  of 
the  holy  Order  of  St.  Francis,  made  his  solemn  profession,  and 
was  advanced  to  the  sacred  dignity  of  priesthood.  Other 
particulars  relating  to  his  life  and  conversation  I have  not  found; 
only,  that  as  he  was  returning  from  abroad  to  his  native  country,  he 
was  drove  upon  the  coast  of  England,  and  travelling  through  Wales 
in  the  heat  of  the  persecution,  and  being  found  out  to  be  a priest, 
was  committed  to  prison,  and  brought  upon  his  trial  at  Denbigh 
upon  an  indictment  of  high  treason,  for  taking  orders  in  the  Church 
of  Rome,  and  being  found  in  this  kingdom.  At  his  trial  he  confessed 

* Ven.  Charles  Mahony. — From  a short  Manuscript  printed  after  his 
death;  see  Gillow;  Stanton. 


549 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


himself  to  be  a priest,  and  was  thereupon  condemned  and  sent  to 
Ruthin  to  sufTer.  On  the  12th  of  August,  1679,  he  was  drawn  in  his 
habit  to  the  place  of  execution,  where  he  spoke  as  follows: — 

‘ Now  God  Almighty  is  pleased  I should  suffer  martyrdom; 
His  holy  name  be  praised,  since  I die  for  my  religion.  But  you  have 
no  right  to  put  me  to  death  in  this  country,  though  I confessed  myself 
to  be  a priest,  for  you  seized  me  as  I was  going  to  my  native  country, 
Ireland,  being  driven  at  sea  on  this  coast;  for  I never  used  my 
function  in  England  before  I was  taken.  However,  God  forgive 
you,  for  I do,  and  shall  always  pray  for  you,  especially  for  those 
that  were  so  good  to  me  in  my  distress.  I pray  God  bless  our 
King,  and  defend  him  from  his  enemies,  and  convert  him  to  the 
holy  Catholic  faith.  Amen' 

He  suffered  with  great  constancy,  being  cut  down  alive  and 
butchered,  according  to  sentence,  as  I remember  to  have  read  in  a 
manuscript  which  I could  not  since  recover.  His  age  was  under 
forty. 


JOHN  WALL,  alias  FRANCIS  JOHNSON,  and 
FRANCIS  LEVESON,  Priests,  O.S.F  * 

JOHN  WALL,  called  in  religion  Father  of  St.  Ann,  and 

executed  under  the  name  of  Francis  Johnson,  was  born  in  Lan- 
cashire in  1620,  of  a gentleman’s  family,  possessed  at  that  time 
of  about  ^500  a year,  which,  he  and  his  elder  brother  William 
(afterwards  condemned  at  London  under  the  name  of  Marsh  or 
Marshal)  entering  into  religion,  was  devolved  to  the  third  brother, 
and  by  him  enjoyed  at  the  time  of  the  execution  of  our  confessor. 
Mr.  John  was  sent  over  young  to  the  English  College  of  Doway, 
where  he  performed  all  his  studies,  and  was  made  priest.  And 
being  now  thirty-two  years  of  age,  he  took  the  habit  of  St.  Francis 
in  the  English  Convent  of  Doway,  on  New  Year’s  Day,  1651,  and  on 
the  same  day  in  the  following  year  made  his  solemn  vows  of  religion. 
Such  was  his  comportment  during  his  noviceship,  and  such  the 
esteem  his  superiors  had  of  his  prudence  and  zeal  for  regular 
discipline,  that  within  half  a year  after  his  profession  he  was  made 
vicar  of  the  convent,  and  shortly  after  master  of  the  novices. 

* Ven.  John  Wall,  and  Ven.  Francis  Leveson. — From  the  Records  of  the 
English  Franciscans  at  Douay;  a narrative  written  by  himself  of  his 
apprehension  and  trial,  afterwards  published  in  print;  and  from  his  printed 
speech;  see  also  Knaresborough  MSS.;  Stanton;  Camm,  Forgotten  Shrines. 

550 


1679] 


JOHN  WALL 


He  was  sent  into  England  upon  the  mission  in  the  year  1656. 
His  residence  was  in  Worcestershire ^ where  he  was  some  time  known 
by  the  name  of  Wehb^  and  was  esteemed  a laborious  missioner,  who 
both  by  word  and  example  gained  many  souls  to  God.  He  was 
apprehended  at  a friend’s  house,  not  long  after  the  first  breaking 
out  of  Oates's  plot,  by  the  Sheriff’s  Deputy,  and  others  who  were 
making  search  for  another  man ; and  being  carried  before  Sir  John 
Packington  and  another  Justice  of  Peace,  and  refusing  to  take  the 
oaths  of  allegiance  and  supremacy,  was  committed  to  Worcester  gaol 
in  the  beginning  of  December^  1678.  What  he  suffered  here,  and 
with  what  disposition  of  soul,  may  be  gathered  from  his  own  words 
in  his  narrative.  ‘ Imprisonment,’  says  he,  ‘in  these  times  especi- 
ally, when  none  can  send  to  their  friends,  nor  friends  come  to  them, 
is  the  best  means  to  teach  us  how  to  put  our  confidence  in  God  alone 
in  all  things,  and  then  He  will  make  His  promise  good.  That  all 
things  shall  be  added  to  us  {Luke  xii.),  which  chapter  if  every  one 
would  read  and  make  good  use  of,  a prison  would  be  better  than  a 
palace ; and  a confinement  for  religion  and  a good  conscience’  sake 
more  pleasant  than  all  the  liberties  the  world  could  afford.  As  for 
my  own  part,  God  give  me  His  grace,  and  all  faithful  Christians 
their  prayers;  I am  happy  enough.  We  all  ought  to  follow  the 
narrow  way  though  there  be  many  difficulties  in  it.  It  is  an  easy 
thing  to  run  the  blind  way  of  liberty,  but  God  deliver  us  from  all 
broad,  sweet  ways,’  &c. 

After  five  months’  imprisonment,  he  was  brought  upon  his  trial 
at  Worcester,  April  25,  1679,  before  Judge  Atkins,  upon  an  indict- 
ment of  high  treason,  for  being  a priest  and  remaining  in  this  realm 
contrary  to  the  statute  of  Elizabeth  27.  He  would  neither  confess 
nor  deny  his  priesthood,  but  defended  himself  very  prudently. 
There  was  only  one  witness  that  voluntarily  appeared  against  him, 
and  three  others  that  came  by  compulsion;  however,  the  jury  found 
him  guilty  of  the  indictment,  and  the  judge  pronounced  sentence 
against  him  in  the  usual  form,  as  in  cases  of  high  treason.  Upon 
which  the  confessor  made  a bow,  and  said  aloud.  Thanks  he  to  God; 
God  save  the  King;  and  I beseech  God.  to  bless  your  lordship,  and  all 
this  honourable  bench.  The  judge  replied.  You  have  spoken  very 
well ; I do  not  intend  you  shall  die,  at  least  not  for  the  present,  until 
I know  the  King’s  further  pleasure. 

‘ I was  not,  I thank  God  for  it,’  says  Father  Wall  in  his  narrative, 

‘ troubled  with  any  disturbing  thoughts,  either  against  the  judge  for 
his  sentence,  or  the  jury  that  gave  in  such  a verdict,  or  against  any 
of  the  witnesses;  for  I was  then  of  the  same  mind,  as  by  God’s  grace 

551 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


I ever  shall  be,  esteeming  them  all  the  best  friends  to  me,  in  all  they 
did  or  said,  that  ever  I had  in  my  life.  And  I was,  I thank  God, 
so  present  with  myself  whilst  the  judge  pronounced  the  sentence, 
that  without  any  concern  for  any  thing  in  this  world,  I did  actually 
at  the  same  time  offer  myself  and  the  world  to  God.’ 

The  holy  man  goes  on  in  his  narrative,  ‘ After  the  judge  was 
gone  from  the  bench,  several  Protestant  gentlemen  and  others  who 
had  heard  my  trial  came  to  me,  though  strangers,  and  told  me  how 
sorry  they  were  for  me.  To  whom  with  thanks  I replied,  that  I 
was  troubled  they  should  grieve  for  me  or  my  condition,  who  was 
joyful  for  it  myself:  for  I told  them  I had  professed  this  faith  and 
religion  all  my  lifetime,  which  I was  as  sure  to  be  true  as  I was  sure 
of  the  truth  of  God’s  Word  on  which  it  was  grounded;  and  there- 
fore in  it  I deposed  my  soul,  and  eternal  life  and  happiness;  and 
therefore,  should  I fear  to  lose  my  temporal  life  for  this  faith  whereon 
my  eternal  life  depends,  I should  be  worse  than  an  infidel;  and 
whosoever  should  prefer  the  life  of  their  bodies  before  their  faith, 
their  religion,  or  conscience,  they  were  worse  than  heathens.  For 
my  own  part,  I told  them  I was  as  ready,  by  God’s  grace,  to  die 
to-morrow,  as  I had  been  to  receive  the  sentence  of  death  to-day, 
and  as  willingly  as  if  I had  a grant  of  the  greatest  dukedom.’ 

Father  Wall  was  returned  to  prison,  and  after  some  time  was 
sent  for  up  to  London,  as  were  also  several  other  priests  who  were 
under  condemnation  for  their  character.  What  passed  here  we 
learn  from  the  following  letter  which  he  wrote  after  his  return  to 
the  country,  Jw/jy  18,  to  Mr.  Charles  Trinder,  counsellor,  afterwards 
Serjeant-at-law : — 

^ Sir, — With  my  service  I return  you  thanks  for  the  twenty 
shillings.  I am  safe  returned  from  London,  whither  I was  sent  to  be 
examined  by  Mr.  Oates  and  Bedloe,  Dngdale  and  Prance,  to  see  if 
any  of  them  had  anything  against  me  as  guilty  of  concerning  these 
great  disturbances  of  the  times.  I was  very  strictly  examined  by  all 
four  several  times  over  in  that  month  I stayed  at  London;  and  thanks 
be  to  God  I was,  after  the  last  examination,  publicly  declared  inno- 
cent and  free  of  all  plots  whatever,  by  Mr.  Bedloe,  who  examined 
me  last;  and  he  was  so  kind  to  me  that  he  told  me  publicly  that, 
if  I would  but  comply  in  matter  of  religion,  that  he  would  pawn  his 
life  for  me,  that  for  all  I was  condemned,  yet  I should  not  die.  I 
was  also  offered  the  same  after  my  first  examination,  though  I should 
have  been  never  so  guilty,  if  I would  have  done  what  was  against  my 
conscience.  But  I told  them  I would  not  buy  my  life  at  so  dear  a 

552 


1679] 


JOHN  WALL 


rate  as  to  wrong  my  conscience.  How  God  will  please  to  dispose 
of  all  us  that  are  condemned  none  know.  Some  think  it  is  con- 
cluded we  must  all  die;  and  yet  because  it  will  not  appear  grateful 
in  the  eyes  of  rational  and  moral  men  to  see  us  die  merely  for  con- 
science’ sake,  I have  been  several  times  informed  from  London 
since  I came  down  that,  if  possible,  some  will  do  their  best  to  bring 
some  of  us,  one  way  or  other,  into  a plot,  though  we  have  all  at 
London  been  declared  innocent  after  strict  examination.  God’s 
will  be  done.  The  greater  the  injury  and  injustice  done  against  us 
by  men  to  take  away  our  lives,  the  greater  our  glory  in  eternal  life 
before  God.  This  is  the  last  persecution  that  will  be  in  England; 
therefore  I hope  God  will  give  all  His  holy  grace  to  make  the  best 
use  of  it.  All  these  things  have  been  sufficiently  prophesied  long 
since;  and  I do  no  way  question  the  truth;  though  it  is  like  some 
will  suffer  first,  of  whom  I have  a strong  imagination  I shall  be  one. 
God’s  will  be 'done  in  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven,  and  in  mercy  bring 
me  happy  thither. — I subscribe,  ^ your  faithful  servant^ 

‘ Francis  Webb.’ 

At  the  bottom  of  this  letter  Serjeant  Trinder  has  added  what 
follows: — ‘ This  holy  priest,  sometimes  called  Mr.  Johnson^  whose 
true  name  was  Waif  was  martyred  at  Worcester^  &c.  He  was 
equally  courageous  and  cheerful  at  his  apprehension,  during  his 
imprisonment,  at  his  trial,  and  to  his  very  death.  A true  account 
of  all  which  might  deservedly  fill  a volume,’  &c.  So  he. 

At  length,  after  four  months  had  passed  from  his  condemnation, 
the  confessor  was  ordered  to  be  executed.  Father  William  Levison, 
who  visited  him  in  prison,  has  given  the  following  account  of  him  in  a 
letter  preserved  by  the  English  Franciscans,  of  which  I have  a copy : — 

‘ Of  late,’  says  he,  ‘ I was  desired,  and  willingly  went  to  visit 
our  friend,  Mr.  Wehb  [Father  Wall],  prisoner  at  Worcester,  whose 
execution  drew  near  at  hand.  I came  to  him  two  days  before  it, 
and  found  him  a cheerful  sufferer  of  his  present  imprisonment,  and 
ravished,  as  it  were,  with  joy,  with  the  future  hopes  of  dying  for  so 
good  a cause.  I found,  contrary  to  both  his  and  my  expectation, 
the  favour  of  being  with  him  alone ; and  the  day  before  his  execution, 
I enjoyed  that  privilege  for  the  space  of  four  or  five  hours  together; 
during  which  time  I heard  his  confession,  and  communicated  him 
to  his  great  joy  and  satisfaction.  I ventured  likewise,  through  his 
desire,  to  be  present  at  his  execution,  and  placed  myself  boldly  next 
to  the  Under-Sheriff,  near  the  gallows,  where  I had  the  opportunity 
of  giving  him  the  last  absolution,  just  as  he  was  turned  off  the  ladder. 

553 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679  ! 


During  his  imprisonment,  he  carried  himself  like  a true  servant  and  I 
disciple  of  his  crucified  Master,  thirsting  after  nothing  more  than  | 
the  shedding  of  his  blood  for  the  love  of  his  God ; which  he  performed  i 
with  a courage  and  cheerfulness  becoming  a valiant  soldier  of  Christ, 
to  the  great  edification  of  all  Catholics,  and  admiration  of  all  Pro-  1 
testants,  the  rational  and  moderate  part  especially,  who  shewed  a i 
great  sense  of  sorrow  for  his  death ; decrying  the  cruelty  of  putting  j 
men  to  death  for  priesthood  and  religion.  He  is  the  first  that  ever 
suffered  at  Worcester  since  the  Catholic  religion  entered  into  this 
nation,  which  he  seemed  with  joy  to  tell  me  before  his  execution. 

He  was  quartered,  and  his  head  separated  from  his  body,  according 
to  his  sentence.  His  body  was  permitted  to  be  buried,  and  was 
accompanied  by  the  Catholics  of  the  town  to  St.  Oswald's  church- 
yard, where  he  lies  interred.  His  head  I got  privately,  and  conveyed 
it  to  Mr.  Randolph,  who  will  be  careful  to  keep  it  till  opportunity 
serves  to  transport  it  to  Doway,  &c.  The  miseries  we  here  lie  under 
are  great,  and  I hope  our  brothers  in  safety  will  be  mindful  of  our 
condition  in  their  best  thoughts,  and  beg  of  God  we  may  cheerfully 
bear  our  crosses,  and,  if  it  be  His  holy  will,  courageously  sacrifice 
our  lives  in  defence  of  our  religion,  which  is  the  earnest  desire  of,  &c. 

^ August  1679.  ‘William  Levison.’ 

Father  Wall  suffered  at  Worcester,  August  the  zzd,  being  the 
Octave  Day  of  the  Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  His  head  is 
kept  in  the  cloister  of  tht English  friars  at  Doway,  and  it  was  remarked 
for  some  time  after  that  his  grave,  where  his  body  lies  at  Worcester, 
appeared  green,  whereas  the  rest  of  the  churchyard  was  all  bare,  it 
being  a constant  thoroughfare. 

The  confessor  before  his  death  composed  a long  speech  which  he 
delivered  to  a friend  to  be  printed,  in  which  he  declares  his  faith, 
hope,  and  charity,  and  strongly  recommends  these  divine  virtues. 

He  professes  his  abhorrence,  and  that  of  the  Catholic  Church,  of  all 
plots  and  conspiracies,  or  the  concealing  any  such  conspiracies,  &c., 
he  implores  God’s  mercy  for  himself,  for  the  whole  Church,  for  the 
King  and  kingdom,  and  for  his  persecutors,  whom  he  forgives  from 
his  heart,  and  asks  pardon  of  all  whom  he  had  any  way  offended; 
and  finally  offers  up  his  death  to  God,  and  commends  his  soul  into 
His  hands. 

Father  Levison,  or  Lewson,  in  his  letter  above  quoted,  makes 
mention  also  of  the  sufferings  of  his  hr oth.&v  Francis  Levison,  a priest 
of  the  same  order,  called  in  religion  Father  Ignatius  a S.  Clara. 

554 


1679] 


JOHN  KEMBLE 


‘ My  poor  brother/  says  he,  ‘ continues  still  a close  prisoner,  and 
complains  much  of  want.  The  justice  who  committed  him  has 
endeavoured  to  bribe  witnesses  to  swear  against  him,  but  as  yet 
cannot  prevail  with  any ; what  will  be  the  event  of  these  proceedings 
only  God  knows,’  See.  After  fourteen  months’  close  confinement, 
he  died  in  prison  a confessor  of  Christ,  February  ii,  1679-80,  cetatis 
thirty-four,  religionis  sixteen. 


JOHN  KEMBLE,  or  KIMBLE,  Priest  * 

ON  the  same  day  as  Father  Wall  was  executed  at  Worcester  for 
his  priestly  character  and  his  religion,  Mr.  Kemble,  a priest 
of  the  secular  clergy,  suffered  at  Hereford  for  the  same  cause. 
He  was  eighty  years  old  according  to  a short  printed  account  I have 
of  him ; and  had  been  a priest  and  a missioner,  in  a great  variety  of 
times,  four  and  fifty  years.  I find  in  the  Diary  of  Doway  College, 
anno  162^,  John  Kimble,  of  the  diocese  of  Hereford,  ordained  priest 
the  23d  of  February,  singing  his  first  Mass  the  2d  of  March,  and  sent 
upon  the  English  mission  the  4th  of  June,  where  his  residence  was 
in  his  native  country  of  Herefordshire.  In  the  mission  he  was  always 
esteemed  a very  pious  and  zealous  labourer.  The  following  account 
of  him  was  sent  me  from  a worthy  prelate  in  that  part  of  the  kingdom, 
taken  from  the  informations  of  those  that  had  known  him: — 

‘ I have  made  all  the  inquiry  I could  about  Mr.  Kimble;  what  I 
could  learn  from  those  who  particularly  knew  him  is  as  follows: — 
He  was  taken  at  Pembridge  Castle,  in  the  parish  of  Welsh- Newton 
in  Herefordshire,  by  Captain  Scudamore  of  Kentchurch.  He  was 
apprised  of  some  being  coming  to  take  him,  but  replied  that  accord- 
ing to  the  course  of  nature  he  had  but  few  years  to  live,  and  that  it 
would  be  an  advantage  to  him  to  suffer  for  his  religion,  and  therefore 
he  would  not  abscond.  He  was  committed  to  Hereford  gaol,  whence 
after  some  time  he  was  ordered  up  to  London,  and  thence  remitted 
back  again  to  take  his  trial  at  Hereford.  In  that  journey  he  suffered 
more  than  a martyrdom,  on  account  of  a great  indisposition  he  had, 
which  would  not  permit  him  to  ride  but  sidewards;  and  it  was  on 
horseback  he  was  compelled  to  perform  the  journey,  at  least  great 
part  of  the  way.  After  his  return  to  Hereford  gaol,  he  was  frequently 

* Ven.  John  Kemble. — From  Mr.  Kemble’s  printed  speech,  the  Douay 
Diary,  and  the  testimonies  of  those  who  knew  him;  see  also  Knaresboroiigh 
MSS.;  Kirk;  Gillow;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia;  D.N.B.;  Camm,  Forgotten 
Shrines. 


555 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


visited  by  Captain  Scudamore* s children,  whom  he  treated  with 
whatever  he  had  that  was  good  sent  him  by  his  friends ; and  being 
asked  why  he  gave  all  that  to  them  ? he  made  answer,  because  their 
father  was  the  best  friend  he  had  in  the  world. 

He  was  executed  on  Wigmarsh  by  Hereford.  His  head  was  cut 
off,  his  body  was  begged  by  his  nephew.  Captain  Richard  Kemble, 
who  put  it  into  a coffin,  carried  it  to  Welsh-Newion,  buried  it  in  the 
churchyard  there,  and  erected  a tomb  over  it.  Some  time  after  it 
happened  that  Captain  Scudamore* s daughter  had  a violent  sore 
throat  which  was  apprehended  dangerous,  and  being  advised  by  a 
devout  Catholic,  who  had  preserved  the  cord  in  which  Mr.  Kemble 
was  hariged,  to  put  that  cord  to  her  neck,  upon  the  application  of  it 
she  was  immediately  cured.  Some  neighbouring  Catholics  resort 
to  his  tomb  on  the  22d  of  August,  the  day  on  which  he  suffered,  to 
pay  their  devotions.  Once  I myself  being  present  with  three  or 

four  of  the  family  of  P and  some  others,  Mrs.  Catherine  Scuda- 

7nore,  who  for  some  time  had  been  extraordinary  deaf,  and  at  that 
time  was  involved  in  some  difficulties,  of  which  she  could  not  be 
made  sensible  by  reason  of  her  deafness,  stayed  at  her  prayers  by 
the  tomb,  after  the  rest  of  the  company  were  retired  for  their  refresh- 
ment to  an  inn  not  far  from  the  churchyard,  and  when  she  came  to 
them  she  cried  out.  Lord  ! I have  recovered  my  hearing;  and  effectu- 
ally she  heard  as  well  as  any  one  in  the  company.  These  are  all  the 
particulars  I could  learn,  more  than  that  he  was  always  a pious  and 
zealous  good  missioner.’  So  far  my  Right  Reverend  correspondent. 
The  following  speech  was  published  in  print  not  long  after  Mr. 
Kemble* s execution: — 

The  last  speech  of  Mr.  John  Kemble,  a clergyman,  which  he  spoke  in  the  cart 
upon  Wigmarsh  by  Hereford,  August  22,  1679. 

‘ It  will  be  expected  I should  say  something,  but  as  I am  an  old 
man,  it  cannot  be  much,  not  having  any  concern  in  the  plot,  neither 
indeed  believing  there  is  any.  Oates  and  Bedloe  not  being  able  to 
charge  me  with  anything  when  I was  brought  up  to  London,  though 
they  were  with  me,  makes  it  evident  that  I die  only  for  professing 
the  old  Roman  Catholic  religion,  which  was  the  religion  that  first 
made  this  kingdom  Christian,  and  whoever  intends  to  be  saved  must 
die  in  that  religion.  I beg  of  all  whom  I have  offended,  either  by 
thought,  word,  or  deed,  to  forgive  me,  for  I do  heartily  forgive  all 
those  that  have  been  instrumental  or  desirous  of  my  death.’ 

Then  turning  to  the  executioner,  he  took  him  by  the  hand,  and 
calling  him  by  his  name.  Honest  Anthony,  said  he,  my  friend  Anthony, 

556 


1679] 


CHARLES  BAKER 


be  not  afraid;  do  thy  office,  I forgive  thee  zQith  all  my  heart,  thou  wilt 
do  me  a greater  kindiiess  than  discourtesy.  Then  he  drew  his  cap  over 
his  eyes,  and  after  a little  meditation  upon  his  knees,  and  offering 
himself  up  to  Almighty  God,  he  told  them  they  might  do  their  office 
when  they  pleased.  In  conclusion,  after  he  had  thrice  repeated 
with  great  fervour  those  words.  In  manus  tuas  Domine  commendo 
spiritum  meum:  Into  thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend  my  spirit;  the 
cart  was  drawn  away,  and  he  hanged  at  least  half  an  hour  before  he 
was  quite  dead,  the  knot  of  the  rope  not  being  rightly  applied ; though 
this,  as  it  is  believed,  happened  rather  by  accident  than  design. 
The  Protestants  that  were  spectators  of  his  exit  acknowledged  that 
they  never  saw  one  die  so  like  a gentleman,  and  so  like  a Christian. 


CHARLES  BAKER,  alias  DAVID  LEWIS, 
Priest,  S.J.* 

CHARLES  BAKER,  commonly  known  upon  the  mission  by 
the  name  of  David  Lewis,  was  born  in  Monmouthshire  in  1617, 
and  brought  up  in  the  Protestant  religion  till  he  was  about 
nineteen  years  of  age;  when  being  a student  of  the  law,  he  was 
reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church;  and  after  two  years  sent  by  his 
uncle,  a priest  of  the  Society,  to  the  English  College  of  Rome,  where 
he  was  received  a convictor,  November  6,  1638.  Here  he  went 
through  a course  of  his  studies,  having  the  character  in  the  College 
Diary  of  prudent  and  pious;  and  being  made  priest  20,  1642, 
at  the  end  of  his  divinity  he  entered  into  the  Society  anno  1645,  and 
made  his  noviceship  amongst  the  Italian  Jesuits  in  their  noviciate 
of  St.  Andrew's. 

He  was  sent  upon  the  English  mission  anno  1648,  where  he 
officiated  in  South  Wales  for  one  and  thirty  years,  being  a zealous 
seeker  after  the  lost  sheep,  fearless  in  dangers,  patient  in  labours 
and  sufferings,  and  so  charitable  to  his  indigent  neighbours,  as  to  be 
commonly  called  the  father  of  the  poor.  He  was  apprehended  on 
the  17th  of  November,  1678,  being  Sunday  morning,  a little  before 
day,  by  six  armed  men  (sent  by  two  neighbouring  Justices  of  Peace), 
in  a little  house  in  the  parish  of  St.  Michael  Lantarnam,  in  Mon- 

* Ven.  David  Lewis,  alias  Charles  Baker. — From  a printed  relation  of 
his  imprisonment  and  trial,  penned  by  himself;  his  printed  speech;  Floras 
Anglo-Bavaricus  ; and  the  Records  of  the  Novitiate  of  St.  Andrew’s,  at  Rome ; 
see  also  Foley,  Records,  v. 


557 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


mouthshire,  and  carried  that  day  to  Abergavenny ^ and  the  next  day 
committed  to  Monmouth  gaol,  where  he  was  kept  close  confined  in  a 
room  by  himself  (for  which  he  was  obliged  to  pay  14s.  a week), 
locked  up  at  night  and  barred  up  by  day. 

On  the  13th  o^  January  ^ 1678-9,  he  was  removed  from  Monmouth 
to  Usk.  It  snowing  hard  that  day,  the  Deputy- Sheriff  and  the 
chief  jailer  who  accompanied  him  made  a halt  at  Ragland  to  warm 
and  refresh  themselves;  whilst  they  were  here  the  confessor  was 
informed  that  Father  Ignatius,  alias  Walter  Price,  lay  a-dying  about 
a mile  off,  having  undergone  much  hardship  both  of  hunger  and  cold, 
by  flying  from  barn  to  barn,  from  cottage  to  cottage,  being  violently 
persecuted,  and  strictly  searched  after  as  a Popish  priest,  and  that 
by  his  own  kinsman.  Father  Baker,  being  able  to  do  no  more, 
sent  him  his  best  wishes  for  his  soul’s  happy  passage  out  of  this 
turbulent  world  to  an  eternity  of  rest ; and  so  went  forward  with  his 
keepers  to  his  new  prison  of  Usk,  where  three  days  after  he  received 
the  news  of  his  blessed  death.  In  this  prison  the  confessor  found 
several  Catholics  confined  for  their  conscience,  with  whom  he 
remained  till  his  trial  in  the  Lenten  assizes. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  1679,  the  assizes  began  at  Monmouth, 
and  on  the  following  day  Father  Baker  was  brought  to  the  bar,  to  be 
tried  upon  an  indictment  of  high  treason,  for  having  taken  orders 
in  the  Church  of  Rome,  and  remaining  in  England  contrary  to  the 
oi  Elizabeth  . IAq  not  guilty . Five  or  six  witnesses 

deposed  against  him  that  they  had  seen  him  say  Mass  and  perform 
the  rest  of  the  priestly  functions.  Father  Baker  made  a handsome 
defence,  and  had  very  material  exceptions  against  the  principal 
witnesses;  but,  nevertheless,  was  brought  in  guilty  by  the  jury,  and 
received  sentence  of  death  the  same  day  in  the  usual  form  from 
Sir  Robert  Atkins  the  judge;  upon  which  he  made  a low  bow,  and 
was  returned  to  prison. 

After  this  he  was  sent  up  to  London,  and  there  in  Newgate  strictly 
examined  concerning  the  pretended  plot;  Oates,  Bedloe,  Dugdale, 
and  Prance,  being  brought  to  confront  him,  but  they  could  not 
charge  him  with  any  guilt  in  that  kind.  My  Lord  Shaftesbury 
suggested  to  him,  that  he  might  both  save  his  life  and  improve  his 
fortune,  if  he  would  make  some  discovery  of  the  plot,  or  conform 
in  matters  of  religion;  But  discover  plot,  says  he  in  his  dying  speech, 
I could  not,  for  I knew  of  none;  and  conform  I would  not,  for  it  was 
against  my  conscience;  wherefore  he  was  sent  back  to  the  country, 
where  he  remained  three  months  longer  in  prison,  and  then  was 
ordered  for  execution. 


558 


1679] 


CHARLES  BAKER 


It  was  on  the  27th  day  of  August^  1679,  he  was  drawn  to  the 
gallows  at  Usk^  in  Monmouthshire ^ where  he  made  a long  speech  to  a 
numerous  auditory  assembled  on  that  occasion.  ‘ Here  is,’  said  he, 
‘ a numerous  assembly, — the  great  Saviour  of  the  world  save  every 
soul  of  you  all.  I believe  you  are  here  met  not  only  to  see  a fellow- 
native  die,  but  also  with  expectation  to  hear  a dying  fellow-native 
speak.  Let  none  of  you  suffer  as  a murderer,  or  a thief,  but  if  as  a 
Christian,  let  him  not  he  ashamed  (i  St.  Peter  iv.).  I suffer  not  as  a 
murderer,  thief,  or  such  like  malefactor,  but  as  a Christian,  and 
therefore  am  not  ashamed.’ 

He  proceeds  to  let  his  auditors  know  how  unjustly  he  had  been 
charged,  in  a vile  pamphlet,  of  having  cheated  a poor  woman  of  ^^30 
under  a pretence  of  delivering  her  father’s  soul  out  of  Purgatory; 
which,  as  he  declares,  was  no  better  than  mere  fiction  and  malice, 
without  the  least  appearance  of  truth.  And  as  to  the  plot,  he  calls 
God  to  witness,  that  he  never  heard  or  knew  anything  of  it  till  public 
fame  had  spread  it  over  the  country.  And  that  for  his  part,  none 
of  the  King’s  witnesses,  when  confronted  with  him  in  Newgate, 
could  pretend  to  charge  him  with  any  such  guilt;  that  he  ever 
detested  king-killing  doctrine,  as  opposite  to  the  principles  of  the 
Catholic  religion,  and  condemned  by  the  Council  of  Constance;  and 
in  testimony  of  his  loyalty  he  heartily  prayed  for  the  King ; adding 
that  his  religion  alone  was  the  cause  for  which  he  was  to  die. 

‘ My  religion,’  says  he,  ‘ is  the  Roman  Catholic;  in  it  I have  lived 
above  these  forty  years;  in  it  I now  die,  and  so  fixedly  die,  that  if  all 
the  good  things  in  this  world  were  offered  me  to  renounce  it,  all 
should  not  remove  me  one  hair’s  breadth  from  my  Roman  Catholic 
faith.  A Roman  Catholic  I am;  a Roman  Catholic  priest  I am; 
a Roman  Catholic  priest  of  that  religious  Order  called  the  Society 
of  Jesus,  I am;  and  I bless  God  who  first  called  me,  and  I bless  the 
hour  in  which  I was  first  called  both  unto  faith  and  function.  Please 
now  to  observe,  I was  condemned  for  reading  Mass,  hearing  con- 
fessions, administering  the  sacraments,  &c.  As  for  reading  the  Mass, 
it  was  the  old,  and  still  is  the  accustomed  and  laudable  liturg}^  of  the 
holy  Church;  and  all  the  other  acts,  are  acts  of  religion  tending  to 
the  worship  of  God,  and  therefore  dying  for  this  I die  for  religion; — 
and  dying  upon  so  good  a score,  as  far  as  human  frailty  permits,  I 
die  with  alacrity  interior  and  exterior;  from  the  abundance  of  the 
heart  let  not  only  mouths  but  faces  also  speak. 

‘ Here,  methinks,  I feel  flesh  and  blood  ready  to  burst  into  loud 
cries; — blood  for  blood,  life  for  life.  No,  crieth  holy  gospel, 
forgive,  and  you  shall  he  forgiven;  pray  for  those  that  persecute  you; 

559 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


love  your  enemies;  and  I profess  myself  as  a child  of  the  gospel,  and 
the  gospel  I obey.  Whomever  present  or  absent  I have  ever  offended, 
I humbly  desire  them  to  forgive  me.  As  for  my  enemies,  I freely 
forgive  them  all;  my  neighbours  that  betrayed  me,  the  persons  that 
took  me,  the  justices  that  committed  me,  &c.,  but  singularly  and 
especially,  I forgive  my  capital  persecutor  who  hath  been  so  long 
thirsting  after  my  blood;  from  my  soul  I forgive  him,  and  wish  his 
soul  so  well,  that  were  it  in  my  power,  I would  seat  him  a seraphim 
in  heaven.  Father , forgive  them,  they  know  not  what  they  do. 

‘ And  with  reason  I love  them  also  (my  persecutors),  for  though 
they  have  done  themselves  a vast  soul-prejudice,  yet  they  have 
done  me  an  incomparable  favour,  which  I shall  eternally  acknow- 
ledge. But  chiefly  I love  them  for  His  sake,  who  said.  Love  your 
enemies;  and  in  testimony  of  my  love,  I wish  them  (and  it  is  the  best 
of  wishes)  from  the  centre  of  my  soul,  I wish  them  a good  eternity. 

0 eternity  ! eternity  ! how  momentaneous  are  the  glories,  riches, 
and  pleasures  of  this  world  ! and  how  desirable  art  thou,  O endless 
eternity  ! And  for  my  said  enemies  attaining  thereunto,  I humbly 
beseech  God  to  give  them  the  grace  of  a true  repentance,  before 
they  and  this  world  part.’ 

Then  addressing  himself  to  the  Catholics,  ‘ PTiends,’  said  he, 
‘ fear  God,  honour  your  King;  be  firm  in  your  faith ; avoid  mortal 
sin  by  frequenting  the  sacraments  of  holy  Church;  patiently  bear 
your  persecutions  and  afflictions ; forgive  your  enemies ; your  suffer- 
ings are  great;  I say,  be  firm  in  your  faith  to  the  end,  yea,  even  to 
death ; then  shall  you  heap  unto  yourselves  celestial  treasures  in  the 
h.Q^Y&n\y  Jerusalem,  where  no  thief  robbeth,  no  moth  eateth,  and  no 
rust  consumeth;  and  have  that  blessed  saying  of  Peter,  prince  of 
the  apostles,  always  in  your  memory,  which  I heartily  recommend 
to  you,  viz..  Let  none  of  you  suffer  as  a murderer  or  a thief;  hut  if  as  a 
Christian  let  him  not  be  ashamed,  but  glorify  God  in  this  name.  ’ Having 
finished  his  speech  to  men,  he  applied  himself  to  God  in  the  following 
prayers  and  ejaculations  which  he  pronounced  aloud: — 

‘ Sovereign  Lord  God,  eternal  Father  of  heaven,  creator  of  all, 
conserver  of  all,  sole  author  of  grace  and  glory,  with  prostrate  heart 

1 adore  Thee ; and  Thee  only  I adore  as  God.  The  giving  of  Divine 
honour  to  any  creature  of  highest  degree,  I abhor  and  detest  as 
damnable  idolatry.  Incarnate  Son  of  God,  true  God,  Thou  hast 
purchased  a Church  here  upon  earth  with  Thy  sacred  blood,  and 
planted  it  with  Thy  sacred  labours;  a Church,  one  holy  Catholic 
and  Apostolic;  a Church  to  continue  to  the  consummation  of  the 
world ; whatever  that  Church  of  Thine  hath  by  revelation  from  Thee, 

560 


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WILLIAM  LLOYD 


whatever  that  Church  of  Thine  hath  taught  me,  and  commanded 
me  to  believe,  I believe  it  to  an  iota.  God  Holy  Ghost,  who  maketh 
Thy  sun  to  shine  on  good  and  bad,  Thy  rain  to  fall  on  the  just  and 
unjust,  I praise  Thy  holy  name,  and  thank  Thee  for  the  innumerable 
benefits  Thou  hast  been  pleased  to  bestow  and  confer  upon  me, 
Thy  unworthy  servant,  the  sixty-three  years  I now  have  lived  on 
earth.  O Holy  Trinity,  three  persons,  and  one  God,  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart  I am  sorry  that  ever  I have  offended  Thee,  my 
good  God,  even  to  an  idle  word;  yet  through  Thy  mercy,  my  God, 
and  the  merits  of  my  Redeemer,  I strongly  hope  for  an  eternal 
salvation.  Sweet  Jesus,  receive  my  soul.’  And  so  he  was  executed. 

Father  Anthony  Hunter,  a priest  of  the  same  Society,  who  was  also 
under  sentence  of  death  for  his  character,  relates  in  a manuscript 
which  I have  before  me,  that  the  bowels  of  Father  Baker,  though 
they  were  cast  into  a greater  fire  than  ordinary,  and  several  faggots 
flung  upon  them,  were  not  consumed,  nor  so  much  as  altered  by 
the  flames ; so  that  they  were  taken  up  and  buried  with  his  body. 


WILLIAM  LLOYD,  Priest  and  Confessor.* 

WILLIAM  LLOYD,  the  son  of  Walter  Lloyd,  Esq.,  was 
born  in  Carmarthenshire,  of  Wales,  about  the  year  1610.  He 
seems  to  have  been  a convert  to  the  Catholic  religion,  and 
not  to  have  gone  abroad  till  he  was  come  to  man’s  estate.  He  was 
received  a convictor  in  the  College  of  Lisbon,  October  1,  1635,  with 
this  character  in  the  register  of  the  house,  that  he  was  a very  hopeful 
young  man,  but  labouring  under  a continual  indisposition,  or  pain 
in  the  stomach.  However,  he  applied  himself  to  his  studies,  and 
went  through  the  usual  course  of  philosophy  and  divinity,  and 
publicly  maintained  at  sundry  times  theses  in  both  these  faculties, 
with  very  great  applause.  He  was  ordained  priest  the  26th  of  April, 
1639,  but  remained  in  the  College  till  the  29th  of  June,  1642;  at 
which  time  he  went  to  Paris.  I have  not  found  when  he  entered 
upon  the  English  mission,  nor  the  particulars  of  his  missionary 
labours. 

Soon  after  the  breaking  out  of  Oateses  plot,  he  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  persecutors,  and  was  brought  to  his  trial  at  Brecknock,  upon  an 
indictment  of  high  treason,  for  having  taken  orders  in  the  Roman 

* Ven.  William  Lloyd. — From  the  Diary  or  Register  of  the  English 
College  of  I.isbon,  and  from  his  speech;  see  State  Trials. 

561 


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MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


Church,  and  remaining  in  this  realm  contrary  to  the  statute  of  the 
27th  of  Elizabeth.  The  witnesses  that  appeared  against  him  made 
oath  that  he  had  administered  the  sacraments  according  to  the 
order  and  manner  of  the  Catholic  Church ; upon  which  he  was  found 
guilty  by  his  jury,  and  sentenced  to  die  as  in  cases  of  high  treason. 
The  day  was  appointed  for  his  execution,  but  he  died  in  bonds  six 
days  before,  leaving  behind  him  the  following  speech  which  he 
designed  to  have  delivered  at  the  gallows : — 

The  last  speech  of  Mr.  William  Lloyd,  a clergyman,  who  was  tried  and  con- 
demned at  Brecknock,  in  South  Wales,  anno  domini,  1679,  and  died  in 

prison  there  a week  before  he  was  executed,  and  left  this  speech  in  writing. 

In  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

Dearly  beloved  countrymen:  It  is,  even  by  God’s  holy  providence, 
that  now  I am  come  to  the  last  hour  of  my  mortal  life  in  this  miser- 
able world,  and  therefore  am  desirous  to  give  an  account  to  all  the 
world,  in  what  faith  and  religion  I lived  while  I was  in  this  world, 
and  in  which  I am  resolved  to  depart  out  of  this  world,  which  is  the 
only  holy  Catholic  and  Apostolical  faith  and  religion,  that  is,  the 
very  same  in  all  points  as  the  apostles  themselves  lived  and  died  in, 
after  they  received  the  Holy  Ghost  which  our  Saviour  promised  to 
send  them,  to  guide  them  into  all  truth,  and  to  remain  with  His 
Church  for  ever ; and  I do  renounce  all  errors  and  mistakes  contrary 
to  the  same  faith  and  religion,  holding  all  the  holy  Word  of  God, 
written  or  unwritten,  to  be  true,  and  revealed  to  the  patriarchs  and 
prophets  in  the  time  of  the  Old  Testament,  as  also  reveded  by  our 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ  to  His  apostles  and  disciples  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment, and  by  their  successors  declared  to  the  rest  of  the  world  in  the 
same  right  sense,  as  the  Holy  Ghost  according  to  our  Saviour’s 
promise  directed  them  to  teach  all  truth,  which  is  the  only  faith  in 
which  a man  can  be  saved,  and  no  other;  for  it  is  said  in  the  Holy 
Scripture,  that  there  is  but  one  faith,  one  God,  and  one  baptism; 
and  St.  Paul  in  another  place  expressly  saith,  that  without  faith  it 
is  impossible  to  please  God ; and  every  man  by  natural  reason  may 
easily  know  that  without  pleasing  God  no  man  can  be  saved ; for  no 
man  can  possibly  be  saved,  in  spite  of  God  Almighty,  that  is,  whether 
he  will  or  no.  Therefore  seeing  none  can  be  saved  without  pleasing 
God,  and  that  none  can  please  God  without  faith;  and  seeing  there 
is  no  faith  but  one,  and  that  one  is  that  which  our  Saviour  Christ 
taught  to  His  apostles,  it  behoveth  every  man  to  find  it  out,  and  live 
and  die  in  it,  although  they  lose  all  that  they  have  in  the  world  and 
their  lives  to  boot,  seeing  that  it  is  of  no  small  importance  to  be 

562 


1679] 


WILLIAM  LLOYD 


saved  or  damned  for  ever.  And  to  find  out  that  apostolical  faith, 
without  which  no  man  can  please  God,  nor  consequently  be  saved, 
we  must  find  out  the  eldest  faith  amongst  Christians,  which  was 
planted  by  our  Saviour  Himself  amongst  His  apostles,  which  doth 
still  last,  and  will  last  for  ever;  for  our  Saviour  promised  to  be  with 
His  Church  to  the  world’s  end,  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail 
against  it.  And  this  is  the  reason  why  I made  choice  to  embrace  it, 
and  all  others  ought  to  make  choice  of  and  embrace  the  same  to  live 
and  die  in,  to  the  intent  we  may  be  saved  souls  for  ever;  detesting, 
as  I said  before,  all  mistakes  and  errors  contrary  to  the  said  one 
holy  Catholic  Apostolic  Christian  faith,  and  Roman  religion.  No- 
thing can  be  held  to  be  a true  article  of  faith,  but  what  is  firmly 
grounded  upon  the  holy  Word  of  God,  taken  in  the  right  sense  by 
the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  the  rest  of  controversies  may  be 
disputed,  but  not  believed,  by  divine  faith. 

Now  do  I further  declare,  that  I being  of  this  holy  faith  and 
religion,  living  peaceably  in  the  commonwealth  all  the  days  of  my 
life,  have  been  taken  suspected  to  be  a Popish  priest,  and  have 
been  committed  to  prison,  and  sentenced  to  die  upon  that  account, 
for  serving  God,  and  administering  the  holy  sacraments  according 
to  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Roman  Church,  and  for  nothing 
else  proved  against  me;  and  submitting  myself  to  God’s  holy  will, 
and  all  the  penalties  of  the  present  laws  of  the  kingdom  relating 
thereto,  I am  heartily  willing  by  God’s  holy  grace  to  suffer  death 
upon  that  account,  hoping  to  be  a saved  soul  by  the  goodness  and 
mercy  of  God,  and  the  merits  and  passion  of  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ.  And  to  the  intent  that  I may  depart  out  of  this  world  in 
love  and  charity,  I do  heartily  forgive  all  that  have  in  any  wise 
offended  me,  and  beg  pardon  and  forgiveness  of  all  those  that  I have 
any  wise  offended;  and  especially,  I beg  pardon  of  God  Almighty, 
for  all  my  heinous  offences  committed  against  His  Divine  Majesty 
in  thought,  word,  and  deed,  for  which  I am  heartily  sorry,  and  with 
the  help  of  His  grace,  if  they  were  yet  undone,  I would  do  my  best 
never  to  do  them  and  this  not  only  for  fear  of  being  punished  for 
my  sins,  but  out  of  the  hearty  love  I bear  to  my  dear  God,  who  hath 
created  me  and  redeemed  me  with  His  most  bitter  passion,  in  the 
person  of  our  Saviour  true  God  and  man,  and  hath  sanctified  me 
with  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  soul  and  body.  As  for  the 
subversion  of  government,  or  conspiring  against  his  Majesty’s  life, 
I do  sincerely  protest,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  as  I hope 
to  be  a saved  soul,  that  I had  not  the  least  knowledge  of  it  till  it  was 
noised  abroad  amongst  the  common  people,  nor  did  I at  any  time 

563 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


after  know  any  thing  of  it,  otherwise  than  by  common  report  after 
discovery,  but  was  daily  wont  to  pray  for  his  Majesty  and  his  loyal 
consort;  and  so,  God  willing,  intend  to  continue  as  long  as  I have 
breath,  begging  of  God  Almighty  to  send  his  Majesty  a prosperous 
reign  whilst  he  lives  in  this  world,  and  after  this  miserable  life,  to 
grant  them  both  eternal  crowns  in  everlasting  bliss:  and  the  same 
everlasting  happiness  I wish  to  my  own  soul,  I wish  also  to  my 
enemies,  to  all  that  are  here  present,  and  the  rest  of  the  world.  Amen. 

He  was  aged  about  seventy  years. 


There  were  man}''  other  priests,  who,  in  the  heat  of  this  persecu- 
tion, especially  during  the  years  1679  and  1680,  were  arraigned  and 
condemned  merely  for  their  priestly  character.  Those  whose  names 
I have  been  able  to  recover,  were : — 

1.  Placidus  Adelham^  or  Adland,  who  from  a Protestant  minister 

became  a monk  of  the  venerable  Order  of  St.  Bennet,  and  was  pro- 
fessed in  the  monastery  of  Paris.  He  was  a great  reader  and  admirer 
of  the  works  of  St.  Augustine;  was  tried  and  condemned  at  the  Old 
Bailey  merely  as  a priest,  17,  1678-9,  but  was  reprieved  and 

died  in  prison. 

2.  Andrew  Brommich,  priest,  of  the  College  of  Lisbon.  He  was 
tried  and  condemned  at  Stafford,  August  13,  1679,  but  was  reprieved, 
and  survived  the  storm. 

3.  William  Atkins  was  tried  and  condemned  at  the  same  time  and 
place.  His  printed  trial  calls  him  a Seminary  priest,  but  he  was 
indeed  of  the  Society  oi  Jesus.  He  died  in  prison,  March  7, 1 680-1 , 
being  eighty  years  of  age,  only  regretting  that  he  was  not  so  happy 
as  to  shed  his  blood  in  his  Master’s  cause,  which  he  very  much 
desired. 

4.  Richard  Birket,  priest,  of  the  secular  clergy,  but  of  what  college 
I have  not  found.  He  was  tried  and  condemned  at  Lancaster,  and 
died  in  prison  a confessor  of  Christ. 

5.  Richard  Fletcher,  alias  Barton,  a priest  of  Poway  College. 
Pie  was  also  tried  and  condemned  at  the  same  time  at  Lancaster,  but 
outlived  the  persecution. 

6.  John  Penketh,  priest,  S.J.,  was  also  tried  and  condemned  at 
the  same  time  and  place,  but  lived  to  see  better  times.  He  w^as 
sometime  alumnus  of  the  College  of  Rome. 

7.  George  Bushy,  priest,  S.J.  He  w^as  tried  and  condemned  at 
Derby,  but  pardoned  by  the  King. 

564 


1679] 


WILLIAM  LLOYD 


8.  James  Corker^  priest,  and  monk  of  the  Abbey  of  Lambspring. 
He  was  first  tried  for  the  plot,  of  which  he  was  accused  by  Oates 
and  Bedloe,  but  acquitted  by  the  jury;  then  was  tried  as  a priest,  and 
condemned,  January  17,  1679-80.  He  was  reprieved,  and  con- 
tinued prisoner  till  King  James's  accession  to  the  throne,  and  in 
prison  reconciled  great  numbers  to  the  Catholic  Church.  He  was 
afterwards  made  abbot,  first  of  Cismer^  then  of  Lamhspring,  which 
dignity  he  resigned,  and  ended  his  days  at  Paddington^  near 
London^  much  esteemed  by  all  that  knew  him  for  his  virtue  and 
sanctity. 

9.  William  Happier^  alias  Russel^  called  in  religion  Father 
Marianus^  a native  of  Oxford,  and  a father  of  the  holy  Order  of 
St.  Francis.  He  was  tried  and  condemned  at  the  Old  Bailey  at  the 
same  time  with  Mr.  Corker,  but  reprieved,  and  after  a long  imprison- 
ment sent  abroad ; where  he  died  in  the  Franciscan  Convent  at  Doway, 
in  1693,  aged  seventy-eight. 

10.  Charles  Parry,  priest,  as  I take  it,  of  the  secular  clergy.  He 
was  tried  and  condemned  at  the  same  time  and  place.  When  he 
heard  the  sentence,  he  cried  out,  Te  Deum  laudamus,  &c.  Whether 
be  died  in  prison,  or  survived  the  storm,  I have  not  learnt. 

11.  Henry  Starkey.  He  was  younger  brother  to  John  Starkey, 
of  Barley  in  Cheshire,  Esq.,  was  one  of  the  first  that  appeared  in  arms 
for  the  King  in  the  civil  wars,  in  whose  service  he  lost  £4000  and 
one  of  his  legs,  which  was  taken  off  by  a cannon  ball.  Being  sent 
into  banishment,  he  resumed  his  studies,  and  by  dispensation  was 
made  priest.  He  was  tried  and  condemned  for  his  character  at  the 
same  time  and  place  with  Mr.  Corker,  &c.,  but  was  reprieved. 

12.  Lionel  Anderson,  alias  Munson.  He  was  a gentleman’s  son 
of  Lincolnshire,  of  a good  estate,  but  becoming  a Catholic,  relin- 
quished all  his  worldly  pretensions  and  entered  into  the  holy  Order 
of  St.  Dominic,  and  was  ordained  priest.  He  was  tried  and  con- 
demned at  the  same  time  and  place  with  Mr.  Corker,  See.,  but  was 
pardoned  by  the  King. 

13.  William.  Wall,  alias  Marsh  and  Marshall.  He  was  brother  to 
Father  Wall,  who  suffered  at  Worcester;  was  born  in  Lancashire, 
studied  his  humanity  at  St.  Omers,  his  philosophy  at  Rome,  his 
divinity  partly  at  Rome  and  partly  at  Doway.  From  Doway  he  went 
upon  the  mission  in  1652;  but  afterwards  going  over  again,  he 
became  a monk  of  the  venerable  Order  of  St.  Bennet,  in  the  Abbey 
of  Lamhspring.  Fie  was  arraigned  upon  the  testimony  of  Oates  and 
Bedloe  for  the  plot  with  Father  Corker,  made  a brave  defence,  and 
was  found  not  guilty;  but  afterwards  was  tried  and  condemned  for  a 

565 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1679 


priest  in  the  company  of  the  same  Father  Corker,  but  was  reprieved, 
and  survived  the  persecution. 

With  these  six  last  named,  was  arraigned  also  Mr.  David  Joseph 
Kemish,  priest,  but  his  trial  was  put  off  by  reason  of  his  sickness. 
Whether  he  died  in  prison,  or  survived,  I cannot  learn.  Also 
Mr.  Alexander  Liimsden  was  tried  on  the  same  day  with  the  six 
above-mentioned.  He  was  a native  of  Aherdeeti  in  Scotland,  and  a 
Dominican  Friar;  was  found  to  be  a priest,  but  being  a Scotchman, 
the  jury  brought  in  their  verdict  special,  and  he  was  not  sentenced 
to  die.  Besides  these,  I have  met  with  the  names  of  some  others 
that  felt  in  like  manner  the  fury  of  this  persecution  ; a?,  James  Baker, 
alias  Hesketh,  priest,  condemned  at  the  Old  Bailey,  February  27, 
1679-80.  Richard  Lacy,  priest,  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  who  died 
in  prison  at  London,  March  ii,  the  same  year.  Edward  Turner, 
priest,  of  the  same  Society,  who  died  also  in  prison  at  London,  in 
1681.  William  Allison,  priest,  who  died  prisoner  in  York  Castle. 
William  Bennet,  priest,  S.J.,  who  was  also  condemned  in  this  perse- 
cution, but  lived  to  be  condemned  a second  time  under  King  William, 
and  died  a prisoner  at  Leicester  in  1691.  Bennet  Constable,  priest, 
O.S.B.,  who  died  in  Durham  gaol,  1683.  Not  to  speak  of  divers  of 
the  Catholic  laity,  who  expired  in  like  manner  in  prison,  confined 
for  their  conscience. 


[ 1680.  ] 

THOMAS  THWING,  Priest  * 

THOAIAS  THWING,  son  of  George  Thwing,  P^sq.,  of  an 
ancient  Yorkshire  family,  was  born  at  Heworth,  near  York, 
in  the  year  1635.  performed  his  studies  abroad  in  the 
English  College  of  Doway,  where  also  he  received  all  his  orders,  and 
from  thence  was  sent  priest  upon  the  English  mission  in  1665,  where 
he  laboured  in  the  vineyard  of  his  Lord  for  fifteen  years.  He  was 
apprehended  in  the  time  of  Oates's  plot,  and  was  accused  by  two 
knights  of  the  post,  Bolron  and  Mowbray,  or  Maybury,  of  having  been 
at  several  meetings  or  consults  at  Barnborough  Hall,  the  seat  of  his 
uncle.  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne;  and  there  conspiring  with  the  said 
Sir  Thomas,  Sir  Miles  Stapylton,  the  Lady  Tempest,  and  others,  to 

* Ven.  Thomas  Thwing  (or  Thweng). — From  his  printed  trial  and 
speech  (in  State  Trials))  see  also  Knaresborough  AISS.;  Dodd,  Church 
History. 


566 


i68o] 


THOMAS  THWING 


kill  the  King,  and  extirpate  the  Protestant  religion.  Bolron  had 
formerly  been  in  the  service  of  Sir  Thomas^  as  steward  of  his  coalpits, 
and  having  cheated  him  of  great  sums  of  money  was  thereupon 
discharged ; and  being  also  sued  by  him,  vowed  revenge,  left  his 
religion,  and  accused  his  master  and  all  his  relations  of  the  plot. 
Maybury  had  also  been  a servant  to  Sir  Thomas,  and  had  been  guilty 
of  divers  villanies.  But  now,  as  Mr.  Salmon  takes  notice  in  his 
examination  of  Bishop  Burnefs  History,  the  great  encouragement 
and  caresses  Oates  and  Bedloe  met  with,  occasioned  others  of  the  like 
stamp  to  spring  up  in  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  pretending  to  make 
discoveries  of  plots,  many  of  whom,  says  he,  were  so  plainly  detected 
that  they  could  obtain  no  credit  even  in  those  believing  times,  which 
was  indeed  the  case  of  these  two  wretches ; for  their  story  was  al- 
together incredible;  and  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne,  and  the  others  by 
them  accused,  were  acquitted.  Only  Mr.  Thwing  being  a priest 
did  not  meet  with  the  same  justice.  He  was  brought  to  his  trial  at 
York,  July  29,  1680,  and  upon  the  testimony  of  the  miscreants  above 
mentioned,  was  found  guilty  by  the  jury;  and  on  the  2d  of  August 
following,  received  sentence  of  death.  To  which  he  calmly  replied, 
Innocens  ego  sum, — I am  innocent.  He  was  reprieved  for  a while, 
viz.,  till  the  23d  of  October;  and  then  by  an  order  of  the  Council 
was  executed  according  to  sentence.  He  was  drawn,  hanged,  and 
quartered  at  York,  having  first  protested  his  innocency  of  all  that 
was  sworn  against  him,  and  spoke  as  follows: — 

‘ This  sudden  news  of  my  execution  (after  my  reprieve)  coming 
so  unexpectedly,  made  me  fear  I should  have  more  severity  shewed 
me  than  has  been  to  others,  and  consequently,  that  I should  not  have 
full  liberty  to  declare  my  mind  at  the  place  of  my  execution,  there- 
fore 1 have  briefly  expressed  myself  in  writing  as  follows: — First, 
As  I hope  for  salvation  of  my  soul,  by  the  benefit  of  the  blood  and 
passion  of  my  blessed  Saviour,  I most  sincerely  protest  that  what 
Robert  Bolron  and  Lawrence  Mowbray  swore  against  me  was  absolutely 
false;  for  here,  in  the  presence  of  the  eternal  God,  I declare  I never 
knew  of  any  consult  at  Barnbow,  the  least  prejudicial  to  the  King  or 
kingdom;  nor  was  I ever  at  any  such  consult  or  meeting  with  Sir 
Thomas  Gascoigne,  Mr.  Gascoigne  his  son.  Sir  Miles  Stapylto?i,  the 
Lady  Tempest,  Mr.  Ingleby,  or  any  other,  where  any  thing  was  ever 
treated,  spoken,  or  written,  about  killing  the  King,  or  alteration  of 
the  government ; nor  did  I ever  see  or  know  of  any  list  of  such  names 
of  persons  mentioned  and  sworn  by  them  against  me.  Secondly, 
Upon  my  salvation  I declare  I never  have  been  in  my  whole  life- 
time guilty,  even  so  much  as  in  thought,  of  any  treason  against  his 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1680 


Majesty  or  the  kingdom,  it  being  directly  contrary  to  the  principles 
of  our  faith.  Thirdly ^ That  though  I have  and  do  declare  against 
the  oath  of  allegiance  as  it  is  worded,  yet  it  is  only  by  reason  of  some 
clauses  therein  contained,  not  pertaining  to  allegiance,  and  therefore, 
if  an  oath,  containing  nothing  but  allegiance,  had  been  legally 
tendered  me,  I should  have  thought  it  a sin  to  have  refused  it. 
Lastly.  I acknowledge  myself  a priest,  and  to  have  about  fifteen 
years  performed  a priest’s  function,  which  I am  so  far  from 
denying,  that  I think  it  the  greatest  honour  imaginable. 

‘ And  now,  dear  countrymen,  having  made  this  protestation  in 
the  most  plain  terms  I could,  without  any  equivocation  or  mental 
reservation  whatsoever,  I appeal  to  the  Eternal  Judge,  whether  good 
Christians  ought  not  to  believe  what  is  here  in  this  manner  sworn 
by  me  in  my  present  circumstance,  rather  than  what  was  sworn  by 
my  accusers;  whom,  notwithstanding,  I beg  of  Almighty  God  to 
forgive,  as  also  the  jury,  and  all  others  who  have  been  in  any  kind 
concurring  to  my  death.’ 

Having  full  time  allowed  him,  he  spoke  much  more  to  the  same 
effect,  with  a clear  voice,  and  a countenance  remarkably  cheerful, 
declaring  his  innocence  as  to  any  plot,  his  loyalty  to  the  King,  his 
charity  to  his  neighbours,  and  expressing  his  love  and  piety  to  God 
in  fervent  prayers  and  ejaculations.  He  concluded  with  these 
prophetic  words : ‘ Though  I know  the  affairs  of  the  kingdom  are  in 
a bad  posture,  yet  I hope  they  will  be  cleared  ere  long,  and  then  the 
actors  thereof  will  be  more  fully  known.’  Just  as  he  went  off  the 
ladder,  he  was  distinctly  heard  to  say  these  words — Sweet  Jesus ^ 
receive  my  soul. 

He  suffered  at  York,  October  23,  1680,  in  the  forty-sixth  year  of 
his  age.  His  quartered  body  was  interred  by  his  friends,  and  a 
copper  plate  buried  with  him,  with  the  following  Latin  inscription : — 
‘ R.  D.  Thomas  Thwing  de  Heworth,  coll.  Anglo-Duaceni  sacerdos, 
post  annos  15  in  missione  Anglicand  transactos,  Eboraci  condemnatus 
et  martyrio  affectus  est  Octob.  23,  1680.  A duobus  falsis  testibus,  ob 
crimen  conspirationis  tunc  temporis  Catholicis  malitiose  impositum.' 


<05 


68o] 


WILLIAM  VISCOUNT  STAFFORD 


WILLIAM  VISCOUNT  STAFFORD.^ 

WILLIAM  HOWARD  VISCOUNT  STAFFORD  was 
second  son  to  Thomas  Earl  of  Arundell^  and  uncle  to  Thomas 
and  Henry  Dukes  of  Norfolk.  In  his  youth  he  was  educated 
with  all  care  and  industry  imaginable  to  improve  in  him  the  endow- 
ments of  nature  and  grace.  He  was  ever  held  to  be  of  a generous 
disposition,  very  charitable,  devout,  sober,  inoffensive  in  words,  and 
a lover  of  justice.  When  he  arrived  to  years  of  maturity  he  married 
Mary^  descended  from  the  ancient  Dukes  of  Buckingham,  grand- 
daughter to  Edward,  sister  and  sole  heiress  to  Henry  Lord  Stafford, 
to  whose  title  he  succeeded,  being  created  Baron  by  King  Charles  I. 
anno  1640,  and  soon  after  Viscount  Stafford.  During  the  time  of  the 
civil  wars  he  suffered  much  for  his  loyalty  to  the  King,  always  behav- 
ing himself  with  that  courage  and  constancy  as  became  a nobleman, 
a good  Christian,  and  a faithful  subject.  After  King  Charles  11. ’s 
restoration  he  lived  in  peace,  plenty,  and  happiness,  being  blessed 
with  a most  virtuous  lady  to  his  wife,  and  many  pious  and  dutiful 
children,  in  which  state  he  remained  till  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his 
age,  when  about  Michaelmas,  anno  1678,  he  was  accused  by  Titus 
Oates  of  the  plot,  together  with  the  Lords  Powis,  Petre,  Arundell, 
and  Bellasis. 

‘ My  Lord  Stafford,  though  he  immediately  heard  of  the  accusa- 
tion, relying  on  his  own  innocence,  never  left  his  family,  nor  with- 
drew himself  from  his  ordinary  known  acquaintance  and  affairs,  till 
on  the  25th  of  October  he  was  sent  prisoner  to  the  King's  Bench, 
and  from  thence  soon  after  to  the  Tower,  where  he  remained  above 
two  years,  and  then  was  brought  to  his  trial  before  the  House  of 
November  30, 1680,  upon  an  impeachment  in  the  name  of  the 
Commons  of  England.' 

The  first  day  was  spent  in  allegations  to  prove  a plot  in  general 
by  the  depositions  of  Oates,  Dugdale,  Smith,  Jenison,  &c.  But  as 
these  did  not  touch  my  Lord  Stafford  in  particular,  the  next  day  the 
managers  for  the  House  of  Commons,  who  were  of  the  most 
eloquent,  and  the  most  able  lawyers  in  the  nation,  began  to  attack 
my  Lord  more  directly  by  the  testimonies  of  Oates,  Dugdale,  and 
Turberville,  having  first  taken  care  that  none  of  his  counsel  should 

* Ven.  William  Howard,  Viscount  Stafford. — From  Stafford’s  Memoirs, 
published  1681;  his  printed  trial  and  speech,  etc.  in  State  Trials;  Life, 
by  Sister  M.  Francis;  Catholic  Encyclopcedia;  D.N.B. 

569 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [1680 


stand  near  to  prompt  or  advise  him  what  to  answer,  or  what  excep- 
tions to  make  to  their  depositions.  These  managers  with  all 
imaginable  art  and  malice  baited  the  good  old  gentleman  for  four 
whole  days,  who,  though  otherwise  not  the  best  qualified  as  it  was 
thought  for  such  a task,  and  upon  that  account  pitched  upon,  rather 
than  any  of  the  other  lords  then  prisoners,  to  be  first  brought  to  his 
trial ; yet — such  was  the  force  of  truth  and  innocence — made  so  good 
a defence  (notwithstanding  the  great  fatigue  of  so  many  days’  plead- 
ing and  all  the  eloquence  employed  against  him),  and  brought  such 
and  so  just  exceptions  against  the  witnesses,  and  such  proofs  of  their 
being  perjured  villains,  that  every  unprejudiced  man  that  will  but 
read  the  memoirs  of  his  trial,  must  agree  that  he  was  very  unjustly 
condemned.  However,  such  was  the  iniquity  of  the  times  and  the 
aversion  to  his  religion,  he  was  found  guilty  by  fifty-five  lords,  and 
acquitted  only  by  thirty-one,  so  that  sentence  was  passed  upon  him 
by  the  Lord  High  Steward.  ‘ His  behaviour  throughout,’  says  the 
continuator  of  Baker,  ‘ was  very  composed  and  affecting;  denying 
in  the  most  solemn  manner  and  with  all  the  marks  of  sincerity 
everything  that  had  been  sworn  against  him.’  So  this  Protestant 
historian,  who  adds  in  the  following  page,  that  at  his  death  he  be- 
haved himself  in  a manner  becoming  a goodmanand  a good  Christian, 
and  still  denied  to  thelast  the  treason  which  he  had  been  charged  with. 

‘ When  the  votes  were  passed,  the  Lord  High  Steward  declared 
to  the  prisoner.  He  was  found  guilty  of  the  high  treason  whereof  he  was 
impeached.  To  which  my  Lord  Stafford  replied,  God's  Holy  Name  he 
praised  for  it.  I confess  I am  surprised  at  it,  for  I did  not  expect  it. 
But  God's  will  he  done,  and  your  lordships' ; I will  not  murmur  at  it. 
God  forgive  those  who  have  falsely  sworn  against  me.'  Sentence  was 
pronounced  according  to  the  usual  form  as  in  cases  of  treason: 
which  my  Lord  received  with  a meek  and  resigned  countenance, 
and  then  declared  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  he  had  no 
manner  of  malice  in  his  heart  to  them  that  had  condemned  him, 
but  freely  forgave  them  all. 

After  his  return  to  the  Tower,  he  employed  the  greatest  part  of 
his  time  till  his  end  in  recollection  and  devotion,  by  which  means 
he  seemed  to  receive  a daily  increase  both  of  courage  and  comfort. 
The  hours  he  spared  from  prayer  or  necessary  repose  he  bestowed 
in  part  in  the  entertainment  of  his  friends,  amongst  whom  he  de- 
meaned himself  with  exceeding  sweetness,  candour,  and  alacrity, 
which  was  always  natural  to  him,  but  was  more  especially  remarkable 
after  he  had  an  assurance  of  his  death,  insomuch  that  he  could  not 
endure  to  see  any  in  grief  or  dejection  on  his  account. 

570 


i68o]  WILLIAM  VISCOUNT  STAFFORD 

On  Sunday^  the  19th  of  December^  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower 
came  to  my  Lord  and  told  him  he  was  sorry  he  must  bring  him  the 
ill  news  that  he  must  die  on  the  29th  of  this  month.  To  which 
message  he  courageously  replied,  I must  obey,  adding  those  words 
of  the  Psalmist,  This  is  the  day  which  our  Lord  hath  made,  let  us  rejoice 
and  be  glad  in  it.  Then  turning  to  his  disconsolate  lady.  Come, 
said  he,  let  us  go  to  our  prayers . ‘ And  it  was  truly  a matter  of  wonder,’ 
says  my  author,  ‘ to  those  who  lived  and  were  conversant  with  him 
during  this  short  remnant  of  his  life,  to  see  with  what  constancy  and 
equal  temper  of  mind  he  comported  himself,  what  interior  quiet 
and  serenity  he  seemed  to  enjoy,  what  confidence  he  expressed  in 
God,  what  charity  to  all,  even  to  the  worst  of  his  enemies. 

‘ When  the  hour  appointed  for  his  death  drew  near,  he  expected 
with  some  impatience  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Lieutenant,  telling  his 
friends  that  were  about  him,  he  ought  not  to  hasten  his  own  death, 
yet  he  thought  the  time  long  till  they  came  for  him.  A gentleman 
then  with  him  in  his  chamber  put  him  in  mind  that  it  was  a cold 
day,  and  that  his  lordship  should  do  well  to  put  on  a cloak  or  coat 
to  keep  him  warm,  he  answered  he  would;  For,  said  he,  I may 
perhaps  shake  for  cold,  but  I trust  in  God  never  for  fear.  After 
some  time  spent  in  spiritual  discourses,  at  length,  about  ten  o’clock, 
word  was  brought  him  that  Mr.  Lieutenant  waited  for  him  below; 
upon  which  he  sweetly  saluted  his  friends,  bidding  them  not  grieve 
for  him,  for  this  was  the  happiest  day  of  all  his  life.  Then  he  im- 
mediately went  down  and  walked  along  by  the  Lieutenant’s  chair 
(who  had  the  gout)  through  a lane  of  soldiers  to  the  bars  without 
the  Tower.  There  the  Lieutenant  delivered  him  to  the  Sheriffs, 
and  they  from  thence  guarded  him  to  the  scaffold  erected  on  Tower 
Hill.  Several  thousands  of  people  crowded  to  see  him,  many  civilly 
saluted  him  as  he  passed,  and  few  there  were  that  seemed  not  to  have 
a compassion  for  him. 

‘ ffaving  mounted  the  scaffold,  there  appeared  in  his  countenance 
such  an  unusual  vivacity,  such  a cheerfulness,  such  a confidence, 
such  a candour,  as  if  the  innocence  of  his  soul  had  shined  through 
his  body.  And  he  looked  death  in  the  face  with  so  undaunted  a 
resolution,  as  gave  occasion  to  many  to  say,  Grace  had  left  in  him  no 
resentments  of  nature.  After  a short  pause  viewing  the  people,  and 
finding  them  attentive  to  what  he  should  say,  he  stepped  to  one  side 
of  the  scaffold,  and  with  a graceful  air,  and  intelligible  voice,  pro- 
nounced his  last  speech,  in  which. 

First,  he  protested  in  the  presence  of  the  eternal  God,  and  upon 
his  salvation,  that  he  was  entirely  innocent  of  the  treason  laid  to  his 

571 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i68of| 

charge.  Then  giving  thanks  to  the  Divine  Majesty  for  the  long  1 
time  He  had  given  him  to  prepare  for  death,  he  declared,  that  having  I 
well  considered  what  could  be  the  original  cause  of  his  having  been  r 
so  unjustly  accused  and  condemned  to  death,  he  was  convinced  that  i 
it  was  no  other  than  his  religion,  of  which  he  said  he  had  no  reason 
to  be  ashamed,  for  that  it  taught  nothing  but  the  right  worship  of 
God  and  due  subordination  to  the  King,  and  the  temporal  laws  of 
the  kingdom.  That  he  most  firmly  believed  all  the  articles  that  the 
Catholic  Church  believes  and  teaches,  as  most  consonant  to  the  ' 
Word  of  God;  and  that  with  the  same  Catholic  Church  from  his  Ti 
heart  he  detested  all  king-killing  doctrine,  that  his  principles  were 
entirely  loyal.  And  as  for  indulgences,  dispensations,  or  pardons,  , I 
pretended  by  the  adversaries  of  the  Church  to  be  given  to  murder,  | 
rebel,  lie,  forswear , or  commit  any  other  crime  whatsoever,  he  pro-  || 
fessed  in  the  presence  of  God,  and  that  without  any  equivocation  or  I 
mental  reservation  whatsoever,  that  he  was  never  taught  any  such  ?l 
thing,  nor  believed,  nor  practised  any  such  thing.  That  if  he  had 
been  really  guilty  of  any  of  those  crimes  of  which  he  was  accused,  he  ^ 
should  have  been  worse  than  a fool,  and  his  own  self-murderer  into  I 
the  bargain,  if  he  had  not  acknowledged  his  guilt,  since  by  so  doing  I 
he  might  have  saved  his  life;  ‘ But  had  I a thousand  lives,’  said  he,  I 
I would  lose  them  all  rather  than  falsely  accuse  either  myself  or 
any  other  whatsoever.’  * I 

Then  again  declaring  his  abhorrence  of  all  treason  and  murder,  ! 
and  that  to  his  knowledge  he  had  never  spoke  to,  or  seen  Oates,  or  , 
Turberville  till  his  trial,  or  ever  spoke  with  Dugdale  about  any 
treasonable  matters  (whom  nevertheless  he  heartily  forgave,  and  * 
all  others  that  had  any  hand  in  his  death),  he  concluded  his  speech  | 
as  follows: — 5 

‘ I shall  end  with  my  hearty  prayers  for  the  happiness  of  his  | 
Majesty,  that  he  may  enjoy  all  the  happiness  in  this  world,  and  in  “ 
the  world  to  come,  and  govern  his  people  according  to  the  laws  of  ^ 
God ; and  that  the  people  may  be  sensible  what  a blessing  God  hath 
so  miraculously  given  them,  and  obey  him  as  they  ought.  I ask 
pardon  with  a prostrate  heart  of  Almighty  God  for  all  the  great 
offences  I have  committed  against  the  Divine  Majesty;  and  hope, 
through  the  merits  and  passion  of  Christ  Jesus,  to  obtain  everlasting 
happiness;  into  whose  hands  I commit  my  spirit,  asking  pardon  of 
any  person  that  I have  done  any  wrong  to,  &c. 

‘ I beseech  God  not  to  revenge  my  innocent  blood  upon  the 
nation,  or  on  those  that  were  the  cause  of  it,  with  my  last 
breath;  I do  with  my  last  breath  truly  assert  my  innocency,  and 

572 


i68o] 


WILLIAM  VISCOUNT  STAFFORD 


hope  the  omnipotent,  all-seeing,  just  God  will  deal  with  me 
accordingly.’ 

‘ His  speech  being  ended,  he  delivered  several  written  copies 
of  it  to  the  Sheriffs,  &c.  Then  he  returned  to  the  middle  of  the 
scaffold ; where  encompassed  by  his  Catholic  friends  he  kneeled  down, 
and  reverently  making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  pronounced  aloud  with 
exceeding  devotion,  an  excellent  prayer  adapted  to  his  present 
circumstance,  to  which  he  joined  several  pious  ejaculations,  wherein 
with  singular  compunction,  and  abundance  of  tears,  he  implored 
the  Divine  mercy  and  pardon  for  his  sins  past.  He  recommended 
his  soul  to  his  dear  Redeemer  Christ;  he  blessed  His  holy  name, 
and  offered  his  life  to  Him  a willing  sacrifice  of  gratitude,  piety, 
and  love. 

‘ Remaining  still  on  his  knees,  he  again  protested  his  innocence 
with  all  the  asseverations  a dying  Christian  is  capable  of  making. 
Then  rising  up  he  a second  time  saluted  the  people,  telling  them  they 
had  as  good  and  gracious  a King  as  ever  reigned;  and  earnestly 
exhorting  them  to  be  faithful  and  constant  in  their  allegiance  to 
him;  praying  to  God  heartily  to  bless  his  Majesty,  and  preserve  him 
from  his  enemies ; to  bless  the  nation ; to  bless  and  be  with  all  them 
there  present,  especially  all  loyal  subjects;  declaring  again  his  own 
innocence;  desiring  the  prayers  of  all  good  Christians;  begging 
God’s  mercy  and  pardon  for  his  sins;  asking  forgiveness  of  all, 
and  beseeching  the  Divine  goodness  not  to  revenge  his  innocent 
blood  upon  the  whole  kingdom ; no  not  upon  those  by  whose  perjuries 
he  was  brought  thither,  to  whom  he  wished  from  his  heart  no  other 
hurt  than  that  they  should  repent  and  tell  truth. 

‘ Most  of  the  auditors  seemed  to  be  touched  with  a sensible 
compassion  for  him;  some  as  he  spoke  put  off  their  hats  and  bowed 
to  him,  in  sign  that  they  agreed  to  what  he  said;  others  by  distinct 
acclamations  answered.  We  believe  you,  my  Lord,  God  bless  you,  my 
Lord,  &c.  Afterwards  he  applied  himself  to  his  friends  about  him, 
whom  he  lovingly  embraced,  and  with  a pleasant  voice  and  cheerful 
aspect  took  his  last  leave  of  them  for  this  world.  Then  being  made 
ready,  he  knelt  down  before  the  block,  and  making  the  sign  of  the 
cross  recommended  himself  with  great  devotion  to  the  Divine 
mercy.  He  kissed  the  block,  and  used  several  devout  ejaculations, 
such  as.  Sweet  Jesu,  receive  my  soul;  Into  thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend 
my  spirit,  &c.  Then  laid  his  head  down  upon  the  block,  continuing 
still  in  prayer,  and  expecting  the  stroke  of  death,  with  wonderful 
courage  and  constancy,  not  shewing  the  least  sign  of  fear,  or  seeming 
in  the  least  to  quake  or  tremble.  After  he  had  laid  thus  a good 

573 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i68i  I 

] 

space,  finding  that  the  headsman  delayed  the  execution  of  his  office, 
he  once  more  raised  himself  up  upon  his  knees,  and  with  a grave  ' 
and  serene  aspect  asked.  Why  they  stayed?  It  was  answered.  For  a \ 
sign.  What  sign  will  you  give^  Sir?  He  replied.  None  at  all;  take 
your  own  time;  God's  will  be  done;  I am  ready.  The  headsman  said,  I 
/ hope  you  forgive  me;  he  answered,  / do.  Then  blessing  himself  ; 
again  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  he  reposed  his  head  upon  the  block,  i 
which  with  one  Slow  was  severed  from  his  body.  He  was  interred  ] 
privately  in  the  Tower.  j 

He  lived  sixty-eight  years,  and  suffered  on  the  feast  of  St.  | 
Thomas  of  Canterbury,  December  29,  1680.  ■ 

[ 1681.  ] 

DR.  OLIVER  PLUNKET,  Archbishop  of 
Armagh,  Primate  of  Ireland.* 

This  apostolic  man  was  descended  of  an  illustrious  family  in 
the  ’kingdom  of  Ireland;  he  was  educated  in  the  Catholic 
religion,  and  finding  himself  called  to  the  ecclesiastical  state, 
went  abroad  into  Italy,  and  there  spent  almost  twenty  years  at  Rome, 
partly  in  studying  and  partly  in  teaching  divinity,  where  also  he 
received  the  degree  of  doctor  in  that  faculty.  And  having  acquired 
a general  esteem  by  his  virtue  and  learning,  the  See  of  Armagh 
falling  vacant,  he  was  chosen  and  consecrated  to  it,  about  the  year 
1669,  and  sent  over  to  Ireland  to  govern  the  flock  committed  to  his 
charge,  which  he  did  in  such  a manner  as  to  give  great  edification  to 
the  Catholics,  and  to  be  much  esteemed  by  the  very  Protestants; 
in  proof  of  which  we  shall  here  put  down  what  some  Protestant 
historians  have  written  of  him,  upon  occasion  of  his  trial  and  con- 
demnation. 

And  first  Dr.  Burnet,  who  was  never  suspected  of  telling  a lie 
in  favour  of  a Papist,  in  his  History  of  his  own  Times  (p.  502), 
acquaints  us  from  the  testimony  of  the  Earl  of  Essex,  that  Plunket 
was  a wise  and  sober  man,  who  was  for  living  quietly  and  in  due 
submission  to  the  Government,  without  engaging  in  intrigues  of 
State ; and  that  he  was  condemned  only  upon  the  testimony  of  some 

* Blessed  Oliver  Plunket. — From  his  printed  trial  and  speech;  Father 
Corker’s  Letters;  and  the  historians  of  those  times.  Since  his  beatification, 
in  1908,  there  have  been  new  editions  of  the  Memoir  hy  P.  F.  Cardinal 
Moran,  &c. ; see  also  the  Downside  Review  for  1908  and  1921. 

574 


i68i] 


DR.  OLIVER  PLUNKET 


lewd  priests  whom  he  had  censured,  and  other  evidence,  brutal 
profligate  men  who  found  how  good  a trade  swearing  was  in  England^ 
and  thereupon  came  over  and  gave  evidence  of  a plot  also  in  Ireland. 
With  Dr.  Burnet  Mr.  Eachard  also  agrees  in  his  History  of  England^ 
where  he  tells  us  that  Mr.  Plunket  had  an  attestation  of  his  good 
behaviour  in  Ireland^  under  the  hands  of  the  Earl  of  Essex  and  the 
Lord  Berkley,  when  they  were  Lords-Lieutenants  of  that  kingdom. 
That  the  accusation  against  him  looked  very  romantic,  not  to  say 
malicious,  yet  the  witnesses  were  so  perfect  and  so  positive  in  their 
oaths,  that  the  jury  found  him  guilty  of  high  treason,  and  sentence 
passed  upon  him  accordingly.  ‘ That  he  has  been  assured  by  an 
unquestionable  hand,  that  the  Earl  of  Essex  himself  was  so  sensible 
of  this  poor  man’s  hardship,  that  he  generously  applied  to  the  King 
for  a pardon,  and  told  his  Majesty  the  witnesses  must  needs  be 
perjured,  for  these  things  sworn  against  him  could  not  possibly 
be  true.  Upon  which  the  King  in  a passion  said.  Why  did  you  not 
attest  this  at  his  trial?  It  would  have  done  him  good  then.  I dare 
not  pardon  any  one.  And  so  concluded  with  the  same  kind  of  answer 
he  had  given  another  person  formerly : His  blood  be  upon  your  head, 
and  not  upon  mine  I 

But  the  continuator  of  Baker's  Chronicle  is  still  more  particular 
in  his  account  of  this  Catholic  prelate.  ‘ In  the  meantime,  says  he, 
came  on  the  trial  of  Dr.  Oliver  Plunket,  a Popish  titular  Archbishop 
of  Armagh,  who  called  himself  Primate  of  all  Ireland.  He  was  a 
worthy  and  good  man,  who,  notwithstanding  the  high  title  given 
him,  was  in  a very  mean  state  of  life,  as  having  nothing  to  subsist 
on,  but  the  contributions  of  a few  poor  clergy  of  his  own  religion 
in  the  province  of  Ulster,  who  having  but  little  themselves  could 
not  spare  much  to  him.  In  these  low  circumstances  he  lived,  though 
meanly,  quietly  and  contentedly,  meddling  with  nothing  but  the 
concerns  of  his  function,  and  dissuading  all  about  him  from  entering 
into  any  turbulent  or  factious  intrigues.  But  while  the  Popish 
plot  was  warm,  some  lewd  Irish  priests,  and  others  of  that  nation, 
hearing  that  England  was  disposed  to  hearken  to  good  swearers, 
thought  themselves  qualified  for  the  employment.  So  they  came 
over  with  an  account  of  a plot  in  Ireland,  and  were  well  received  by 
Lord  Shaftesbury.  They  were  also  examined  by  the  Parliament, 
and  what  they  said  was  believed.  They  were  very  profligate 
wretches,  and  some  of  the  priests  among  them  had  been  censured 
by  Plunket  for  their  lewdness;  so  partly  out  of  revenge,  and  partly 
to  keep  themselves  in  business,  they  charged  a plot  upon  that  inno- 
cent quiet  man;  so  that  he  was  sent  for  over  and  brought  to  trial. 

575 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i68i 


The  evidences  swore,  that  upon  his  being  made  Primate  of  Ireland, 
he  engaged  to  raise  sixty  or  seventy  thousand  Irish,  to  be  ready  to 
join  with  the  French  to  destroy  the  Protestant  religion,  and  to  get 
Dublin,  Londonderry,  and  all  the  seaports  into  their  hands;  and  that, 
besides  the  French  army,  there  was  a Spanish  army  to  join  with 
them,  and  that  the  Irish  clergy  were  to  contribute  to  this  design. 
Plunket  in  his  defence  alleged  the  improbability  of  all  that  was  sworn 
against  him;  which  was  apparent  enough.  He  alleged  that  the 
Irish  clergy  were  so  poor,  that  he  himself,  who  was  the  head  of  a 
whole  province,  lived  in  a little  thatched  house  with  only  one 
servant,  having  never  above  £60  a year  income;  so  that  neither  he 
nor  they  could  be  thought  very  likely  to  carry  on  a design  of  this 
nature.  But  the  fact  being  positively  sworn  against  him,  and  the 
jury  unacquainted  with  the  witnesses’  characters,  and  the  scene  of 
action,  he  was  brought  in  guilty  and  condemned.  ’Tis  said  that  the 
Earl  of  Essex  was  so  sensible  of  the  injustice  done  him,  &c.,  as  above.’ 
So  far  this  Protestant  historian. 

But  now  let  us  hear  what  a Catholic,  and  one  who  was  intimately 
acquainted  with  him  in  the  last  scene  of  his  life,  viz.,  the  learned 
and  truly  religious  Father  James  Corker,  writes  of  him  in  a letter 
penned  after  his  death: — ‘ I cannot  as  yet,’  says  he,  ‘ pretend  to  give 
you  (as  you  desire)  a description  of  the  virtues  of  the  glorious  Arch- 
bishop and  Martyr,  Dr.  Oliver  Plunket.  I am  promised  the  par- 
ticulars of  his  life  and  actions,  both  at  Rome,  where  he  studied  and 
taught  almost  twenty  years;  and  in  Ireland,  where  he  exercised  his 
episcopal  or  rather  apostolical  function,  till  he  became  a champion 
of  faith;  but  these  particulars  are  not  as  yet  arrived  at  my  hands. 
After  his  transportation  hither,  he  was,  as  you  know,  close  confined, 
and  secluded  from  all  conversation,  save  that  of  his  keepers,  until 
his  arraignment:  so  that  here  also  I am  much  in  the  dark,  and  can 
only  inform  you  of  what  I learned,  as  it  were  by  chance,  from  the 
mouths  of  the  said  keepers,  viz.,  that  he  spent  his  time  in  almost 
continual  prayer;  that  he  fasted  usually  three  or  four  days  a week, 
with  nothing  but  bread;  that  he  appeared  to  them  always  modestly 
cheerful,  without  any  anguish  or  concern  at  his  danger,  or  strait 
confinement;  that  by  his  sweet  and  pious  demeanour,  he  attracted 
an  esteem  and  reverence  from  those  few  that  came  near  him.  When 
he  was  arraigned,  ’tis  true,  I could  write  to  him,  and  he  to  me;  but 
our  letters  were  read,  transcribed,  and  examined  by  the  officers, 
before  they  were  delivered  to  either  of  us.  For  which  cause  we  had 
little  other  communication  than  what  was  necessar)^  in  order  to  his 
trial.  But  the  trial  being  ended,  and  he  condemned,  his  man  had 

576 


i68i]  DR.  OLIVER  PLUNKET 

leave  to  wait  on  him  alone  in  his  chamber,  by  whose  means  we  had 
free  intercourse  by  letters  to  each  other.  And  now  it  was  I clearly 
perceived  the  Spirit  of  God  in  him,  and  those  lovely  fruits  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  charity,  joy,  peace,  &c.,  transparent  in  his  soul.  And 
not  only  I,  but  many  other  Catholics,  who  came  to  receive  his  bene- 
diction, and  were  eye-witnesses  (a  favour  not  denied  to  us)  can 
testify,  there  appeared  in  his  words,  in  his  actions,  in  his  coun- 
tenance something  so  divinely  elevated,  such  a composed  mixture 
of  cheerfulness,  constancy,  love,  sweetness,  and  candour,  as  mani- 
festly denoted  the  Divine  goodness  had  made  him  fit  for  a victim 
and  destined  him  for  heaven.  None  saw  or  came  near  him,  but 
received  new  comfort,  new  fervour,  new  desires  to  please,  serve  and 
suffer  for  Christ  Jesus  by  his  very  presence.  Concerning  the 
manner  and  state  of  his  prayer,  he  seemed  most  devoted  to  Catholic 
Sentences  taken  out  of  Scripture,  the  Divine  Office,  and  Missal, 
which  he  made  me  procure  for  him  three  months  before  he  died; 
upon  these  sentences  he  let  his  soul  dilate  itself  in  love,  following 
herein  the  sweet  impulse  and  dictates  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  reading 
his  prayers  writ  rather  in  his  heart,  than  in  his  book,  according  to 
that — unctio  ejus  docet  vos  de  omnibus  (St.  John  ii.  27).  For  this 
reason  I suppose  it  was,  that  when  with  great  humility  he  sent  me 
his  last  speech  to  correct,  he  also  wrote  me  word,  he  would  not  at 
the  place  of  execution  make  use  of  any  other  set  form  or  method  of 
prayer,  than  the  Pater  noster^  Ave  Maria^  Credo^  Misere)'e^  In  manus 
tuas  Domine,  &c.,  and  for  the  rest,  he  would  breathe  forth  his  soul 
in  such  prayers  and  ejaculations  as  God  Almighty  should  then 
inspire  him  withal.  He  continually  endeavoured  to  improve  and 
advance  himself  in  the  purity  of  divine  love,  and  by  consequence 
also  in  contrition  for  his  sins  past,  of  his  deficiency  in  both  which 
this  humble  soul  complained  to  me  as  the  only  thing  that  troubled 
him.  This  love  had  extinguished  in  him  all  fear  of  death,  perfecta 
charitas  foras  mittit  timorem.  A lover  feareth  not,  but  rejoiceth  at 
the  approach  of  the  beloved.  Hence  the  joy  of  our  holy  martyr 
seemed  still  to  increase  with  his  danger,  and  was  fully  accomplished 
by  an  assurance  of  death.  The  very  night  before  he  died,  being  now 
as  it  were  at  heart’s  ease,  he  went  to  bed  at  eleven  o’clock,  and  slept 
quietly  and  soundly  till  four  in  the  morning;  at  which  time  his  man, 
who  lay  in  the  room  with  him,  awaked  him:  so  little  concern  had  he 
upon  his  spirit,  or  rather  so  much  had  the  loveliness  of  the  end 
beautified  the  horror  of  the  passage  to  it.  After  he  certainly  kne^w 
God  Almighty  had  chosen  him  to  the  crown  and  dignity  of  martyr- 
dom, he  continually  studied  how  to  divest  himself  of  himself,  and 

577  2 o 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i68i 


become  more  and  more  an  entire  pleasing  and  perfect  holocaust: 
to  which  end,  as  he  gave  up  his  soul  with  all  its  faculties  to  the 
conduct  of  God;  so,  for  God’s  sake,  he  resigned  the  care  and  disposal 
of  his  body  to  unworthy  me,  &c.  But  I neither  can  nor  dare  under- 
take to  describe  unto  you,  the  signal  virtues  of  this  blessed  martyr. 
There  appeared  in  him  something  beyond  expression,  something 
more  than  human;  the  most  savage  and  hard-hearted  people  were 
mollified  and  attendered  at  his  sight ; many  Protestants  in  my  hear- 
ing wished  their  souls  in  the  same  state  with  his:  all  believed  him 
innocent,  and  he  made  Catholics,  even  the  most  timorous,  in  love 
with  death.  When  he  was  carried  out  of  the  press-yard  to  execution, 
he  turned  him  about  to  our  chamber  windows,  and  with  a pleasant 
aspect  and  elevated  hands  gave  us  his  benediction.  How  he  com- 
posed himself  after  he  was  taken  from  thence,  you  yourself  can  give 
a more  exact  account  than  I,’  &c.  So  far  Father  Corker,  to  whom 
the  holy  prelate  applied  himself  for  the  affairs  of  his  conscience 
whilst  he  was  preparing  for  his  exit,  and  who  was  consequently 
the  best  acquainted  with  his  interior. 

Archbishop  Plunket  was  arraigned  at  the  King's  Bench  bar. 
May  the  3d,  1681,  but  not  brought  to  his  trial  till  the  8th  of  June. 
He  had  been  then  a year  and  a half  in  prison.  He  was  found  guilty 
by  the  jury  upon  the  testimony  of  those  perjured  wretches  that 
appeared  against  him.  When  he  heard  the  verdict  he  cried  out, 
Deo  gratias — God  be  thanked.  The  Lord  Chief  Justice,  before  he 
pronounced  sentence,  wished  him  to  renounce  his  false  religion,  as 
he  called  it,  against  which  he  most  bitterly  inveighed  as  ten  times 
worse  than  Paganism ; but  the  prisoner  knew  better  what  his  religion 
was  than  the  judge,  and  gave  his  Lordship  to  understand  that  he 
was  not  disposed  to  alter  it  upon  any  considerations.  He  added: 
‘ If  I were  a man  that  had  no  care  of  my  conscience,  I might  have 
saved  my  life,  for  I was  offered  it  by  divers  people  here,  if  I would 
but  confess  my  own  guilt  and  accuse  others;  but,  my  Lord,  I had 
rather  die  ten  thousand  deaths  than  wrongfully  accuse  any  body. 
And  the  time  will  come  when  your  Lordship  will  see  what  these 
witnesses  are  that  have  come  in  against  me.  I do  assure  your 
Lordship,  if  I were  a man  that  had  not  good  principles,  I might 
easily  have  saved  my  own  life;  but  I had  rather  die  ten  thousand 
deaths  than  wrongfully  to  take  away  one  farthing  of  any  man’s  goods, 
one  day  of  his  liberty,  or  one  minute  of  his  life.’  After  he  had  said 
this,  sentence  was  pronounced  against  him  in  the  usual  form  on  the 
15th  of  June.  After  condemnation  he  wrote  the  following  letter  to 
Father  Corker: — 


578 


i68i] 


DR.  OLIVER  PLUNKET 


‘ Dear  Sir, — 

‘ I am  obliged  to  you  for  the  favour  and  charity  of  the 
20th,  and  for  all  your  former  benevolences;  and  whereas  I cannot  in 
this  country  remunerate  you,  with  God’s  grace  I hope  to  be  grateful 
in  chat  kingdom  which  is  properly  our  country.  And  truly  God 
gave  me  (though  unworthy  of  it)  that  grace  to  have  for  tern  animum 
mortis  terrors  carentem — a courage  fearless  of  death.  I have  many 
sins  to  answer  for  before  the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  High  Bench, 
where  no  false  witnesses  can  have  audience.  But  as  for  the  bench 
yesterday  I am  not  guilty  of  any  crime  there  objected  to  me.  I 
would  I could  be  so  clear  at  the  Bench  of  the  All  Powerful.  Ut  ut 
sit,  there  is  one  comfort  that  He  cannot  be  deceived,  because  He  is 
omniscious  and  knows  all  secrets,  even  of  hearts ; and  cannot  deceive, 
because  all  goodness;  so  that  I may  be  sure  of  a fair  trial,  and  will 
get  time  sufficient  to  call  witnesses;  nay,  the  Judge  will  bring  them 
in  a moment,  if  there  will  be  need  of  any.  You  and  your  comrades’ 
prayers  will  be  powerful  advocates  at  that  Bench.  Here  none  are 
admitted  for  « Your  affectionate  friend, 

‘ Oliver  Plunket.’ 

On  the  ist  oijuly,  i68i,  he  was  drawn  from  Newgate  to  Tyhurn, 
on  which  occasion  the  serenity  of  his  countenance,  the  courage, 
cheerfulness,  and  piety  with  which  he  went  to  meet  death,  gave 
great  edification  to  the  spectators.  At  the  place  of  execution  he 
spoke  as  follows: — 

‘ I have  some  few  days  past  abided  my  trial  at  the  King^s  Bench, 
and  now  very  soon  I must  hold  up  my  hand  at  the  King  of  Kings’ 
Bench,  and  appear  before  a Judge  who  cannot  be  deceived  by  false 
witnesses  nor  corrupted  allegations,  for  He  knoweth  the  secrets  of 
hearts.  Neither  can  He  deceive  any,  nor  give  an  unjust  sentence, 
nor  be  misled  by  respect  of  persons.  He  being  all  goodness  and  a 
most  just  Judge,  will  infallibly  decree  an  eternal  reward  for  all 
good  works,  and  condign  punishment  for  the  smallest  transgressions 
against  His  commandments.  Which  being  a most  certain  and 
undoubted  truth,  it  would  be  a wicked  act,  and  contrary  to  my 
perpetual  welfare,  that  I should  now  by  declaring  any  thing  contrary 
to  truth,  commit  a detestable  sin,  for  which  within  a very  short  time 
I must  receive  sentence  of  everlasting  damnation,  after  which  there 
is  no  reprieve  or  hope  of  pardon.  I will  therefore  confess  the  truth 
without  any  equivocation,  and  make  use  of  the  words  according  to 
their  accustomed  signification;  assuring  you,  moreover,  that  I am 
of  that  certain  persuasion  that  no  power,  not  only  upon  earth,  but 

579 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i68i 


also  in  heaven,  can  dispense  with  me,  or  give  me  leave  to  make  a 
false  protestation.  And  I protest  upon  the  word  of  a dying  man, 
and  as  I hope  for  salvation  at  the  hands  of  the  Supreme  Judge,  that 
I will  declare  the  naked  truth  with  all  candour  and  sincerity  ; and 
that  my  affairs  may  be  better  known  to  all  the  world. 

‘ ’Tis  to  be  observed,  that  I have  been  accused  in  Ireland  of 
treason  and  praemunire : and  that  there  I was  arraigned  and  brought 
to  my  trial;  but  the  prosecutors,  men  of  flagitious  and  infamous 
lives,  perceiving  that  I had  records  and  witnesses,  who  would 
evidently  convince  them,  and  clearly  shew  my  innocency  and  their 
wickedness,  they  voluntarily  absented  themselves,  and  came  to  this 
city  to  procure  that  I should  be  brought  hither  to  my  trial  (where 
the  crimes  objected  were  not  committed),  where  the  jury  did  not 
know  me  or  the  qualities  of  my  accusers,  and  were  not  informed 
of  several  other  circumstances  conducing  to  a fair  trial.  Here  after 
six  months’  close  imprisonment,  or  there  abouts,  I was  brought  to 
the  bar  the  3d  of  May^  and  arraigned  for  a crime  for  which  I was 
before  arraigned  in  Ireland:  a strange  resolution,  a rare  fact,  of  which 
you  will  hardly  And  a precedent  these  five  hundred  years  past.  But 
whereas  my  witnesses  and  records  were  in  Ireland^  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice  gave  me  five  weeks’  time  to  get  them  brought  hither:  but  by 
reason  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  seas,  of  wind  and  weather,  and  of 
the  difficulty  of  getting  copies  of  records,  and  bringing  many 
witnesses  from  several  counties  in  Irela^id,  and  for  many  other 
impediments,  of  which  ajfidavit  was  made,  I could  not  at  the  end  of 
five  weeks  get  the  records  and  witnesses  brought  hither.  I therefore 
begged  for  twelve  days  more,  that  I might  be  in  readiness  for  my 
trial,  which  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  denied;  and  so  I was  brought  to 
my  trial  and  exposed,  as  it  were  with  my  hands  tied,  to  these  merciless 
perjurers,’  &c. 

Then  having  numbered  up  the  heads  of  the  accusation  against 
him,  and  refuted  them  by  the  most  solemm  protestations  of  his 
innocency,  and  by  shewing  not  only  the  improbability,  but  even 
the  impossibility  of  his  being  guilty  of  what  was  laid  to  his  charge, 
he  goes  on : — 

‘ You  see  therefore  what  condition  I am  in,  and  you  have  heard 
what  protestation  I have  made  of  innocency,  and  I hope  you  will 
believe  the  words  of  a dying  man.  And  that  you  may  be  the  more 
induced  to  give  me  credit,  I assure  you  that  a great  peer  sent  me 
notice.  That  he  woidd  save  my  life,  if  I would  accuse  others:  but  I 
answered  That  I never  knew  of  any  conspirators  in  Ireland,  hut  such 
as  were  publicly  known  outlaws,  and  that  to  save  my  life,  I would  not 

580 


i68i] 


DR.  OLIVER  PLUNKET 


falsely  accuse  any  ^ nor  prejudice  my  own  soul.  Quid  prodest  homini^ 
See.  To  take  away  any  man’s  life  or  goods  wrongfully  ill-becometh 
any  Christian,  especially  a man  of  my  calling,  being  a clergyman 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  also  an  unworthy  prelate,  which  I do 
openly  confess ; neither  will  I deny  to  have  exercised  in  Ireland  the 
functions  of  a Catholic  prelate,  as  long  as  there  was  any  connivance 
or  toleration;  and  by  preaching,  and  teaching,  and  statutes,  to  have 
endeavoured  to  bring  the  clergy  (of  which  I had  a care)  to  a due 
comportment  according  to  their  calling;  and  though  thereby  I did 
but  my  duty,  yet  some  who  would  not  amend  had  a prejudice  for 
me,  and  especially  my  accusers,  to  whom  I did  endeavour  to  do 
good ; I mean  the  clergymen : as  for  the  four  laymen  who  appeared 
against  me,  I was  never  acquainted  with  them.  But  you  see  how  I 
am  rewarded,  and  how  by  false  oaths  they  have  brought  me  to  this 
untimely  death;  which  wicked  act  being  a defect  of  persons,  ought 
not  to  reflect  upon  the  Order  of  St.  Francis^  or  upon  the  Roman 
Catholic  clergy,  it  being  well-known  that  there  was  a Judas  amongst 
the  twelve  apostles,  and  a wicked  man  called  Nicholas  amongst  the 
seven  deacons ; and  even  as  one  of  the  said  deacons,  viz.,  holy  Stephen, 
did  pray  for  those  who  stoned  him  to  death,  so  do  I for  those  who 
with  perjuries  spill  my  innocent  blood,  saying,  as  St.  Stephen  did, 

0 Lord,  lay  not  this  sin  to  them.  I do  heartily  forgive  them,  and  also 
the  judges  who,  by  denying  me  sufficient  time  to  bring  my  records 
and  witnesses  from  Ireland,  did  expose  my  life  to  evident  danger., 

1 do  also  forgive  all  those  who  had  a hand  in  bringing  me  from 
Ireland  to  be  tried  here,  where  it  was  morally  impossible  for  me  to 
have  a fair  trial.  I do  finally  forgive  all  who  did  concur  directly 
or  indirectly  to  take  away  my  life ; and  I ask  forgiveness  of  all  those 
whom  I ever  offended  by  thought,  word,  or  deed.  I beseech  the 
All-Powerful,  that  His  Divine  Majesty  grant  our  King,  Queen,  the 
Duke  of  Y»ork,  and  all  the  royal  family,  health,  long  life,  and  all 
prosperity  in  this  world,  and  in  the  next  everlasting  felicity. 

‘ Now  that  I have  shewed  sufficiently  (as  I think)  how  innocent 
I am  of  any  plot  or  conspiracy,  I would  I were  able,  with  the  like 
truth,  to  clear  my  self  of  high  crimes  committed  against  the  Divine 
Majesty’s  commandments  (often  transgressed  by  me),  for  which  I 
am  sorry  with  all  my  heart ; and  if  I should  or  could  live  a thousand 
years,  I have  a firm  resolution  and  a strong  purpose,  by  your  grace, 
O my  God,  never  to  offend  you ; and  I beseech  your  Divine  Majesty, 
by  the  merits  of  Christ,  and  by  the  intercession  of  His  Blessed 
Mother  and  all  the  holy  angels  and  saints,  to  forgive  me  my  sins, 
and  to  grant  my  soul  eternal  rest.’ 

581 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS  [i68i 


After  he  had  ended  his  speech,  he  recited  the  psalm  Miserere  mei 
Deus,  and  other  devout  aspirations;  and  his  cap  being  drawn  over 
his  eyes,  he  continued  recommending  his  happy  soul  into  the  hands 
of  his  Saviour,  till  the  cart  was  drawn  away.  He  was  suffered  to 
hang  till  he  expired,  and  then  was  cut  down,  and  bowelled;  his 
heart  and  bowels  were  thrown  into  the  fire;  his  body  was  begged 
of  the  King,  and  was  interred  (all  but  the  head  and  arms  to  the 
elbows,  which  were  disposed  of  elsewhere)  in  the  churchyard  of 
St.  Giles-in-the-Fields ; with  a copper  plate  on  his  breast  with  the 
following  inscription: — ‘ In  this  tomh  resteth  the  body  of  the  Right 
Reverend  Oliver  Plunket,  Archbishop  of  Armagh,  and  Primate  of 
Ireland,  who  in  hatred  of  religion  was  accused  of  high  treason  by  false 
witnesses^  and  for  the  same  condemned  and  executed  at  Tyburn,  his 
heart  and  bowels  being  taken  oiit^  and  cast  into  the  fire.  He  suffered 
martyrdom  with  constancy,  the  ist  of  July,  i68i,  in  the  reign  of  King 
Charles  //.’ 

Four  years  after  his  body  was  taken  up  and  found  entire.  It 
was  sent  abroad  to  Lambspring;  where  Abbot  Corker,  1693,  erected 
over  it  a handsome  monument,  with  this  Latin  inscription: — 

Reliquice  sanctce  memorice  Oliveri  Plunket,  Archiepiscopi  Arma- 
chani,  primatis , qui  in  odium  Catholicce  fidei  laqueo  suspensus, 

extractis  visceribus  et  in  ignem  projectis,  Celebris  martyr  occubuit 
Londini,  primo  die  Julij  {stylo  veteri),  anno  salutis,  1681. 


I find  no  more  Catholic  blood  spilt  in  England  for  religion  during 
the  three  remaining  years  of  King  Charleses  reign.  For  now  the 
pretended  Popish  plot  was  clearly  discovered  to  be  a mere  sham,  and 
to  have  been  imposed  upon  the  nation,  in  order  to  usher  in  a real 
conspiracy  of  some  that  called  themselves  true  Protestant§ ; concern- 
ing which  the  reader  may  consult  the  history  of  the  Rye-House  Plot, 
written  by  a Protestant  prelate.  Dr.  Sprat,  Bishop  of  Rochester. 
However,  the  prisons  still  were  crowded  with  Catholics,  as  well 
priests  as  laity,  till  the  latter  end  of  this  reign;  even  the  lords  that 
were  kept  prisoners  in  the  Tower  could  not  obtain  to  be  bailed  out 
till  1683;  in  the  meantime,  the  Lord  Petre  died  prisoner  in  the 
Tower,  protesting  to  the  last  his  innocency  of  all  that  had  been  laid 
to  his  charge. 

As  to  the  rest,  we  have  not  been  able  to  give  an  account,  in  these 
Memoirs,  of  all  the  sufferings  of  Catholics,  either  in  this  or  the 
former  persecutions;  nor  so  much  as  to  set  down  the  names  either 

582 


i68i] 


DR.  OLIVER  PLUNKET 


of  the  priests,  or  laymen,  or  women,  who  have  endured  imprison- 
ment, banishment,  loss  of  goods,  and  innumerable  other  vexations 
for  their  conscience;  the  number  of  such  sufferers  has  been  so  great, 
that  it  would  be  an  impossible  task  to  record  so  much  as  their  names. 
It  may  suffice  to  say,  that  few  of  that  profession  escaped  feeling 
(more  or  less)  the  rage  of  the  persecutors;  and  that  their  constancy 
and  patience  in  their  sufferings  was  little  inferior  to  that  of  the  most 
heroic  sufferers  of  the  primitive  ages. 

Since  the  foregoing  sheets  were  printed,  we  have  been  informed 
of  one  priest  more  sentenced  to  death  for  his  character  in  this  latter 
part  of  King  Charles  II. ’s  reign;  and  this  was  the  Reverend  Father 
Atwood^  of  the  holy  Order  of  St.  Dominic.  He  was  reprieved,  and 
as  some  say  taken  off  the  hurdle  to  his  great  grief.  He  died  in  peace 
in  1704. 

Since  the  accession  of  King  James  1 1,  to  the  throne,  though  from 
time  to  time  the  Catholics  have  been  exposed  to  some  passing  storms, 
yet  by  God’s  mercy  the  persecution  has  never  raged  so  far  as  to  come 
to  blood.  The  most  remarkable  sufferer,  on  account  of  his  priestly 
character,  was  the  Reverend  Father  Paul  of  St.  Francis^  alias  Matthew 
Atkinson,  O.S.F.  He  was  a native  of  Yorkshire,  and  entered  into 
the  Order  of  St.  Francis  in  the  English  convent  at  Doway,  the  27th 
of  December,  1673,  being  then  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  was 
sent  upon  the  English  mission  in  1687,  where  he  was  noted  for  his 
zeal  of  souls  and  diligence  in  his  pastoral  functions,  and  brought 
many  strayed  sheep  back  to  the  fold  of  Christ,  till  being  accused  by 
a false  convert  of  being  a priest,  he  was  condemned  to  perpetual 
imprisonment,  and  sent  to  Hurst  Castle,  where  he  remained  a con- 
stant and  pious  confessor  of  Christ  for  thirty  years,  till  his  dying  day, 
which  was  the  15th  of  October,  1729.  He  departed  this  life  aged 
seventy-four,  in  the  fifty-sixth  year  of  his  religious  profession ; and 
lies  interred  at  St.  Jameses,  near  Winchester. 


5S3 


APPENDICES 


APPENDIX  I 


An  Abstract  of  a Letter  of  Mr.  Henry  Holland,  Licentiate  of  Divinity,  author 
of  the  book  entitled  ‘ Urna  Aurea,^  and  one  of  the  eldest  sons  of  the 
Seminary  of  Doway  ; from  his  Latin  epistles  in  manuscript. 

This  letter  is  written  to  Mr.  Gilbert,  and  gives  an  account  of 
the  perils  to  which  the  Roman  Catholic  priests  were  at  that 
time  exposed  in  England,  and  speaks  of  the  apprehensions  of 
several  of  them,  viz.: — 

‘ Mr.  Hansef  says  the  author,  ‘ leaving  Rhemes,  comes  to  London, 
and  goes  to  the  prison  of  the  Marshalsea  to  visit  the  priests  that  were 
prisoners  there,  and  to  be  instructed  by  them  how  he  was  to  labour 
in  the  harvest  of  the  Lord.  One  of  the  under-keepers  eyes  him 
carefully,  and  takes  notice,  by  certain  marks,  that  his  shoes  were 
made  in  France.  Then  presently  cries  out,  A traitor!  and  causes 
the  gentleman  to  be  apprehended.  Upon  this  he  was  committed 
to  prison,  and  not  long  after  underwent  a very  extraordinary  kind 
of  death,  being  butchered,  not  half  alive  as  others  are,  but  perfectly 
alive  and  sensible. 

‘ Mr.  George  Hay  dock  passing  through  St.  PauVs  Churchyard 
goes  into  a bookseller’s  shop  to  buy  some  book.  He  had  not  been 
there  long  before  a pursuivant  came  in;  and  as  these  men  are  a 
hungry  race  and  greedy  after  prey,  he  immediately  suspects  Mr. 
Hay  dock,  and  apprehends  him. 

‘ Mr.  Johnson  comes  out  of  the  country  to  London  on  horseback. 
In  Holhorn  he  alights  off  his  horse;  a pursuivant,  who  knew  him, 
immediately  sets  upon  him,  takes  away  his  horse  and  money,  and 
carries  him  before  the  Secretary  of  State,  by  whom  he  was  first 
committed  to  a close  prison,  then  severely  racked,  and  at  length 
put  to  a cruel  death. 

‘ At  York,  Mr.  William  Hart,  resting  in  his  bed  at  midnight, 
being  in  a deep  sleep,  and  so  suspecting  no  evil,  is  apprehended  by 
an  armed  multitude,  &c. 


587 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


‘ Mr.  Bennet^  in  North  Wales,  was  passing  not  far  from  the  house 
of  Mr.  Mostyn,  a Justice  of  the  Peace,  a man  not  very  rigid  against 
Catholics,  but  one  that  complied  with  the  times.  This  gentleman 
espying  Mr.  Bennet,  who  had  left  the  road  and  went  through  the 
corn,  rated  him  for  not  keeping  the  highway,  and  asked  him.  Who 
he  was,  whence  he  came,  whither  he  was  going,  &c.  Mr.  Bennet,  as 
he  was  a man  of  great  simplicity,  and  fearing  God,  and  no  friend 
of  dissimulation,  answered  all  his  questions  candidly,  and  acknow- 
ledged, That  he  was  a priest.  Mr.  Mostyn  was  concerned  to  find 
how  the  case  stood;  but  his  servant  being  about  him,  he  thought 
himself  obliged  to  conceal  his  concern  and  to  commit  Mr.  Bennet 
to  prison.  From  this  prison  he  was  afterwards  translated  to  another, 
where  he  was  hung  up  to  the  beam  by  his  hands  in  iron  manacles, 
and  suffered  great  torments  with  a generous  courage.  Afterwards 
he  was  sent  into  banishment,  and  entered  into  the  Society  of  Jesus, 
in  which  he  piously  slept  in  the  Lord. 

‘ Mr.  John  Mundyn,  going  on  the  highroad  from  Windsor  to 
London,  meets,  near  Hounslow,  with  Counsellor  Hammond,  a Justice 
of  Peace,  and  being  very  well  known  to  him,  and  not  able  to  decline 
him,  courteously  salutes  him.  I am  glad  to  meet  you,  Mundyn,  said 
Hammond;  I know  you  are  a papist,  and  always  was;  and,  moreover, 
I suspect  that  you  are  a priest:  wherefore  yield  yourself  up — you  are 
my  prisoner.  Mr.  Mundyn  argues.  That  Hammond  had  no  authority 
to  stop  him  on  the  highway;  that,  if  he  was  a Justice  of  the  Peace,  he 
was  not  so  in  Buckinghamshire,  where  they  then  were,  but  only  in 
Dorsetshire,  &c.  But  his  remonstrances  are  all  in  vain,  the  cruel 
man  is  not  moved  to  relent;  he  makes  him  his  prisoner,  and 
causes  him  to  be  sent  up  to  London,  where  he  was  afterwards 
martyred. 

‘ In  Hampshire,  Mr.  Hemerford  was  obliged  to  stay  in  a certain 
village  whilst  the  smith  put  a shoe  upon  one  of  his  horse’s  feet.  In 
the  mean  time  a malicious  heretic  passing  by,  and  considering  the 
man,  affirmed  that  he  was  the  priest  that  had  preached  in  the  barn; 
and  upon  this  account  presently  apprehended  him.  So  Mr.  Hemer- 
ford, in  a moment,  lost  both  his  horse  and  his  liberty;  and  after- 
wards, for  being  a priest,  was  put  to  death,  and  obtained  at  London 
the  crown  of  martyrdom. 

‘ Mr.  Adams,  a priest  in  Winchester,  stepping  out  of  the  house 
into  the  street,  was  presently  apprehended,  and  accused,  though 
falsely,  of  having  preached  in  a barn,  &c.  at  London.  Mr.  Owen 
was  at  table,  Mr.  Stransham  at  the  altar;  but  neither  one  nor  the 
other  could  escape  the  hands  of  the  ungodly.  The  same  fortune 

588 


APPENDIX  I 


Mr.  Rishton  met  within  the  city,  and  Mr.  Worthington  without. 
Mr.  Rishton' s apprehension  was  in  this  manner:  He  was  in  a certain 
inn,  and  meeting  there  with  a countryman  of  his,  a Lancashire 
gentleman,  he  began  to  treat  with  him  about  the  affairs  of  his  soul; 
yet  so  that  he  first  sent  to  Father  Parsons ^ the  Jesuit,  desiring  him  to 
come,  who  could  do  that  work  better  than  himself.  In  the  mean 
time  the  gentleman  whispers  in  his  servant’s  ear  to  go  to  such  a 
pursuivant,  and  to  bid  him  come  with  all  speed  and  apprehend  the 
man  that  he  should  see  talking  with  him.  The  pursuivant,  greedy 
of  lucre,  flies  thither  in  a moment,  and  seizes  Mr.  Rishton.  In  the 
mean  time  Father  Parsons  comes  up,  and  looking  in  at  the  door, 
sees  Mr.  Rishton  with  the  pursuivant,  and  perceiving  the  imminent 
danger,  instead  of  going  in,  walks  down  the  street,  and,  as  God 
would  have  it,  escapes.  But  Mr.  Rishton  was  carried  before  a 
Justice  and  committed  to  the  King's  Bench.,  &c. 

‘ Mr.  Anderton  and  his  companion  [Mr.  Marsden\  sailed  from 
France  to  England,  and  had  scarce  set  foot  on  shore  before  they 
fell  into  the  hunters’  nets.  Soon  after  they  were  brought  to  the  bar, 
where  the  Judge,  considering  that  they  had  been  apprehended 
immediately  upon  their  coming  to  land,  before  they  could  treat 
with  any  one  about  religion  and  pitying  their  case,  had  a mind  to 
deliver  them  from  the  danger  of  the  law  by  furnishing  them  with  the 
following  plea:  I suppose,  said  he,  gentlemen,  you  came  out  of 
France,  not  with  the  design  of  coming  into  England,  hut  of  going  into 
Scotland,  and  that  you  were  drove  into  England  hy  a storm  against 
your  will?  Tell  me,  is  not  this  the  truth?  God  forbid,  said  they, 
my  lord,  that  we  should  tell  a lie  for  the  matter.  Our  lives  would  be 
a burthen  to  us  if  we  should  save  them  by  an  untruth.  We  were  sent 
hither  to  preach  truth,  and  we  must  not,  at  our  first  settmg  out,  give 
in  to  a lie.  The  truth  is,  we  are  both  priests,  and  we  set  out  from  France 
with  a design  of  coming  for  England,  that  we  might  here  exercise  our 
priestly  functions,  and  reconcile  the  souls  of  our  neighbours  to  God  and 
His  church;  and  if  we  are  not  suffered  here  to  serve  our  neighbours' 
souls,  at  least  we  will  take  care  not  to  hurt  our  own.  We  had  no 
thoughts  of  Scotland  but  only  0/ England.  Nay  then,  said  the  Judge, 
the  Lord  have  mercy  on  you;  for,  by  the  laws,  you  are  dead  men.  So 
sentence  was  pronounced  upon  them,  by  which  they  were  con- 
demned to  die,  and  they  suffered  the  usual  butchery  with  constancy 
and  intrepidity,  and  so  obtained  a noble  martyrdom.  The  sea  was 
more  safe  to  them  than  the  land,  which  also  Mr.  John  Hart  and 
Mr.  Bishop  experienced,  who  having  escaped  all  the  dangers  of  the 
sea,  met  in  the  very  haven — not,  indeed,  with  shipwreck — but  with 

589 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


bands  and  prisons,  which  after  they  had  suffered  there  for  awhile, 
they  were  sent  up  to  London  to  new  prisons. 

‘ And  since  we  are  returned  to  London^  I cannot  pass  over  in 
silence  Mr.  Ailworth^  a young  Irish  gentleman,  of  a singular  zeal  for 
religion,  who  had  hired  a house,  not  in  any  street,  but  among  the 
gardens,  commodious  enough  for  preaching  and  Mass,  where  the 
Catholics  sometimes  met  in  a pretty  good  number  to  the  divine 
service,  much  to  his  content  and  satisfaction,  who  set  more  value  upon 
what  belonged  to  the  honour  and  worship  of  God,  than  upon  any 
earthly  toys.  But  the  thing  became  known,  and  reached  the  ears 
of  Fleetwood,  the  Recorder  of  the  city.  This  furious  man,  with  his 
constables,  came  to  the  house,  and  finding  Mr.  Ailworth  in  his 
chamber,  carried  him  away  to  prison,  even  to  the  very  worst  prison 
in  London.  And  in  the  way  being  displeased  at  some  word  that  the 
gentleman  spoke,  gave  this  most  constant  confessor  a violent  blow 
on  his  head,  then  ordered  him  to  be  put  into  a filthy  dungeon, 
destitute  of  all  things,  strictly  forbidding  any  one  to  be  admitted 
to  visit  him  or  give  him  any  thing;  so  the  young  gentleman,  in  eight 
days’  time,  was  brought  to  his  end  by  the  stench  and  filth  of  the 
place.’  So  far  Mr.  Holland. 


590 


APPENDIX  II 


APPENDIX  II 


An  abstract  of  the  lives  of  three  laymen  who  suffered  for  religious  matters  in 
1591,  written  in  Latin  by  Father  Thomas  Stanney^  S.J.,  sometime  ghostly 
father  to  all  the  three.  From  a manuscript  sent  me  from  St.  Omers. 

(i)  SwiTHiN  Wells,  Gentleman.* 

WE  shall  omit  such  things  as  have  been  already  marked  down 
in  our  Memoirs  concerning  Mr.  Wells,  and  shall  only  take 
notice  of  such  things  as  we  find  added  in  Father  Stanney's 
manuscript,  who,  in  his  preface,  gives  him  this  character.  That  he 
was  a witty  man,  skilled  in  divers  languages,  a most  agreeable  com- 
panion and  very  amiable;  in  his  younger  days  something  given  to 
honest  and  innocent  diversions,  yet  always  devout  in  prayer,  zealous  in 
the  true  faith,  and  most  constant  in  maintaining  the  Catholic  religion. 
He  adds.  That  as  he  was  a gentleman,  he  gave  a good  example  to  the 
gentry  not  to  give  themselves  up  so  much,  even  to  the  most  innocent 
worldly  pleasures,  as  to  neglect  their  prayers  and  devotions,  and  so  to 
come  to  be  tepid  a7id  fearful  in  the  profession  of  their  faith,  but  rather 
to  despise  all  transitory  things,  and  like  him  to  be  continually  advancing 
towards  heaven. 

Mr.  Wells,  after  he  had  been  instructed  at  home  in  the  liberal 
sciences,  travelled  abroad  to  Rome,  partly  to  learn  the  language,  and 
partly  to  visit  the  holy  places.  After  some  years,  returning  into 
England,  he  was  employed  in  the  service  of  several  persons  of 
quality,  and  after  some  time,  for  his  skill  in  languages  and  for  his 
eloquence,  was  desired  by  the  most  noble  Earl  of  Southampton,  a 
most  constant  professor  of  the  Catholic  faith,  to  live  in  his  house, 
as  he  did,  much  to  his  own  commendation  for  several  years.  At 
length  he  married  a gentlewoman  of  good  family,  with  whom  he 
lived  in  an  edifying  manner  for  the  remainder  of  his  days.  By  her 
he  had  one  only  daughter,  Margaret,  a worthy  heiress  of  her  father’s 
and  mother’s  virtues,  who,  leaving  the  world,  became  a nun.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Wells  for  some  years  employed  himself  in  teaching 
young  gentlemen  the  belles  lettres  and  music,  having  for  his  servant 
and  assistant  therein  Mr.  Woodfen,  afterwards  priest  and  martyr. 
And  he  had  the  comfort  of  training  up  many  of  them  in  the  true 
faith;  and  amongst  others,  several  who  were  afterwards  priests, 

* See  p.  179. 

591 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


and  religious,  and  some  martyrs,  till  at  length  he  was  obliged  by  the 
malice  of  his  enemies  and  of  the  ministers  to  quit  this  employment. 

He  had  a particular  talent  in  bringing  over  heretics  and  schis- 
matics to  the  Catholic  faith,  and  was  very  zealous  and  courageous 
in  the  cause  of  religion.  Hence,  for  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  not 
only  his  house  was  daily  open  to  priests,  where  there  were  often 
two  or  three  Masses  celebrated  in  a day,  but  he  would  also  often 
accompany  them  in  their  journeys,  and  in  the  charitable  expeditions 
in  which  they  were  engaged  for  the  assistance  of  the  Catholics  in 
those  perilous  times.  Of  which  Father  Stanney  gives  an  instance 
of  his  own  experience,  declaring  how  he  himself,  soon  after  his 
coming  over  into  England,  was  conducted  by  Mr.  Wells  down  into 
the  west  of  England,  and  settled  there  in  the  house  of  a certain 
gentleman,  who  was  equally  zealous  and  prudent  in  promoting  the 
Catholic  cause;  where  he  (Father  Stanney)  by  catechistical  instruc- 
tions and  sermons,  in  three  or  four  years’  space,  brought  over  some 
hundreds  to  the  Catholic  faith.  This  method  Mr.  Wells  followed 
till  he  became  so  well  known  to  the  justices  and  pursuivants,  that  it 
was  not  safe  for  any  priest  to  ride  in  his  company,  he  having  been 
more  than  once  committed  to  prison  upon  these  occasions. 

In  the  last  stage  of  his  life,  he  took  a house  in  Holborn,  near 
Gray's  Inn  Fields,  where  he  received  and  entertained  God’s  ministers, 
till  the  arch-persecutor  Topclijfe,  being  informed  of  his  proceedings, 
took  his  opportunity  and  broke  into  the  house  when  Mr.  Genings 
was  actually  there  at  Mass,  as  we  have  seen  above;  where  also  we 
have  set  down  all  that  relates  to  the  apprehension,  trial,  and  death 
of  Mr.  Wells.  Only  Father  Stanney  adds,  that  when  he  was  under 
the  gallows,  Topclijfe  said  to  him.  Yon  see  now,  Mr.  Wells,  what  your 
priests  have  brought  you  to;  to  whom  he  replied,  Mr.  Topcliffe,  I am 
very  glad,  and  give  great  thanks  to  God,  and  look  upon  myself  exceed- 
ingly happy,  that  I have  been  so  far  favoured  as  to  have  received  so 
many  and  such  saint-like  priests  under  my  roof. 

(2)  Lawrence  Humphreys,  La3TOan. 

He  was  born  in  Hampshire,  of  Protestant  parents,  and  was 
brought  up  from  his  infancy  in  the  Protestant  schools,  being 
very  zealous  in  his  way,  and  continually  reading,  and  getting 
by  heart  the  Scriptures,  and  perusing  books  of  religion.  About 
the  age  of  eighteen,  he  thought  himself  so  perfect  a master  of  con- 
troversies, as  to  seek  for  every  opportunity  of  conferring  with 
Catholics,  and  disputing  against  their  tenets;  but  he  particularly 

592 


APPENDIX  II 


desired  to  meet  with  some  priest  or  Jesuit,  to  hear  what  they  could 
say  for  their  doctrine,  as  he  sometimes  signified  to  the  Catholics 
of  his  acquaintance.  One  of  them  addressed  himself  to  Father 
Stanney,  and  told  him  the  young  man’s  desires;  and,  withal,  that 
he  was  a very  moral  man,  but  full  of  a false  zeal,  and  obstinate  in 
his  religion;  yet  so,  that  he  had  declared.  He  would  rather  suffer  the 
worst  of  deaths^  than  break  his  promise  of  secrecy^  or  betray  a priest 
into  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  Father  Stanney  appointed  a proper 
time  and  place  to  confer  with  him;  which  was  in  a house,  where  he 
was  to  preach  one  day  within  the  Octave  of  Corpus  Christi.  And 
first  he  delivered  his  sermon  (at  which  Lawrence  and  another  Pro- 
testant were  present)  upon  the  subject  of  the  Real  Presence;  then  he 
discoursed  in  private  with  both  one  and  the  other;  and,  in  a short 
time,  brought  them  both  over  to  the  Catholic  religion. 

Lawrence^ s conversion  was  such  as  gave  great  comfort  and 
edification  to  his  ghostly  father.  He  thought  he  could  never  do 
too  much  to  punish  his  past  sins;  he  confessed  them  with  great 
humility,  and  with  abundance  of  tears;  and  though  his  life  before 
had  been  blameless  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  it  was  now,  in  all  respects, 
visibly  changed  for  the  better.  Father  Stanney  particularly  extols 
his  profound  humility,  his  exact  obedience,  his  virginal  purity,  and 
his  perfect  charity.  This  queen  of  virtues  had  taken  deep  root  in 
his  heart;  insomuch,  that  he  was  never  better  pleased  than  when  he 
was  promoting  the  honour  and  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  his 
neighbours,  by  instructing  and  catechising  the  ignorant,  visiting 
prisoners  confined  for  their  religion,  and  exercising,  as  occasion 
offered,  all  kinds  of  corporal  and  spiritual  works  of  mercy.  Amongst 
which,  my  author  particularly  takes  notice  of  a custom  he  had,  when 
his  companions  were  met  together  in  the  evenings,  of  reading  some 
good  book  to  them,  such  as  the  life  of  some  saint,  or  some  cate- 
chistical  instruction;  by  which  means,  he  both  confirmed  the 
Catholics  in  their  religion,  and  disposed  schismatics  to  their  con- 
version. 

After  some  time  he  fell  into  a great  sickness,  and,  in  the  height 
of  his  fever,  amongst  other  things,  he  said.  That  the  Queen  was  a 
wh — e and  a heretic.  Some  zealots  that  heard  him,  would  have 
killed  him  upon  the  spot,  but  were  hindered.  However,  before  he 
was  well  recovered,  he  was,  for  these  words,  committed  to  Win- 
chester Jail  to  be  kept  there  till  the  next  assizes.  In  the  mean  time 
he  begged  of  the  keeper.  That  he  might  he  employed  in  all  the  meanest 
offices,  and  do  the  drudgery  of  the  prison;  which  was  granted  him. 

At  his  trial  the  judge  asked  him  what  religion  he  was  of  ? he 

593  2 r 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


answered,  By  the  grace  of  God  I am  a Catholic^  and  am  very  willing 
to  die  for  the  Catholic  faith  and  religion.  The  judge  asked  him  what 
he  meant  by  a Catholic?  he  answered,  I mean  hy  a Catholic,  one  who, 
being  baptized,  professeth  in  word  and  work  the  Catholic  faith  and 
religion,  delivered  by  the  Apostles  to  the  Universal  Church  and  main- 
tained hy  their  successors.  The  judge  pulled  out  a pair  of  beads, 
with  a little  crucifix,  and  told  him.  See,  here  is  the  God  whom  you 
worship.  But  Lawrence  presently  replied,  Not  so,  my  Lord;  but 
that  crucifix  brings  to  my  remembrance  how  much  my  Lord  and  Saviour 
suffered  upon  the  cross  for  me  a most  miserable  sinner. 

Then  the  judge  asked  him  how  he  came  to  say  that  the  Queen 
was  a heretic?  Lawrence  answered  with  a most  solemn  assevera- 
tion before  God  and  His  angels.  That  he  could  not  possibly  remember 
that  he  had  ever  in  his  life  spoken  any  such  words:  But,  said  he,  since 
divers  witnesses  affirm  it,  I shall  not  stand  obstinately  to  deny  it,  but 
shall  willingly  suffer  what  punishment  you  shall  inflict  upon  me.  In 
fine,  he  was  for  those  words  condemned  to  die,  and  so  was  sent 
back  to  prison.  He  received  the  sentence  with  joy,  and  spent  the 
short  remainder  of  his  life  in  meditations  and  prayers,  which  he 
performed  prostrate  upon  the  ground.  When  he  was  carried  out 
to  suffer,  he  made  at  the  gallows  a public  profession  of  the  Catholic 
faith;  and,  as  he  was  going  up  the  ladder,  made  the  sign  of  the  cross 
upon  the  rounds;  which  the  hangman  taking  notice  of,  scoffed  at 
him,  saying.  Thou  hast  served  the  Pope;  hut  he  has  brought  thee  to 
the  rope;  and  the  hangman  shall  have  thy  coat.  Lawrence  smiled  at 
his  rhymes,  which  the  other  took  in  such  ill  part  as  to  give  him  a 
great  box  on  the  ear  in  a great  fury.  The  good  young  man  meekly 
replied.  Why  do  you  do  so  to  me?  I never  in  my  life  gave  you  any 
cause  to  treat  me  in  this  manner. 

He  was  executed  at  Winchester , in  the  21st  year  of  his  age.  Anno 
Bom.  1591. 


(3)  Ralph  Miller,  or  Milner. 

This  good  old  man  passed  the  greatest  part  of  his  life  in  a 
village  near  Winchester,  maintaining  his  wife  and  a large  family 
of  children  by  the  labour  of  his  hands.  He  was  entirely 
illiterate,  but  led  a very  moral  life,  following  the  religion  then  in 
fashion,  till,  comparing  the  lives  of  the  Catholics  with  whom  he  was 
acquainted  with  the  lives  of  the  Protestants,  and  even  of  their  very 
ministers,  he  found  that  the  one  sort  followed  a broad  and  easy 
way,  neglecting  fasting  and  prayer,  and  putting  little  or  no  restraint 

594 


APPENDIX  II 


upon  their  appetites  and  sensual  inclinations;  whilst  the  other  sort 
was  much  addicted  to  fasting,  prayer,  and  mortification;  and  lay 
under  most  severe  persecutions  on  account  of  their  consciences, 
which  they  willingly  suffered  for  God  and  their  religion.  These 
considerations  had  such  effect  upon  him,  as  to  determine  him  to  quit 
the  new  way  and  to  return  to  the  old  religion,  as  he  did,  not  long  after ; 
and  being  instructed  and  reconciled  by  a Catholic  priest,  on  the  very 
day  that  he  had  received  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  after  having  finished 
his  general  confession,  he  was  apprehended  and  committed  to  jail  for 
his  religion. 

He  was  a prisoner  for  his  conscience  many  years;  but,  as  his 
behaviour  had  made  the  keeper  his  friend,  he  was  not  so  close  con- 
fined, but  he  had  often  liberty  to  go  out  upon  his  parole^  and  some- 
times was  sent  out  by  the  keeper  about  his  own  affairs,  who  also 
often  trusted  him  with  the  keys  of  the  prison.  By  these  means  he 
had  opportunity  of  doing  great  services  to  the  poor  Catholic  prisoners 
in  those  evil  days;  sometimes  by  procuring  them  alms;  other  times, 
by  bringing  priests  to  them  to  administer  the  holy  sacraments  to 
them.  Neither  was  this  his  charity  confined  to  the  prison,  but  it 
also  prompted  him  to  procure  spiritual  assistance  to  the  faithful 
dispersed  about  the  country ; to  whom  his  zeal  had,  by  this  time,  made 
him  generally  known.  As  an  instance  of  this  his  charity.  Father 
Stanney,  the  writer  of  his  life,  takes  notice,  that  he  used  to  come 
once  a month  to  the  house  where  this  father  resided,  to  conduct 
him  about  the  villages,  there  to  preach  and  administer  the  sacra- 
ments to  the  poor;  who  also  declares  in  his  preface  that  he  can 
testify  that,  ignorant  as  he  was,  he  had,  by  the  bright  light  of  his 
virtues  and  by  his  fervent  prayers,  been,  under  God,  the  cause  of 
the  conversion  of  many  to  the  Catholic  faith. 

‘ Once,  says  Father  Stanney^  he  came  to  me  desiring  that  I 
would  take  a journey  with  him,  to  preach  and  administer  the  sacra- 
ments according  to  custom ; when  I was  obliged,  through  necessity,  to 
answer  him.  That  I had  been  not  long  since  in  those  parts ^ where  I was 
^ery  much  fatigued  with  preachings  hearing  confessions , and  administer- 
ing the  sacraments ; the  more  because  I was  obliged  to  watch  whole 
nights s and  to  celebrate  Mass  twice  in  the  day;  so  that  I had  not,  as 
yets  been  able  to  recover  myself.  Welf  but  masters  said  he,  for  so  he 
used  to  call  me,  we  have  still  a great  many  hungry  souls  that  want 
breads  and  there  is  no  one  to  give  it  them;  we  have  many  also  that  would 
be  glad  to  shake  off  the  yoke  of  bondages  heresy,  and  embrace  the 
Catholic  faith;  and  I can  find  none  to  help  thems  and  receive  them 
into  the  Church;  what  then  must  I say  to  them?  I tell  you s Ralph, 

595 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


the  very  truths  said  I,  I want  not  goodwill,  hut  strength;  wherefore,  1 
beg  they  would  have  a little  patience,  and  in  a short  time,  hy  the  grace 
of  God,  I purpose  entirely  to  satisfy  their  good  desires.  But  what  shall 
I do,  said  Ralph,  if  your  reverence's  health  will  not  permit  you  to 
come  amongst  us?  I replied,  That  I had  been  desirous,  of  a long  time, 
to  have  another  priest,  who  might  be  able  to  serve  those  parts;  and 
that  if  he  could  find  a proper  place  for  him,  I would  endeavour  to 
procure  them  a proper  priest.  That  I will  do,  said  Ralph,  with  all  my 
heart;  and  I hope  to  be  able,  in  a short  time,  to  provide  him  all  neces- 
saries. Our  superior,  with  another  priest,  happened  to  come  to  me 
soon  after  this,  and  I consulted  him  what  I was  to  do.  He  bid  me 
ask  Ralph,  If  he  would  be  willhig  to  have  for  their  priest  Mr.  Roger 
Diconson,  whom  he  was  very  well  acquainted  with.  He  presently 
answered.  With  all  my  heart;  for,  above  all  others,  I would  be  glad  to 
live  and  die  with  that  good  man;  which  afterwards  happened.’ 

Ralph  returned  to  carry  the  good  news  to  his  fellow  prisoners  and 
the  other  Catholics,  and  within  a few  weeks  Mr.  Diconson  came  to 
Winchester , where  he  laboured  for  some  years  with  great  fruit  and 
great  edification;  his  mission  lying  chiefly  amongst  the  poor  and 
the  prisoners.  He  was  once  taken  in  a gentleman’s  house  in  the 
country,  and  carried  to  Winchester , where  he  was  put  under  the 
guard  of  six  soldiers,  in  order  to  be  removed  to  London;  but  his 
guards  having  over  drank  themselves,  he  escaped  from  them  in  the 
night.  But  being  taken  a second  time,  in  the  company  of  Ralph 
Miller,  he  was  committed  to  Winchester  Jail;  from  whence  he  was 
sent  up  to  London',  and,  after  he  had  there  been  put  to  divers  tor- 
ments, was  sent  back  to  Winchester  to  take  his  trial;  where,  as  we 
have  seen  elsewhere,  he  suffered  death  with  the  same  Ralph  Miller, 
on  account  of  his  priestly  character. 

This  good  old  man,  whilst  Mr.  Diconson  was  in  prison,  lost  no 
time,  but  employed  himself  in  the  best  manner  he  could,  in  preparing 
for  death.  No  endeavours  were  omitted  by  his  worldly  friends,  and 
by  the  ministers,  to  bring  him  over  to  consent  to  save  his  life,  by 
renouncing  his  religion;  but  all  in  vain.  Even  wEen  he  was  at  the 
very  gallows,  they  ceased  not  to  tempt  him;  and  sent  his  seven 
children  to  him,  to  move  him  to  relent  by  the  sight  of  them;  but  his 
heart  was  too  strongly  fixed  on  God  to  be  overcome  by  flesh  and 
blood.  He  gave  them,  therefore,  his  last  blessing,  declaring  aloud. 
That  he  could  wish  them  no  greater  happiness,  than  to  die  for  the  like 
cause  for  which  he  was  going  to  die. 

He  suffered  Jw/jy  7,  1591. 


596 


APPENDIX  III 


APPENDIX  III 


An  Extract  of  the  Reverend  Mr,  Christopher  Robinson’s  Relation  of  the  Trial 
and  Death  of  Mr.  John  Boast,  or  Bost,  m.a.,  who  suffered  at  Durham, 
July  24,  1594,  Mr.  Robinson  being  an  Eye-witness.  [Reprinted  from  the 
original  Knaresborough  MSS.,  vol.  i.,  in  folio,  pp.  500  to  509,  in  Catholic 
Record  Society,  i.,  85-91.] 

WHEN  I came  to  the  bar  the  jury  was  giving  in  their  verdict; 
four  were  found  guilty  for  felony,  and  three  for  treason 
(as  they  spoke)  but  indeed  for  religion.  Judge  Beamont 
stood  up  and  made  a speech,  &c.  The  cruel  judgment  was  no 
sooner  pronounced  than  Mr.  Boast  sung  with  a joyful  heart  and 
cheerful  countenance  Te  Deitm  laudamus,  &c.,  and  Mr.  Ingram 
answered,  Te  ceternum  Patrem,  &c.  Then  Mr.  Boast  said,  Qui 
oiit  animarn  suam  in  hoc  mundo,  in  vitam  ceternam  custodit  earn,  &c. 

‘ Besides  these  two,  there  was  a layman  condemned  who  had 
some  time  been  a minister.  This  man,  laying  aside  his  ministry, 
became  a Catholic,  and  persuaded  divers,  as  it  is  reported,  to  become 
Catholics,  whereof  one  caused  him  to  be  apprehended,  &c.  Mr. 
Boast  and  Mr.  Ingram  seeing  him  to  fail,  spoke  unto  him.  Their 
words  did  so  work  in  the  good  man’s  heart  that  not  long  after,  in  the 
presence  of  the  President,  of  the  judges,  and  of  the  whole  consistory, 
he  cried  out,  / am  resolved,  I am  resolved.  The  Judge  said.  Wherein 
art  thou  resolved?  In  matters  of  faith,  said  he.  And  by  whom? 
said  the  Judge.  Even  by  these  two,  said  he  (pointing  to  Mr.  Boast 
and  Mr.  Ingram),  martyrs  before  God — martyrs,  I say,  before  God; 
for  though  you  make  as  if  they  died  for  treason,  yet  in  very  truth  they 
die  for  re’igion,  and  if  it  were  a thousand  deaths  I am  very  well 
content  with  them  to  suffer.  You  would  have  laughed  (continues 
my  author)  to  hear  the  mutterings  of  our  enemies  at  the  poor  con- 
demned prisoners.  Mr.  Boast,  Mr.  Ingram,  and  Swallowel  were 
commanded  presently  to  be  carried  away,  and  truly  they  went  away 
rejoicing  that  they  were  to  receive  such  a severe  judgment  for  God’s 
cause,  as  might  very  well  be  gathered  by  their  cheerful  countenances, 
which  did  joy  my  heart  not  a little  in  seeing  them  take  such  joy  in 
bearing  up  their  irons. 

‘ At  four  of  the  clock  {Wednesday  the  24th  of  July)  the  Under- 
SherilT  fetched  the  prisoners  forth,  and  laid  Mr.  Boast  in  a cart,  and 
a little  new-pulled  lime  being  put  under  him,  he  laid  along  upon  his 
back,  holding  his  hands  up  towards  the  heavens,  and  so  he  was 

597 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


carried  toward  the  tree,  speaking  nothing,  but  having  his  mind 
occupied  in  meditation,  except  only  that  he  gave  his  blessing  to 
two  or  three  women,  which  fell  down  upon  their  knees  in  the  street, 
as  I heard,  whom  the  Sheriff  commanded  to  be  apprehended.  1 
heard  this,  I say,  for  I left  my  guide  to  mark  the  things  that  happened 
in  the  way  between  the  prison  and  the  trees,  and  I went  myself  to 
provide  place  at  the  trees  before  the  Sheriff  came,  where  I might 
both  hear  and  see  whatever  did  happen.  Now  when  the  martyr 
was  brought  unto  the  trees,  he  raised  up  his  body,  for  he  had  all 
this  time  laid  upon  his  back,  took  off  his  nightcap,  and  gave  them 
thanks  for  the  pains  they  had  taken  in  bringing  him  to  that  place. 
A minister  standing  by,  and  seeing  him  to  take  all  things  in  good 
part,  and  to  behave  himself  so  patiently,  accused  him  (as  if  he  had 
been  guilty)  of  ill-behaviour.  A gentleman  (whom  I take  to  be 
Edward  Musgrave^  of  Allston-Moor) ^ hearing,  said  to  the  minister. 
My  friend,  say  not  so,  for  Mr.  Boast  has  behaved  himself  very  well; 
he  has  behaved  himself  marvellously  well.  Then  they  bid  him  come 
forth  of  the  cart,  which  he  did,  and  having  stood  a little  while  on  his 
feet,  they  bid  him  step  up  the  ladder.  He  paused  a little  at  the  first 
step  and  made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  said,  Angelas  Domini^  &c., 
with  an  Ave  Maria,  At  the  next  step  he  paused  again,  and  said, 
Ecce  ancilla  Domini,  &c.,  with  another  Ave;  and  at  the  third  step  he 
said,  Et  verbum  car o factum  est,  &c.,  with  a third  Ave  Maria.  Then 
being  almost  come  to  the  top  of  the  ladder,  he  turned  himself  towards 
the  people,  made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  offered  to  make  a speech 
to  the  people ; but  he  had  no  sooner  begun  to  speak  but  the  Sheriff 
stayed  him,  and  commanded  the  hangman  to  do  his  office,  and  to 
put  the  rope  about  his  neck;  which  being  done,  the  hangman  would 
have  immediately  turned  the  ladder,  but  the  Sheriff  stayed  him,  and 
told  the  martyr  that  now  he  should  speak;  but  the  martyr  offering 
again  to  make  the  speech  which  he  had  designed,  because  the  people 
did  expect  somewhat  of  him,  was  stayed  again,  and  bidden  to  make 
him  fit  for  God  and  say  his  prayers.  Then  the  blessed  martyr  said, 
I hope  in  God,  that  if  you  will  not  suffer  me  to  speak  unto  you  in  this 
world,  this  my  death  will  speak  in  your  hearts  that  which  I would 
have  spoken. 

‘ At  last,’  said  he,  ‘ seeing  you  will  not  suffer  me  to  speak  to  you, 
suffer  me  to  speak  to  my  soul  in  the  psalms  of  the  prophet  David. 
You  may,  said  the  Sheriff.  Then  said  the  martyr,  holding  up  his 
hands  towards  the  heavens,  fixing  his  heart  upon  God,  and  lifting 
up  his  eyes.  Converter e anima  mea  in  requiem  tiiam,  quia  Dominus 
benefecit  tibi.  Return,  O my  soul,  into  thy  rest,  because  God  hath  done 

59S 


APPENDIX  III 


well  unto  thee.  And  why  hath  God  done  well  unto  thee  ? It 
followeth:  Quia  eripuit  anhnam  meam  a morte,  oculos  meos  a lacrymis 
pedes  meos  a lapsu.  Because  he  hath  delivered  my  soul  from  death" 
From  deaths  what  is  that  ? From  the  sting  of  heresy,  wherewith* 
our  country,  alas  ! is  infected,  plagued,  and  pestered.  So,  said  the 
Sheriff,  keep  your  peace,  speak  no  more.  Alas  ! said  he,  this  is 
but  psalm  of  the  prophet,  and  therefore  cannot  be  hurtful.  Yea, 
said  the  Sheriff,  but  you  make  a commentary  upon  it.  Say  it  in 
Latin  as  oft  as  you  will.  Then  the  martyr  seeing  it  was  not  allowed 
to  speak  English^  repeated  the  words  of  the  prophet  in  Latin ^ until 
he  came  to  the  end  of  the  psalm.  Then  said  one.  Let  him  be  sorry 
for  his  offences  towards  his  prince.  I,  said  the  martyr,  I never 
offended  her.  And  when  they  urged  he  had  offended  her,  he  said, 
I take  it  upon  my  death,  I never  went  about  to  hurt  her;  yea,  I wish 
to  God  that  my  blood  may  be  in  satisfaction  for  her  sins.  Despatch, 
despatch,  said  the  Sheriff  to  the  hangman.  Then  the  hangman 
turned  the  ladder,  and  the  martyr  went  down,  saying.  In  inanus  tuas 
Domine  commendo  spiritum  meum.  The  hangman  having  a knife 
in  readiness  to  cut  the  rope,  offered  presently  to  cut  it  as  soon  as  the 
ladder  was  turned,  but  the  Sheriff  stayed  him  till  he  had  hung  the 
space  of  a Pater  noster^  and  then  commanded  the  rope  to  be  cut. 
Then  one  taking  him  by  the  feet,  two  or  three  keeping  his  body  as 
it  did  fall,  ran  with  it  till  they  came  at  the  fire,  which  was  made  a 
good  space  from  the  trees.  But  by  the  time  they  had  carried  him  to 
the  fire  he  was  well  near  revived,  came  unto  himself,  and  spoke,  and 
prayed  that  God  would  forgive  his  bloody  butcher  when  he  was 
ripping  up  his  belly.  To  be  short  (for  I see  that  I blot  the  paper 
with  tears)  they  cut  off  his  members,  and  hurled  them  into  the  fire, 
even  in  his  own  sight,  as  judgment  was  given.  They  pulled  out  his 
bowels  in  a most  butcherly  manner,  cut  off  his  head,  and  mangled 
his  sacred  body,  in  quartering,  most  pitifully.  This  is  that  cruel 
tragedy  which  I both  heard  and  saw.’  So  far  Mr.  Robinson^  who 
afterwards  glorified  God  by  the  like  death,  for  the  same  cause  of  his 
religion  and  priesthood,  at  Carlisle,  August  19,  1596. 

P.S. — Mr.  Ingram  suffered  at  Gateshead,  by  Newcastle,  and  Mr. 
Swallowel  at  Darlington. 

Mr.  Boast  was  taken  at  the  Waterhouses,  within  three  or  four 
miles  of  Durham,  at  the  house  of  one  Mr.  Claxton,  whose  wife 
received  sentence  of  death  for  harbouring  him  (her  husband  being 
at  that  time  abroad);  however,  she  was  reprieved  by  the  means  of 
friends,  and  afterwards  pardoned. 

599 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Mr.  John  Yaxley^  a reverend  priest,  in  a letter  dated  July  17, 
1707,  which  I have  now  before  me,  relates,  that  when  the  hangman 
pulling  out  Mr.  Boast's  heart,  shewed  it  to  the  crowd,  with  a Behold 
the  heart  of  a traitor  ! a voice  was  heard  to  this  effect:  No,  the  heart 
of  a servant  of  God!  at  which  Mr.  Roger  Widdrington,  of  Cartmgton 
(father  to  that  very  virtuous  gentleman  Sir  Edward  Widdrington), 
who  heard  the  voice,  was  so  struck,  that  he  was  thereupon  reconciled 
to  the  Church.  Which  account,  says  he,  I received  from  Widdrington 
Castle,  and  from  a brother  in  the  county  of  Durham. 

He  adds,  in  the  same  letter,  that  when  Mr.  Hill,  Mr.  Hogge,  Mr. 
Holiday,  and  Mr.  Duke,  were  put  to  death  at  Durham  (1590),  ‘ a 
brook  near  the  common  gallows  ’ (other  relations  call  it  a well), 
at  the  time  of  their  execution  ceased  to  flow,  and  has  remained 
dry  ever  since,  and  is  thence  called  Dryburne  to  this  day.  ‘ Above 
twenty  years  ago,’  says  he,  ‘ I have  been  shewn  the  hole  from  whence 
it  issued,  and  the  marks  of  its  former  channel.  This  is  a constant 
tradition  here.  I have  also  received  the  following  relation  of  a 
conversion  wrought  then.  Mr.  Robert  Maire,  of  Hardwick,  great- 
grandfather to  the  present  Mr.  Thomas  Maire,  of  Lartington,  married 
Mrs.  Grace  Smith,  only  child  to  an  eminent  lawyer  of  that  name, 
at  Durham.  Both  husband  and  wife,  who  were  then  Protestants, 
were  present  at  the  execution  of  the  priests  above  named,  and  being 
much  moved  at  their  courage  and  constancy  were  thereupon  con- 
verted. The  gentlewoman’s  father,  who  was  very  rich,  and  a 
Puritan,  was  so  exasperated  at  this,  that  he  made  his  last  testament, 
which  is  yet  kept  in  the  archives  of  Durham,  and  gave  his  remaining 
•substance  to  the  public  uses  and  pretended  charities  of  that  city, 
unless  his  graceless  daughter  Grace,  as  he  calls  her  in  his  will,  should 
conform;  and  if  so,  for  every  Sunday  she  went  to  church,  he  ordered 
^100  for  her,  till  the  whole  was  paid.  The  sum  which  he  thus 
gave  away,  and  which  she,  rather  than  perform  that  condition  chose 
to  forego,  was  about  £2,^00.'  So  far  Mr.  Yaxley,  who  also  adds  that 
the  Trollops,  of  Thornley,  an  ancient  Catholic  family  now  extinct, 
were  during  the  persecuting  reigns  a great  support  to  priests;  and 
that  it  is  the  tradition  of  that  country,  that  two  priests,  whose  names 
he  could  not  learn,  having  made  their  escape  out  of  Durham  gaol, 
in  Queen  Elizabeth's  persecution,  and  aiming  in  the  night,  as  ’tis 
thought,  to  get  to  Thornley,  were  both  of  them  drowned  in  attempt- 
ing to  cross  a brook  that  runs  betwixt  two  great  hills,  the  stream  of 
which  is  sometimes  very  violent  and  deep.  The  place  which  is 
near  the  common  ford  is  called  Priest’s  Pool  to  this  day. 


600 


APPENDIX  IV 


APPENDIX  IV 


An  Extract  out  of  the  Commentaries  upon  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  c.  x, 
written  by  the  learned  and  pious  Cornelius  a Lapide,  S.J.  {Edition 
of  Antwerp,  1627;  lacunae  are  here  supplied. — Ed.) 

A UDI  Anglicana,  quas  partim  ex  Didaco  de  Yepes  Episcopo 
/ \ Turiasonensi  (lib.  2.  Historice  de  Perseciitione  Anglicana), 
^ ^ partim  a viris  fide  dignis  testibus  oculatis  accepi. 

Duas  e tribus  bonorum  partes  viduae  nobilis  quod  haereticorum 
templa  frequentare  nollet  fisco  hasretici  addixerunt,  cumque  ipsa  ab 
amicis  adjuta  a fisco  bis  terque  propriam  domum  agrosque  condu- 
ceret  et  paulatim  ditesceret,  bis  terque  duabus  bonorum  partibus 
rursum  spoliata  est;  quod  ipsa  miro  cum  gaudio  laetitiaque  tulit. 

Alius  magnam  pecuniarum  summam  quas  ad  vitam  sustentan- 
dam.  sola  restabat  apud  amicum  Catholicum  deposuerat,  quam 
repertam  abstulere  pursuivantes ; ipse  certior  de  rapina  factus, 
sublatis  in  coelum  manibus  gratias  maximas  Deo  egit,  quod  ex  ilia 
hora  eum  in  suum  patrocinium  et  curam  suscepisset,  solumque 
dolebat  quod  pecuniae  amissae  quantitas  major  non  fuisset. 

Alia  femina  primaria,  uxor  Gulielmi  Lacei  gloriosi  postmodum 
martyris,  qui  bona  omnia  ac  praecipua  munia,  eo  quod  haereticorum 
templa  adire  nollet,  gaudens  amiserat;  post  direptionem  bonorum 
perpauperem  et  inopem  vitam  agebat  tanta  cum  laetitia,  ut  Deo  pro 
tanto  beneficio  dignas  gratias  agere  se  non  posse  affirmaret,  eo  quod 
una  cum  bonis  superfluas  curas,  sollicitudines,  et  mundanas  obliga- 
tiones  abstulerat,  tempusque  hac  ratione  vacuum  ad  aeternam 
salutem  comparandam  concesserat;  et  quamvis  ob  assiduas  perse- 
cutiones  domicilia,  terrasque  mutare  crebro  cogeretur,  tanto  tamen 
gaudio  et  consolatione  fruebatur,  ut  a Deo  instanter  peteret  ne 
exiguas  suas  aerumnas  in  hac  vita  remuneraretur,  sed  dolorem  aut 
infirmitatem  aliquam  corporalem  ad  magnum  animi  gaudium 
temperaridum,  et  peccata  sua  dum  viveret  purganda  immitteret; 
quod  et  praestitum  est.  Sex  enim  vel  septem  ante  obitum  annos 
continuis  gravissimisque  doloribus  et  infirmitatibus  exercita  fuit, 
quas  ipsa  summa  animi  aequitate  et  alacritate  sustinuit. 

D.  Franciscus  Tregianus  antiquae  et  nobilissimae  familiae,  quod 
R.  D.  Cutbertum  Maynum  seminarii  Duaceni  sacerdotem  & semi- 
naristarum  omnium  protomartyrem  hospitio  excepisset,  amplissimo 

60  T 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


patrimonio  spoliatus  est,  & viginti  quinque  annos  captivus  vixit. 
Ferunt  eum,  cum  sententia  de  amissione  bonorum  et  perpetuis 
carceribus  ferenda  esset,  bysso  Candida  vestitum  comparuisse,  et 
post  latam  sententiam  dixisse:  Pereant  bo7ia  quce  si  non  periissent^ 
fortassis  dominiun  perdidissent  siium, 

Excellentissimus  Arundeliae  Comes  Philippus  Howardus  Nor- 
folciensis  Ducis  lilius  et  heres,  religionis  Catholicae  ergo  dum  in 
Galliam  fugam  parat,  captus,  in  turrim  Londinensem  conjectus, 
et  demum  ad  tribunal  ductus  et  condemnatus  est:  post  duodecim, 
aut  circiter  captivitatis  annos  in  vinculis  gloriosus  Confessor,  imo 
Martyr  obiit.  Hie  supremus  in  Anglia  Comes  et  familiae  nobilissimae, 
mirum  dictu  et  quanta  amisit,  et  qua  animi  aequitate  novercantis 
fortuaae  fluctus  sustinuit.  In  carcere  captivus  catholicis  omnibus 
non  exemplo  modo,  sed  etiam  singulari  solatio  fuit;  nullus  unquam 
de  bonorum  rapina,  de  carceris  incommodis,  de  negata  libertate 
dolentem  audivit.  Imo  conquerentes  alios  ipse  nunc  verbis  erigere, 
nunc  mira  qua  pollebat  comitate  consolari  solebat.  Illi  praster 
Deum  et  coelestium  rerum  contemplationem  sapiebat  nihil,  pecunias 
quas  pro  sustentatione  secundum  dignitatis  gradum  regina  illi 
concedebat,  tenui  et  parco  ipse  contentus  cibo,  inter  pauperes  dis- 
tribuit.  Alia  multa  dixit,  fecit,  scripsit,  quae  antiquorum  primitivae 
ecclesiae  heroum  factum  vel  aequent,  vel  superent. 

Macte  animo  Angli  Orthodoxi,  aemuli  primorum  Christianorum 
et  Alartyrum.  Haec  est  felicitas  vestra,  quod  hocce  saeculo  perse- 
cutionibus  procelloso  in  Anglia  nati  soli  paene  speretis,  soli  ambiatis 
martyrium,  sive  breve  illud  detur,  sive  longum  et  lentum  per  assiduas 
rapinas  et  vexationes.  Ita  constantes  pergite.  Haec  est  gloria 
Anglicanae  Ecclesiae,  quam  nulla  aetas,  nulla  saecula  obliterabunt. 
Rapinam  ergo  bonorum  vestrorum  cum  gaudio  suscipite.  Ecce 
caelestes  opes  et  immensas  ex  aethere  vobis  exhibent  angeli.  Sus- 
tinete  animose  ad  modicum  carceres,  verbera,  furcas,  ignes,  cruces 
pro  Christo  vestri  amore  crucifixo.  Ecce  aeternas  laureas,  ecce 
divinas  coronas  e caelo  vobis  ostentat  et  adornat  Christus,  amor 
vester  et  noster.  Invident  vobis  martyrium  sanguinis  pseudo-epis- 
copi;  at  eo  gloriosius  in  fortunis  exhibent  quo  durius  et  lentius. 
Certi  estote,  in  hac  rapina  nobilem  vobis  dari  martyrii  lauream. 
Haec  enim  rapina  vitam,  non  qualem  qualem,  sed  nobilem  et  gradu 
vestro  dignam,  non  vobis  solis,  sed  toti  familiae  et  posteritati  eripit. 
Itaque  non  unum  hoc  et  simplex,  nec  unius,  sed  multiplex  et  mul- 
torum  est  martyrium. 


602 


L— INDEX  OF  NAMES 


PERSONS  AND  PLACES 


A 

Abbeville,  172. 

Abbot,  alias  of  John  Rivers. 

Abbot,  Dr.,  360. 

— George,  Bp.  of  London  and  Abp. 

of  Canterbury,  321,  324,  339.  j 

— Ven.  Henry,  229. 

Aberdeen,  Scotland,  566. 
Abergavenny,  474,  476,  588. 
Abingdon,  Berkshire,  22,  310. 

— Dorothy,  289. 

Abington,  Mr.,  285,  289.  i 

Abroja,  Convent  of  the  Spanish 
Recollects,  429. 

Acton,  alias  of  Thomas  Holford. 

— Place,  Long  Melford,  Suffolk, 

448. 

Adams,  Ven.  John,  no,  116,  588. 
Addingham,  Yorkshire,  68. 

Adelham  or  Adland,  Placidus, 
O.S.B.,  confessor,  564. 

Ailworth  {recte^  Ailwarde),  Con- 
fessor, 105,  590. 

Ainsworth,  John,  323. 

Alabaster,  William,  M.A.,  282. 
Alban,  Father,  i.e.,  Bartholomew  I 
Roe,  O.S.B. 

Alfield,  Ven.  Thomas,  105-106. 
Allen,  Mr.,  Mayor  of  Dover,  62.  ' 

— William,  Cardinal,  2,  20,  40,  83, 

84,  106,  108,  no,  138,  164, 
166,  170,  198,  231,  232. 

Allerton,  near  Liverpool,  329,  330. 
Allison,  William,  confessor,  566. 
Almond,  John,  alias  Francis  La- 
thome,  alias  Molineux,  329- 

338. 

Alston  Moor,  598. 

Altham,  Sir  James,  Judge,  355. 
Ambassador,  the  English,  in  Paris, 
62. 

Ambrose,  vere  Titus  Oates,  514. 


Ambrose,  Fr.,  O.S.B.,  i.e.,  Edward 
Barlow,  392. 

Amias,  'Ven.  John,  vere  Ann,  152- 
153- 

Anchin  College,  near  Douay,  393. 

‘ And — ,’  i.e.,  Fr.  Robert  And- 
[erton],  O.S.B.,  480. 

Anderson,  i.e.,  William  Richardson. 

— Lionel,  alias  Monson,  O.S.B. ,565. 
Anderton,  Ven.  Robert,  114-115, 

589- 

— William,  O.S.F.,  456. 

Andleby  or  Andlaby,  Ven.  William, 

231-232. 

Andrews,  Alderman,  497,  498. 

— Mr.,  Lord  Cobham’s  deputy, 

63,  64. 

— Nathaniel,  497. 

Angel, the,  John  Gavan,  described  as. 
Anglesea,  191,  194. 

Angram  Grange,  near  Appleton  in 
Cleveland,  106. 

Ann,  see  John  Amias. 

Anthony,  executioner,  556. 

Antwerp,  265,  307,  601. 

Ap.  Richard,  Humphrey,  154. 
Appleton  in  Cleveland,  106. 
Aquaviva,  Claudius,  General  S.J., 
289. 

Armagh,  See  of,  574. 

— Abp.  of,  Creagh,  Richard. 
Armstrong,  Sir  Thomas,  537. 

Arras,  265,  294,  363,  421,  457,  485. 
Arrowsmith,  Ven.  Brian  or  Ed- 
mund, S.J.,  362-373,  396,  398, 

505- 

— Dr.  Edmund,  363. 

— Mrs.,  363. 

— Peter,  363. 

— Robert,  362,  363. 

— Thurstan,  362. 

Arthur,  i.e.,  Roger  Filcock. 

Arton,  William,  282. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Arundel,  Earl  of,  see  Howard. 
Arundell,  Henry,  Lord,  of  Wardour, 

514,  538, 569. 

— Lady,  199,  202,  421. 

Dorothy,  Mrs.,  daughter  of 

Lady  Arundell,  202. 

— Sir  John,  5,  198. 

Ashley,  Ven.  Ralph,  S.J.,  285,  288- 

291. 

Ashton,  Air.,  of  Leaver,  343. 

— Sir  Ralph,  376. 

— Robert  [Roger],  186. 

— Sir  Walter,  360. 

Aston,  Cheshire,  136. 

— Lord, 520, 527, 528,  532. 

Atkins,  Sir  Robert,  551,  558. 

— William,  S.J.,  564. 

Atkinson,  apostate  priest,  264. 

— Ven.  James,  224. 

— Alatthew,  O.S.F.,  confessor,  583. 

— Mr.,  232. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  339-342. 

Attwood,  Fr.,  O.P.,  583. 

Aufield,  see  Alfield. 

Austin,  John,  Catholic  author,  456, 

496. 

B 

Babington,  Anthony,  137. 

Babthorp,  or  Bapthorpe,  Grace, 
Lady,  107,  165,  340. 

— Sir  Ralph,  165. 

Bacon,  Judge,  476,  477. 

Bagshaw,  Robert,  129- 132. 

Bailey,  Ven.  Laurence,  280. 

Baker,  Augustine,  474. 

— Ven.  Charles,  alias  David  Lewis, 

S.J.,  557-561. 

— Father,  255 

— Father,  S.J.,  429. 

— James,  alias  Hesketh,  566. 

— Air.,  501. 

Baldwin,  William,  506. 

Bales  or  Bayles,  Ven.  Christopher, 

160-161 , 214. 

Bamber,  Ven.  Edward,  alias  Reding, 
481,  485. 

— Richard,  481 . 

Bancroft,  see  Canterbury,  Abp.  of, 
117. 

604 


Bangor,  North  Wales,  378. 

Barber,  Edmund,  see  Stransham. 
Barber,  Mr.,  182. 

Barefoot,  executioner,  426. 

Barker,  a minister,  425. 

Barkworth,  Ven.  Alark,  alias  Lam- 
bert, O.S.B.,  243-246,  257. 

259,  296. 

Barlow,  Alexander,  392. 

— Ven.  Edward,  O.S.B.,  392-400. 

— Lewis,  first  Alissioner  from  the 

Seminaries,  268,  323. 

— Air.,  105. 

— Dr.  Rudesind,  393,  396,  397. 

— Rev.  Air.,  483. 

— of  Barlow,  392. 

Barnaby,  Francis,  293. 

Barnboro  or  Barnborough  Hall,  566, 

567. 

Barneby,  near  Howden,  Yorkshire. 
II5- 

Barnes,  Robert,  269. 

— Stephen,  182,  184. 

Barnet,  Mr.,  234. 

Barns,  John,  no. 

Barnstaple,  Devonshire,  i,  6. 

Barret,  Dr.,  no,  172,  253. 

Barrow,  true  name  of  William  Har- 

court. 

Barton,  alias  of  Richard  Fletcher. 

— a haberdasher,  112. 

— Christopher,  alias  of  Brian  Cans- 

field,'472. 

Barton  - upon  - the  - Hill,  Cheshire, 
148. 

Barwys,  John,  186. 

Bassage,  Staffordshire,  359. 

Bastard,  Robert,  282. 

Bates,  a servant,  285. 

Bates  or  Battie,  Anthony,  261. 
Battle,  Sussex,  121. 

Bavin,  Air.,  137. 

Baxter,  Elizabeth,  548. 

Bayly,  Andrew,  O.P.,  269. 
Beaumaris,  191,  192,  195. 

— Castle,  191,  192,  193. 

Beaumont,  Judge,  217,  225 , 226 ,597. 
Bedford,  Earl  of,  3. 

Eedingfield,  alias  of  Thomas  Alum- 

ford. 

— Sir  Henry,  494. 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Bedloe,  William,  informer,  45,  513, 
514/516,  517-520,  523,  524, 
527,  528,  538,  540,  552,  556, 

558, 565, 567. 

Beesley,  Ven.  George,  166-168. 

Bell,  Ven.  Arthur,  or  Francis, 
O.S.F.,  448-456,  485. 

— Ven.  James,  loo-ioi . 

— Mr.,  67. 

Bellarmine,  Bd.  Rob.,  283, 439, 440. 
Bellasis,  Lord,  513,  514,  523,  538, 

569- 

Belson,  Ven.  Thomas,  154,155,  157- 

159. 

Benedict,  Father,  name  in  religion 
of  Robert  Cox. 

Bennet,  John,  S.J.,  104,  no. 

— Robert,  Bishop  of  Hereford,  300, 

305. 

— William,  S.J.,  confessor,  566,  588. 
Bergaine,  Joseph,  O.S.F.,  Abp.  of 

Cambray,  448. 

Berkeley,  Lord,  575. 

Bermondsey  Abbey,  Surrey,  138. 
Berry,  Henry,  523,  525. 

Bewdley,  103,  193. 

Bickerdike,  Ven.  Robert,  120. 
Biddulph  of  Biddulph,  Mr.,  520. 
Birchley,  William,  nom  de  plume  of 
Mr.  Austin. 

Bird,  Ven.  James,  188-189. 

Birket,  George,  the  archpriest,  302. 

— Richard,  confessor,  564. 

Bishop,  John,  360. 

— William,  afterwards  Bishop  of 

Chalcedon,  no,  292,  360, 

361. 

— Mr.,  589. 

Blackamoor,  near  Mulgrave  Castle, 

547. 

Blackburn,  Lancashire,  114,  541. 
Blackburn  Hundred,  486. 

— alias  of  William  Thompson. 
Blackwell,  Mr.,  311. 

Blake,  Ven.  Alexander,  160,  161. 
Blandford,  182,  184. 

Blaxton,  see  Polydore  Plasden. 
Blount,  James,  490. 

— Mr.,  339. 

— Mrs.,  139. 

— Thomas,  confessor,  490. 


I Blundel,  James,  282. 

^ Bodenham,  Mr.,  494. 

Bodmin,  Cornwall,  6,  198. 

Body,  John, 78, 83-85. 

— Mrs.,  78. 

Bolron,  Robert,  566,  567. 

Bolton,  John,  269. 

— Bridge,  Yorkshire,  236. 

Boniface,  Father,  name  in  religion 

of  Peter  Wilford. 

— Books,  see  641. 

Bordeaux,  429. 

i Boscobel,  Shropshire,  520. 
Bosgrave,  James,  S.J.,  26,31,56,110. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  199,  200. 

Bosham,  Sussex,  294. 

Bost  or  Boast,  Ven.  John,  202-207, 
597-600. 

Boston,  Lincolnshire,  154. 

Bosville,  John,  292. 

Boulogne,  322. 

Boulton,  Yorkshire,  250. 

Bourne,  Mr.,  3. 

Bowens,  Hugh,  282. 

Bowes,  Ven.  Marmaduke,  106,  107 
j — his  wife,  106. 

! — Sir  William,  203. 
Brackenborough,  Yorkshire,  41 1. 
Brackenbury,  Leonard,  106. 
Bradley,  Richard,  S.J.,  confessor, 
489. 

Bradshaw,  Austin,  O.S.B.,  296. 

— Robert,  282. 

— Mr.,  253. 

Braiston,  Derbyshire,  148. 
Brambridge,  near  Winchester,  179. 
Bramston,  Thomas,  269,  282. 
Branton,  Mr.,  71. 

Brayles,  Warwickshire,  360. 
Brecknock,  South  Wales,  561,  562. 
Brecknockshire,  476. 

Brentford,  Middlesex,  134,  138,  140. 
Brian,  Ven.  Alexander,  S.J.,  26,  28, 
35-39. 

Brickley  (?  Bickley),  Ralph,  S.J., 
268. 

Bridgeman,  Dr.,  Bishop  of  Chester, 

365- 

Bridges,  Mr.,  1 19. 

Bridgewater,  Dr.,  18,  80,  83,  88,  93, 
100,  104,  109,  III,  112. 


605 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Brill,  Oxfordshire,  158. 

Brinkley,  Stephen,  150. 

Bristol,  514. 

Bristow,  Dr.  Richard,  40, 45, 55 , 60. 
Britton,  Ven.  John,  233. 

— his  wife,  233. 

— West  Riding,  233. 

Broadway,  Worcestershire,  277. 
Bromfield,  Captain,  478. 

Bromley,  Judge,  103,  104. 

Bromwich,  Andrew,  564 
Brooks,  Ferdinand,  alias  of  Hugh 

Green. 

Broughton,  Richard,  130. 

— Rev.  Mr.,  31. 

Broughton  Tower,  483. 

Brown,  Ferdinand,  alias  of  Hugh 

Green. 

— Francis,  brother  of  Lord  Monta- 

gue, 1 12. 

— Mr.,  339. 

— Ven.  William,  281. 

Brussels,  363,  448,  452. 

Buckingham,  Dukes  of,  569. 
Buckinghamshire,  291,  588. 

Buckland,  Ralph,  282. 

Buckley,  alias  of  John  Jones. 

— Sigebert,  O.S.B.,  last  monk  of 

Westminster,  299. 

Bull,  the  hangman,  43,  60,  177. 
Bullaker,  Ven.  Thomas,  O.S.F., 
428-435,  454. 

Bullen,  one,  373. 

Bullock,  Peter,  262,  263. 

Bunny,  a minister,  74,  75. 

Burden,  Ven.  Edward,  15 1. 

Burgess,  a preacher,  192. 

Burghwallis,  251. 

Burgoyne,  Justice,  275-278. 

Burleigh  (Burghley),  Lord,  see  Cecil. 
Burnet,  Dr.,  575.^ 

Burnley,  Lancashire,  94,  486. 
Burrowby,  Yorkshire,  251. 

Burscough,  Thomas,  282. 
Burton-upon-Trent,  122. 

Busby,  George,  S.J.,  564. 

Butler,  Thomas,  282. 

Button,  Richard,  293. 

Buxton,  Ven.  Christopher,  130,  146- 
148. 

Bynche  (Binche),  7. 

606 


C 

Cadwallador,  Ven.  Roger,  293, 
299-306. 

Caldwell,  true  name  of  John  Fen- 
wick. 

Cambray,  378,  421. 

— Abp.  of  7,  30,  40,  232,  378,  455. 

see  also  Bergaine  Joseph. 

Cambridge,  218,  407,  421,  440. 

— St.  Bennet’s  College,  439. 

— Trinity  Hall,  323. 

— University  of,  13,  102,  515, 

527- 

Camden,  Mr.,  27,  58,  109. 

Campion,  Edward,  146-148. 

— Blessed  Edmund,  S.J.,  2,  19-30, 

3L  32,  33,  34,  38,  39,  45,  5°, 
51,  52,  54,  64,  73,  no,  170, 
225. 

— his  sister,  28. 

Cancola,  Sheriff,  427. 

Canfield,  Essex,  251. 

— Bennet,  O.  Cap.,  251,  269. 

Cank,  Staffordshire,  275. 

Cansfield,  Brian,  S.].,  alias  Christo- 
pher Barton,  confessor,  472. 

Canterbury,  146. 

— Abp.  of,  31,  199,  228,  240,  506. 

see  Bancroft,  Whitgift. 

Cardiff,  South  Wales,  490. 

— gaol,  544. 

Carey,  Ven.  John  or  Terence,  199, 
200. 

Carleton  Hall,  near  Leeds,  259. 
Carlington,  600. 

— alias  of  Ralph  Corby. 

Carlisle,  Bishop  of,  see  Robinson. 

— Diocese  of,  104,  354. 

Carlton,  Yorkshire,  229. 
Carmarthenshire,  561. 

Came,  a Sheriff,  547. 

Carstairs,  informer,  515. 

Carter,  Ven.  William,  100. 

Cateau  Cambresis,  232. 

Catenby,  Mrs.,  412. 

Catesby,  281,  285,  287. 

Catherick,  Ven.  Edmund,  413-416. 

— George,  456. 

Cave,  Yorkshire,  251. 

Cawley,  Sir  William,  432. 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Cecil,  Robert,  Secretary  of  State, 
afterwards  Earl  of  Salisbury, 
281,  286,  296. 

— William,  Treasurer,  Lord  Bur- 

leigh, 86,  106,  169,  214, 

251. 

Cedder,  William,  no. 

Chaddock,  William,  268. 

Chaise,  Pere  de  la,  516. 

Chalcedon,  Bishop  of,  27,  433. 

see  Bishop,  William. 

see  also  Richard  Smith. 

Challoner,  288. 

Chalons,  Bishop  of,  13. 
Chamberlain,  the  Lord,  205. 
Chamberlane,  Robert,  323. 
Champagne,  382. 

Champney,  Dr.  Anthony,  144,  15 1, 
153,  163,  167,  184,  188,  189, 
228,  232,  234,  235,  248,  249, 
293- 

Chaplain,  William,  confessor,  85. 
Chapman,  Richard,  7. 

Chard,  Somerset,  125. 

Charke,  the  minister,  33,  54. 
Charles,  Mr.,  315. 

— Prince  of  Wales,  359,  435. 

— L,  King,  361,  409,  413,  415,  421, 

569. 

— IL, 510, 515,  519,  569,  582,  583. 
Charnock,  Robert,  292. 
Chasteauneuf,  Marquis  de,  French 

Ambassador,  505. 

Chaterton,  Henry,  282. 

Cheke,  Councillor,  67. 

Chelmsford  gaol,  39. 

Cheney,  Mr.,  501-503. 

Cheshire,  47,  136,  397. 

Chester,  146,  541. 

— Diocese  of,  116,  238. 

— Bishop  of,  373. 

see  also  Bridgeman. 

Chetwin,  Mr.,  520. 

Chidiok,  Dorsetshire,  421. 
Christchurch,  Hampshire,  169. 
Christian  Moderator,  the,  456. 
Christopher  of  St.  Clare,  name  in 

Religion  of  Walter  Coleman  ,401. 
Church,  Mrs.,  497. 

Cisnier,  565. 

Clarjenet,  William,  268,  282. 


Clark,  Thomas,  an  apostate  priest, 
208,  209. 

Claxton,  Cuthbert,  alias  of  Henry 
Morse. 

— or  Clarkson,  Ven.  James,  134, 

138-140. 

— Mrs.,  599. 

— William,  203,  599. 

Clayton,  near  Preston,  Lancashire, 
484. 

Cleaton,  John,  123. 

Clenock,  Carnarvon,  234. 

Clifton,  Thomas,  17. 

Clinch,  Henry,  13. 

— Judge,  234. 

Clitheroe,  Ven.  Margaret,  119. 

her  children,  120. 

her  husband,  120. 

Cobham,  Lord,  62-64. 

Coffin,  John,  475. 

— Edward,  S.J.,  268. 

Coke,  Sir  Edward,  Attorney- 
General,  286. 

— Queen’s  Solicitor,  215,  216 

— Lord  Chief  Justice,  324,  325. 
Colebrook,  Buckinghamshire,  23. 
Coleman,  Edward,  512,  514-518. 

— Walter,  O.S.F.,  confessor,  400, 

401,  442,  445. 

Colins,  John,  263. 

Colleton,  see  Collington. 

Collier,  historian,  299. 

— Edward,  282. 

Collington,  John,  7,  22,  26,  27,  no, 
292. 

Common  Pleas,  Lord  Chief  Justice 
of,  324. 

Compostella,  Abbey  of  St.  Martin, 

317,321- 

Congleton,  Cheshire,  142. 

Constable,  Bennet,  O.S.B.,  con- 
fessor, 566. 

Constance,  Council  of,  559. 

Conyers,  Samuel,  no 

— Mr.,  95,  96. 

Cooper,  John,  confessor,  18. 

Copley,  Baron,  258. 

— John,  282. 

Corby,  Ven.  Ralph,  S.J.,  alias 
Carlington,  457,  458,  460,  461- 
466. 


607 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Cork,  no,  236. 

— Bishop  of,  1 10. 

Corker,  James,  O.S.B.,  Abbot  of 
Lambspring,  512,  540,  565, 

566,  576,  578,  582. 

Cornelius,  Ven.  John,  SJ.,  alias 
Mohun,  198-202,  428. 

his  mother,  202. 

Cornwall,  2,  3,  146,  475,  476. 
Cotesmore,  Thomas,  confessor,  104. 
Cottam,  Ven.  Thomas,  26,  45,  51, 
53,56,59,60,61-68. 

— Hall,  near  Preston,  Lancashire,  85 . 
Cotton,  John,  30. 

Coudridge,  one,  55. 

Couling,  Mr.,  74,  75. 

Council,  Lords  of  the,  107,  109,  465. 

— President  of,  192. 

Couper,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  84. 
Coventry,  Secretary,  514. 

Cox,  alias  of  John  Sugar. 

— Robert  or  Bennet,  O.S.B.,  con- 

fessor, 455,  491. 

Cradock,  false  witness,  26. 

Creagh,  Richard , Abp . of  Armagh , 87 . 
Crippy  (Crepy),  172. 

Crockett,  Ven.  Ralph,  148 
Croft,  one,  482. 

Crois  or  Yris,  Denbighshire,  190. 
Crompton,  Madam,  520. 

Cromwell,  Oliver,  504,  507. 

Crook,  Justice,  309. 

Croston,  Lancashire,  186. 

Crowder,  Captain,  475. 

Crowe,  Ven.  Alexander,  125-129. 
Crowley,  a minister,  15. 

Crowther,  Thomas,  confessor,  108. 
Cumberland,  469. 

Cunsley,  Durham,  79,  160. 


D 

Dade,  Thomas,  Provincial  of  the 
English  Dominicans,  455,  501. 
Dalby,  Ven.  Robert,  152-153. 

Dale,  Justice,  239. 

Danby,  Richard,  of  Cave,  251 
Daniel,  Serjeant,  214. 

— Francis,  448. 

Darley,  Cheshire,  565. 


Darlington,  599. 

David,  one,  407. 

Davies,  Ven.  William,  190-196. 
Davis,  Mr.,  112,  113,  117,  138. 
Dawson,  Edward,  282. 

Day,  Mary,  251. 

Dean,  Ven.  William,  no,  133-135. 
D’Egmont,  Count,  379,  470. 
Delavall,  Mrs.,  498. 

Denbigh,  549. 

— Castle,  104. 

Denham,  beside  Uxbridge,  117. 
Derby,  564. 

— gaol,  130,  132. 

— Earl  of,  102,  1 10. 

— William,  Earl  of,  342. 

Derbyshire,  118,  130,  282. 

Devereux,  alias  of  Nicholas  Woodfen. 
Devonshire,  44,  125,  475,  476.  . 
Dewhurst,  Henry,  pursuivant,  373, 

374, 376. 

Dibdale,  Ven.  Richard,  or  Robert, 
116,  118-121,  170. 

Dickenson,  Ven.  Francis,  162. 

— or  Dickinson,  Ven.  Roger,  168- 

169,596. 

Dieulwart,  in  Lorraine,  408. 

Dimock,  Robert,  Champion  of  Eng- 
land, confessor,  18,  69. 

Dimples,  near  Garstang,  Lanca- 
shire, 541. 

Dinting,  in  Glossopdale,  Derby- 
shire, 129. 

Dodsworth,  Judge,  415. 

Dorchester,  425. 

— gaol,  422. 

Dorsetshire,  35,  83,  94,  125,  588. 
Douay,  4,  27,  31,  62,  67,  70,  73,  90, 
III,  112,  187,  202,  232,  247, 
253,  256,  261,  268,  321,  323, 

338,  340,  342,  346,  358,  363, 

364,  378,  440,  443,  444,  467, 

565. 

— Convent  of  the  English  Francis- 

cans, 401,  447,  448,  451, 452, 
485,  486,  550,  554,  565, 583- 

— English  College,  1-3,  7,  ii,  12, 

13,  16,  17,  20,  26,  30,  35,  39, 
44,  45,  47,  49,  5i,  53,  58,  59, 
61,  68,  69,  72,  79,  84,  85,  93, 
102,  104,  108,  109,  115,  116, 


608 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


I2I,  122,  125,  126,  129,  135, 
138,  146,  147,  15O-153,  159, 
162,  165,  166,  167,  178,  182, 
184,  185,  188,  189,  197,  198, 
204,  208,  210,  227,  228,  231, 
235,  236,  245,  249,  256,  259, 
264-266,  269,  282,  294,  295, 
299,  307,  318,  322,  329,  339, 
342,  345,  350,  352,  353,  354, 
358,  361,  363,  373,  378,  382, 
393,  401,  402,  408,  411,  415, 
417,  421,  457,  467,  472,  473, 
483,  490,  505,  547,  549,  550, 
564,566,568,587,601. 

— St.  Augustine’s  altar,  510. 

Gregory,  Convent  of  the  Eng- 
lish Benedictines,  324,  408, 

474,476,  519- 

James,  473. 

Nicholas’s  Church,  363. 

— University  of,  ii,  72,  210,  393. 

— missioners,  102. 

— College,  President  of,  no,  440, 

457,  473- 

Doudal,  Ven.  James,  236. 

Douglas,  Ven.  George,  125. 

Dover,  21,  22,  62,  445,  459. 

— Castle,  483. 

— Mayor  of,  62,  63. 

Driland,  Christopher,  268. 

Drury,  Ven.  Robert,  291-293. 
Drusame,  Durham,  458. 

Dublin,  199,  461,  576. 

Duckett,  Ven.  James,  261-264,  | 

457.  . 

— Mr.,  his  father,  261,  457. 

— his  wife,  262,  263. 

— Ven.  John,  457-461,  463,  465, 

466. 

— Father,  Prior  of  the  English 

Carthusians,  457. 

Dudley,  Robert,  Earl  of  Leicester, 
19,  40,  108,  134,  135. 

— Lady,  19. 

Duffield,  South,  Hemingborough, 
Yorkshire,  229. 

Dugdale,  Stephen,  527,  528,  533, 
535,  552,  558,  569,  572. 

Duke,  Ven.  Edmund,  163-165, 
600. 

Dunkirk,  444. 


Dunwich,  94. 

Durham,  106,  163,  250,  469,  597, 

599. 

— Bishopric  of,  53,  79,  15L  152, 

185,  203,  206,  458,  461,  462, 
526. 

— County  of,  600. 

— gaol,  164,  204,  207,  469,  566, 

600. 

— Bishop  of,  202. 

— Prebendaries  of,  164. 

Dutton,  Mr.,  478. 

Dyer,  Ven.  Thomas,  O.S.B.,  359. 


E 

Ecclesfield,  Francis,  203. 
Eccleston,  Lancashire,  loi. 

Echard,  Mr.,  historian,  51 1. 
Edmonds,  Robert,  O.S.B.,  339. 
Egerton,  Queen’s  Solicitor,  45. 

Eliot,  George,  informer,  22,  23,  26, 
40-44. 

Elizabeth,  Queen,  18,  52,  54,  66,  99, 
107,  164,  179,  211,  237,  273, 
284,  286,  293,  360,  379-381, 
424,511. 

Ellerton-upon-Swale,  in  Boulton, 
Yorkshire,  250. 

Elmer,  Aylmer,  Bishop  of  London, 
109,  141. 

Elton,  Yorkshire,  231. 

Elvin,  Judge,  217,  226. 

Ely,  Dr.,  alias  Havard,  62-64. 
Errington,  Ven.  George,  229. 

Essex,  39,  364,  496. 

— Earl  of,  574,  575. 

— Robert,  Earl  of,  255. 

Evans,  Baron,  214.' 

— Charles,  Under-Sheriff,  545. 

— Ven.  Philip,  S.J.,  544-547. 

Evers,  Lord,  417. 

— Sir  Francis,  308,  309. 

his  wife,  309. 

Ewer,  Mr.,  532. 

Exeter,  429. 

I — Diocese  of,  125. 
i Exeter,  Bishop  of,  2. 

‘ — Earl  of,  297,  298. 

' Eyton,  Yorkshire,  547. 


2Q 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


F 

Fairfax,  Charles,  548. 

— Mrs.,  548,  549. 

Falkner,  a condemned  prisoner,  310. 

Fawether,  John,  informer,  265. 

Feckenham,  John,  Abbot  of  West- 
minster, confessor,  109. 

Felton,  Blessed  John,  138. 

— Frances,  see  Salisbury,  Mrs. 

— John,  S.J.,  489. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  134,  138-140. 

Fenn,  Frances,  daughter  of  James 

Fenn,  89,  93. 

— Ven.  James,  78,  87,  89-93,  94- 

his  wife,  89. 

— John,  brother  of  James  Fenn,  89, 

93- 

— John,  son  of  James  Fenn,  89. 

— Robert,  brother  of  James  Fenn, 

89,. 93- 

Fenton,  Richard, of  Burghwallis,  251. 

Fenwick,  Ven.  John,  S.J.,  vere 
Caldwell,  519,  525-537- 

Fernsby,  North  Riding,  149. 

Fid,  a servant,  117. 

Field,  a preacher,  59. 

Filbie  or  Filby,  Ven.  William,  26, 
45,51-54,58. 

Filcock,  Ven.  Roger,  S.J.,  alias 
Arthur,  255-257. 

Finch,  Ven.  John,  loi. 

his  wife,  loi. 

Finglow  or  Fingley,  Ven.  John,  13, 
115-116. 

Fisher,  alias  of  George  Muscott. 

— Bd.  John,  303. 

— Ralph,  70,  120,  233. 

Fitch,  William,  name  of  Father 
Bennet  Canfield. 

Fitzherbert,  John,  130. 

Flacsted,  Hampshire,  168. 

Flamborough  Head,  Yorkshire,  219 

Flanders,  7,  53,  58,  200,  219,  257, 
295,  361,  363,  408,  435,  441, 
443,  462,  467,  471,  474,  500, 
514,  528,  534. 

Flathers,  Ven.  Matthew,  alias  Major, 
294. 

Fleetwood,  William,  Recorder  of 
London,  14,  15,  19,  86,  590. 


Fleming,  Mr.,  Counsel  for  the 
Queen,  256. 

Fletcher,  Richard,  alias  Barton,  564. 
Flint,  Thomas,  282. 

Flintshire,  North  Wales,  417. 
Flower,  alias  of  William  Way,  146. 

— Ven.  Richard,  134,  141. 

Floyd,  Henry,  267,  405. 

— Roger,  S.J.,  268. 

Flushing,  in  Zealand,  219. 

Forcer,  Eleanor,  251. 

— Thomas,  204. 

Forde,  Ven.  Thomas,  2,  22,  26,  44- 
47,  87,  124. 

Forster,  Francis,  282. 

Fortescue,  Mrs.,  239. 

Foster,  Judge,  422. 

Fotheringay  Castle,  121. 

Fowler,  Andrew,  no. 

Fowlers  of  St.  Thomas,  the,  359. 
Fox,  the  Martyrologist,  119. 
Framlingham  Castle,  268. 

France,  55,  67,  85,  109,  139,  334, 
422,  429,  513,  534,  587,  589, 
602. 

— King  of,  516. 

— Queen-Mother  of,  465. 

Francis,  Fa.,  name  in  religion  of 

Arthur  Bell. 

Freeman,  Mr.,  13,  273. 

— Thomas,  1 10. 

— Ven.  William,  alias  Mason,  227- 

228. 

French  Agents,  the,  499. 

— Ambassador,  263,  454,  470. 

see  also  Chasteauneuf. 

— Envoy,  464. 

Fulk,  Mr.,  191 , 196. 

Fulthering,  Ven.  John,  280-281. 
Fulthrop,  Ven.  Edward,  232. 


G 

Gage,  Colonel,  468. 

— Francis,  President  of  Douay 

College,  457. 

— George,  D.D.,  455,  501. 

— Sir  Henry,  500,  501. 

— Mrs.,  258. 

— Thomas,  452,  501. 

O 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Gardener,  Sir  Thomas,  Recorder  of 
London,  386,  387. 

Garlick,  Ven.  Nicholas,  no,  izg- 
133- 

Garnet,  Brian,  282. 

— Cecily,  126. 

— Henry,  SJ.,  224,  225,  234,  235, 

257,  282-285,  289-291,  296. 

— Richard,  296. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  282,  296-299. 
Gascoigne,  Mr.,  567. 

— Sir  Thomas,  566,  567. 

— William  of  Thorp,  281. 

Gataker,  Goodaker,  Thomas,  minis- 
ter, 261. 

Gates,  John,  166. 

Gateshead,  599. 

Gaudy,  Justice,  41,  239,  241-243. 
Gavan  or  Gawen,  Ven.  John,  S.J., 
512, 525-537- 

Gelstrop,  Thomas,  of  Burrowby, 
251. 

Genings,  Ven.  Edmund,  alias  Iron- 
monger, 169-179,  181,  185, 217, 
593. 

his  mother,  170. 

— John,  O.S.F.,  Provincial  of 

English  Franciscan  Province, 
169,  174,  177-179,  182, 

448. 

Gentlewomen,  seven  maiden,  168. 
George,  Father,  S.J.,  253. 

Gerard,  John,  285,  289. 

— Margery,  Mrs.  Arrowsmith,  362. 

— Mr.,  520. 

— Ven.  Myles,  162. 

— Nicholas,  362. 

— Sir  Thomas,  362. 

Germany,  460,  534. 

Gervase  or  Jarvis,  Ven.  George, 
O.S.B.,  282,  294-296. 

— Henry,  295. 

Ghent,  436,  443,  444,  462,  499. 

— Tertian  House,  500. 

Gibbons,  Andrew,  78. 

Gibson,  Ven.  William,  229. 

Giffard,  Dr.,  afterwards  President- 

General  of  English  Benedictines 
and  Archbishop  of  Rheims  and 
Primate  of  France,  490. 

— Mr.,  494. 


Giffords  of  Chillington,  the,  519,520. 
Gilbert,  Mr.,  587. 

Gilfortrigs,  Skelsmere,  Westmor- 
land, 261. 

Girlington,  Frances,  457. 
Glamorganshire,  547. 

Glanville,  Justice,  246,  247. 
Gloucester,  116. 

— gaol,  105,  1 13,  124,  252. 

— Bishop  of,  see  Ward. 

Glynne,  Recorder  of  London,  459. 
Godden,  Dr.,  523,  524. 

Godfrey,  Sir  Edmundbury,  514, 

518, 522-524,  530,  531,  536. 
Godofredus,  Mauricius  (John 
Jones),  235. 

Golden  or  Volveden,  Cornwall, 

3,4. 

Goldwell,  Dr.,  Bishop  of  St  Asaph, 
30- 

Gondomar,  Count,  Spanish  Am- 
bassador, 408. 

Goodman,  John,  confessor,  378- 
382. 

— William,  378. 

Goosnargh,  Lancashire,  114,  487. 
Goring’s  Army,  475. 

Granada,  39,  66. 

Grantham,  Lincolnshire,  136. 
Grantly,  Yorkshire,  160. 

Gravelines,  Convent  of  the  Poor 
Clares,  448,  452. 

Gravesend,  324. 

Gray,  John,  269. 

Green,  real  name  Thomas  Rey- 
nolds 

— Ven.  Hugh,  alias  Ferdinand 

Brooks,  421-428. 

— N.,  323. 

— Recorder  of  London,  453. 

— Robert,  523,  524. 

Greenfield,  N , see  Grenville. 
Greenow  Castle,  541. 

Greenway  or  Greenwell,  Father, 

S.J.,  alias  Tesimond,  284-286. 
Greenwich,  107. 

Gregory  XI 1 1.,  172. 

— the  executioner,  438. 

Grenville,  Sir  Richard  (Green- 
field), 2. 

I Grimston,  Ven.  Ralph,  233. 

[I 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Grimthorp,  Yorkshire,  120. 

Grissold  or  Greswold,  Ambrose,  275 

— Clement,  275,  278. 

— Henry,  275. 

— Richard,  282. 

— Ven.  Robert,  275,  277-280. 
Grove,  Ven.  John,  51 1,  519-525- 

— Mrs.,  538. 

Guise,  de.  Cardinal,  Archbishop  of 
Rhemes,  138,  236,  259. 

— Duchess  of,  459,  464. 

Gunter,  Ven.  William,  134,  135. 


H 

Haberley,  Thomas,  268. 

Hackshot,  Ven.  Thomas,  260. 

Hall,  John,  282. 

Hambley,  Ven.  John,  125. 

Hammon  or  Hammond,  John,  400, 
401. 

— Counsellor,  98,  588. 

— Dr.,  36,45,46,  311. 

Hamond  or  Ammot,  one,  497. 
Hampshire,  118,  588,  592. 
Hampsterly,  Durham,  462. 

Hampton  Court,  273. 

Hanbury,  Worcestershire,  448. 
Hanham,  James,  496,  497. 

Hanse,  Bd.  Everard,  13-19,  587. 

— William,  13. 

Harcot,  alias  of  Thomas  White- 
bread. 

Harcourt,  William,  S.J.,  alias 
Waring,  vere  Barro’w,  525-537.  1 
Hardesty,  Ven.  Robert,  159. 
Hardwick,  Durham,  600. 

Harpsfield,  Dr.  Nicholas,  18. 
Harrington,  Ven.  William,  197. 
Harrison,  Ven.  James,  236,  260-261. 

— John,  confessor,  120,  130. 

— Martin,  informer,  107. 

— Ven.  Matthias,  236,  260. 
Harrow-on-the-Hill,  189,  265. 

Hart,  John,  26,  31,  58,  62,  151,  589. 

— Ven.  William,  72-79,  589. 

his  father-in-law,  78. 

his  mother,  77. 


Hartley,  Hampshire,  260,  264. 

— Ven.  William,  no,  149,  150-151 
his  mother,  1 50. 

Harwell,  Madam,  520. 

Hastings,  Walter,  221. 

Hatton,  Sir  Christopher,  40. 
Hauard,  one,  466. 

Haukinson,  one,  83. 

Hauton,  Yorkshire,  66. 

Havard,  alias  of  Dr.  Ely. 

Havre  de  Grace,  94,  171. 

Hawarden,  Flintshire,  104. 
Haydock,  Evan  Win,  85. 

— Ven.  George,  85-89,  92,  94,  247, 

587- 

— in  the  parish  of  Win  wick, 

Lancashire,  362. 

— Richard,  85. 

— Robert,  O.S.B.,  Provincial  of  the 

Benedictines,  456. 

Hayes,  alias  of  Mathias  Harrison. 
Haywood,  Jasper,  S.J.,  no. 

Heath,  Ven.  Henry,  or  Paul,  O.S.F., 
439-447,  451,  485- 

— Sir  Robert,  398,  399. 

Helmes,  alias  of  Thomas  Tunstall. 
Hemerford,  Ven.  Thomas,  87,  94, 

588. 

Hemingborough,  Yorkshire,  230, 
264. 

Heningham,  Mr.,  520. 

Henley,  51. 

Henlip,  Hindlip,  Worcestershire, 
285,  289,  290. 

Henrietta  Maria,  Queen,  412,  505. 
Henri  IV.  of  France,  534. 

Flenry  VHI.,  276,  477. 

Hepburn,  Anthony,  292. 

Hereford  City,  136,  300. 

— Diocese  of,  555. 

— gaol,  301,  555. 

Herefordshire,  108,  300,  306,  450, 
555- 

Herst,  Northumberland,  229. 

— Ven.  Richard,  373-378. 

Hesketh,  alias  of  James  Baker. 

— Ildephonse,  456. 

Hewitt,  Ven.  John,  no,  15 1. 
Heworth,  near  York,  566,  568. 
Hews,  Lewis,  no. 

Heylin,  Dr.,  134. 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Hide,  Mr.,  379. 

Hide,  Leonard,  priest,  268. 

Hierome,  Mr.,  478. 

Higgons,  Mr.,  historian,  51 1. 
Hildesley,  William,  30. 

Hill,  Lawrence,  523,  524. 

— Ven.  Richard,  163-164,  600. 

— Thomas,  D.D.,  O.S.B.,  338. 
Hilliard,  Judge,  217. 

Hodgson,  Ven.  Sydney,  174,  185. 
Hodson,  Thomas,  282. 

Hogg,  Ven.  John,  600. 

Holden,  Yorkshire,  229. 

Holford,  Ven.  Thomas,  alias  Acton, 

134,  136-138. 

Holiday,  Ven.  Richard,  163-164, 
600. 

Holkins,  one,  301. 

Holland,  363. 

— Henry,  587,  590. 

— Mr.,  105. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  S.J.,  435-439. 

Holme  Lacey,  Herefordshire,  136. 
Holmes,  Robert,  Confessor,  104,  10 
Holmes,  Robert,  confessor,  104,  105. 
Holt,  Father,  225,  227. 

Holyhead,  190. 

Holywell,  Wales,  520. 

— St.  Winefrede’s  Well,  290. 

Holy  wood,  Christopher,  S.J.,  268. 
Hood,  John,  489. 

Hopton,  Lady,  40. 

— Sir  Owen,  Lieutenant  of  the 

Tower,  23,  24,  28,  32,  36, 
37,  39,  43,  55,  86. 

Horner,  Ven.  Nicholas,  160,  161, 
214. 

— Ven.  Richard,  236. 
Houghton-le-Spring,  Durham,  206. 
Houldone,  Yorkshire,  166. 

Hounslow,  Middlesex,  134,  138, 

588. 

— Heath,  98. 

How,  Sheriff,  538. 

Howard,  Francis,  510. 

— Henry,  Earl  of  Arundel,  510. 

Duke  of  Norfolk,  510,  569. 

— Philip,  Earl  of  Arundel,  108, 

602. 

— Thomas,  Earl  of  Arundel,  569. 

Duke  of  Norfolk,  510,  569. 

613 


Howard,  William,  Viscount  Stafford, 

538,  569-574- 

Mary,  his  wife,  569. 

— of  Effingham,  Charles,  Lord,  29, 

35. 

Howards  of  Norfolk,  the,  510. 
Howden,  Yorkshire,  115. 

Howell,  Dr.,  183. 

Howlet,  Wales,  104. 

Hoxton,  Hogsdon,  Middlesex,  112, 
113- 

Hoy,  John,  163-164. 

I Huddleston,  alias  of  Edmund 
Catherick. 

i Huddlestone,  Sir  Edmund,  239. 
Hughes,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  104. 

— Edward,  268. 

Hull,  400,  514. 

— Castle,  232. 

, — alias  of  Edward  Oldcorne. 
Humphreys,  Ven.  Lawrence,  592- 

594. 

Hunt,  Eleanor,  237,  238. 

— Gilbert,  323. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  245-247,  248. 

Thurstan,  259-260. 

' Hunter,  Anthony,  S.J.,  561. 
Huntingdon  (Hastings),  Earl  of. 
Lord  President  of  the  North, 
74,  107,  1 19,  165,  203,  207, 
220-224,  226,  227. 

Plurrock  in  Eccleston,  Lancashire, 
238,  244,  248. 

Hurst  Castle,  583. 

Husband,  printer,  456. 

Hutton,  Yorkshire,  354. 

Hutton,  Dean  of  York,  74. 

— N.,  O.S.B.,  323. 

— Richard,  loi. 


I 

Igmanthorp,  251. 

[ Ignatius,  Father,  see  Walter  Price. 

— a S.  Clara,  name  in  religion  of 
Francis  Levison,  554. 
Ilchester,  90. 

Imperial  Resident,  the,  463,  464. 
India,  334. 

Indies,  the,  61,  295. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Indies,  West,  429. 

Ingleby,  Mr.,  567. 

— Ven.  Francis,  1 15,  158. 

— John,  106. 

— Sir  William,  Knt.,  115. 

Ingram,  Ven.  John,  204-207,  597, 

599. 

Ipswich,  Suffolk,  149. 

Ireland,  20,  38,  53,  98,  no,  190, 
191,  196,  251,  268,  329,  330, 
461,  464,  516,  549,  574-576, 
580,  581. 

— Mr.,  447. 

— Richard,  378. 

— Ven.  William,  S.J.,  alias  Iron- 

monger, 512,  519-525- 
Ironmonger,  alias  of  Edmund 
Genings. 

— alias  of  William  Ireland. 

Italy,  55,  86,  219,  355,  534,  574. 


J 

Jackson, John, 293. 

James  I.,  123,  229,  232,  273,  275, 
281,  284,  293,  307,  311,  332, 
333,  348,  358,  359,  361,  379, 
380. 

— II.,  565,  583. 

— Ven.  Edward,  148. 

— John,  30. 

Jareslaw,  in  Poland,  58. 

Jarnagan,  Jerningham,  George,  440. 

Jees,  Nicholas,  282. 

Jefferies,  a pursuivant,  506. 

Jeffreys,  Judge,  4. 

Jenison,  a witness,  569. 

— Michael,  251. 

— Thomas,  S.J.,  537. 

Jenkinson,  Sir  Thomas,  356. 

Jesuits,  General  of,  516. 

Jetter,  John,  confessor,  109. 

John  of  Plain  Dealing,  see  John 
Nutter,  96. 

John  Baptist,  Father,  name  in 
religion  of  Thomas  Bullaker. 

Johnson,  alias  of  Laurence  Richard- 
son. 

Joachim  of  St.  Ann,  Father,  name  in 
religion  of  John  Wall. 


Johnson,  Cuthbert,  323. 

— Francis,  alias  of  John  Wall. 

— Laurence,  alias  of  Laurence 

Johnson. 

— Master  Keeper  of  Newgate,  387 

— Ven.  Robert,  26,  45,  46,  49-51, 

124,  587. 

I Jones,  City  Marshal  of  Hereford, 
450- 

— Ven.  Edward,  162-163. 

— Ven.  John,  O.S.F.,  alias  Buckley, 

234-235,  238,  239. 

— Richard,  546. 

Justice,  Lord  Chief,  the,  239,  254, 
433, 578, 580. 


K 

Kaines,  Edward,  30. 

— Humphrey,  30. 

Kelfield,  251. 

Kellison,  Dr.,  352,  378,  440,  490. 
Kemble  or  Kimble,  Ven.  John,  555- 

557.. 

— Captain  Richard,  556. 

Kemish,  David  Joseph,  566. 

Kemp,  John,  6. 

Kempe,  Boniface,  O.S.B.,  alias  Kip- 
ton,  456. 

Kent,  17,  146,  147,  162,  163. 
Kentchurch,  Herefordshire,  555. 
Killam,  Yorkshire,  220. 

Kilvington,  Yorkshire,  548. 

King,  a minister,  375. 

— John,  Bishop  of  London,  324, 

325,  327, 330-332,  337. 

Kingsmel,  Justice,  242,  276,  278. 
Kingsmell,  Mr.,  84. 

Kingston,  Surrey,  146. 

Kinson  or  de  Kinsonio,  see  Roger 
Dickinson. 

Kipton,  alias  oi  Boniface  Kempe. 
Kirby,  Ven.  Luke,  26,  45,  51,  53- 
60. 

Kirkdale  House,  Eyton,  Yorkshire, 

547. 

Kirkeman,  Ven.  Richard,  68-70. 

• Kitenbushel,  Yorkshire,  280. 

I Knaresborough,  Yorkshire,  120,417. 

614 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Knaresborough,  Mr.,  393,  412,  481, 

483,  549. 

Knevet,  Sir  Philip,  388. 

Knight,  Leonard,  229. 

— N.,  269. 

— Ven.  William,  229. 

— William,  uncle  of  Ven.  William 

Knight,  230. 

Knightley,  Robert,  496. 

Knighton,  a minister,  230. 

Knollys,  or  Knowles,  Sir  Francis, 

28,  34,  35,  157. 


L 

Lacy,  Ven.  Brian,  174,  185. 

— Richard,  S.J.,  confessor,  566. 

— Ven.  William,  66-68,  70,  74. 

his  wife,  66,  601. 

La  Fere,  172. 

Laithwait,  Thomas,  282. 

Lambert,  alias  of  Mark  Barkworth.  j 
Lambspring  Abbey,  565,  582.  i 

Lampley,  Ven.  William,  15 1. 
Lampton,  Ven.  Joseph,  189-190. 
Lancashire,  59,  61,  105,  132,  162, 
247,  248,  259,  280,  364,  366, 
393,  435,  462,  507,  508,  526, 

550,565,589. 

Lancaster,  loi,  102,  114,  342-344,  , 
364,  397,  398,  483,  487,  564. 

— Castle,  249,  343,  398,  481,  483, 

485,486,505. 

— gaol,  362. 

— Mr.,  27,  253. 

Lanchester,  458.  ! 

Langdale,  Cuthbert,  pursuivant,  1 
412,413.  I 

Langhorne,  Ven.  Richard,  512,  538-  j 
541. 

Langley,  Ven.  Richard,  120. 

Laon, 164, 168,  249,  361  n. 

Lapide  a,  Cornelius,  S.J.,  601. 
Lartington,  Durham,  600. 

Lascelles,  Christopher,  alias  of 
John  Lockwood. 

-N.,4ii. 

— Sir  Robert,  41 1. 

Lathom,  Francis,  alias  of  John 
Almond. 


Launceston,  3. 

— Castle,  6. 

Law,  Philip,  30. 

Lawson,  Mr.,  95. 

Laymesley,  Yorkshire,  250. 

'Leak,  Thomas,  323. 

Leaver,  Lancashire,  343. 

Ledbeater,  pursuivant,  498. 

Ledsam,  Richard,  pursuivant,  498. 
Lee,  alias  of  Richard  Sergeant. 
Leeds,  121,  122. 

Leicester,  566. 

Leicester,  Earl  of,  see  Dudley. 
Leicestershire,  527. 

Leigh,  or  Lee,  a minister,  366,  369, 

371. 

— Ven.  Richard,  134,  140-141. 
Leighland,  Somerset,  475. 
Lenchester,  see  Lanchester. 
Leominster,  Herefordshire,  112,301. 
I’Estrange,  Sir  Hammond,  354,  356. 

— Lady,  354. 

— Sir  Roger,  51 1,  522. 

Levison,  William,  553,  554. 

Lewis,  David,  alias  of  Charles  Baker 

S.J. 

— Dr.,  45,  46. 

— Father,  39,  66. 

Leyburn,  James,  Lord  of  Skels- 
mere,  261. 

‘ Library  of  Piety,’  see  Thomas 
Holland. 

Lichfield,  Staffordshire,  169,  172. 

— Diocese  of,  104,  150,  236,  260. 
Liege,  435,  462,  468,  500,  526,  527. 

— Jesuit  College,  499,  504,  525. 
Lille,  295. 

Lincoln,  168,  457,  489. 

— Saracen’s  Head,  245. 

— Earl  of,  18. 

Lincolnshire,  186,  253,  519,  565. 
Line,  Ven.  Anne,  257-259,  266. 
i Lion,  Ven.  John,  236. 
i Lisbon,  English  College,  490,  561, 

i 564. 

‘ Little  John, ’or  Nicholas  Owen,  291 . 
Little-Beck,  near  Whitby,  548. 
Littleton,  Humphrey,  285,  291. 

— Lord  Keeper,  380. 

Liverdun,  Dean  of,  see  Pitts. 

i Llanidloes,  Montgomeryshire,  102. 


^^5 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Lloyd,  Dr.,  525. 

— Yen.  John,  282,  544-547. 

— Walter,  561. 

— William  confessor,  561-566. 
Lockwood,  Christopher,  41 1. 

— Yen.  John,  alias  Christopher^ 

Lascelles,  282,  323,  41 1- 

416. 

Loder,  Gilbert,  .4.26. 

Logher,  Justice,  544. 

Londiniensis,  Parochu3  see  Thomas 
Somers,  322. 

London,  3,  7,  21-23,  44,  51,  57,  ; 
61,  62,  98,  III,  118,  158,  162, 
171,  172,  182,  184,  187,  199, 
200,  215,  265,  292,  318,  322, 
323,  365,  385,  398,  430,  437, 
440,  449,  450,  452,  455,  526-  ! 
528,  550,  553,  555,  556,  588, 
596.  i 

Bedlam,  117,  156. 

Bridge,  10,  93,  262. 

Christ’s  Hospital,  19. 

Clerkenwell,  134,  150,  15 1,  163,  : 
506. 

Conduit,  the,  112,  137,  163.  ' 

Cornhill,  480. 

Covent  Garden,  515.  I 

Denmark  House,  506.  1 

Gray’s  Inn,  27,  218,  251. 

Gray’s  Inn  Fields,  137,  176,  185, 

592. 

Guildhall,  286.  ' 

Gurney  House,  497. 

Haberdashers’  Hall,  496,  498. 
Holloway,  15 1.  I 

Inns  of  Court,  1 12,  467,  471.  ' 

King’s  Bench,  the,  252,  475,  j 
476,  569,  579, 589.  i 

King’s  Bench  Bar,  25,  217,  477,  i 

578.  I 

Lambeth,  235. 

Lincoln’s  Inn  Fields,  134,  136. 

Mile  End,  134,  150. 

Green,  135,  150. 

Moorfields,  480,  498. 

Paddington,  565. 

Primrose  Hill,  522. 

St.  James’  Park,  520. 

Smithfield,  161,  350. 

Somerset  House,  506,  514,  523. 


London  {contd.) — 

Temple,  the,  474. 

— Middle,  the,  119. 

Theatre,  the,  134,  135,  150. 
Tower,  the,  12,  25,  28,  29,  31,  33, 
36,  39,  45-47,  50,  52,  53,  64, 
86-88,  93,  94,  97,  99,  100,  108, 
109,  116,  123,  150,  157,  186. 
203,  204,  211,  214,  217,  220, 
222,  224,  248,  266,  285-287, 
290,  296,  297,  569,  570,  571, 
582, 602. 

Tower  Beauchamp,  the,  18. 
Tower  Hill,  571 . 

— Wharf,  109,  248. 

Whitehall,  380,  514,  536. 
Churches : 

St.  Andrews,  Holborn,  138. 

St.  Catherine’s,  Thames,  South 
side,  109. 

St.  Clement’s,  512. 

St.  Edmund’s,  Lombard  Street, 
261. 

St.  George’s,  243. 

St.  Giles  in  the  Fields,  468, 537, 
582. 

St.  Paul’s,  173. 

— Churchyard,  85,  286,  296, 

587. 

— Dean  and  Chapter  of, 
497- 

St.  Saviour’s,  321. 

St.  Thomas  Watering,  Camber- 
well, 243. 

Prisons : 

Bridewell,  134,  141-143,  156, 
157,  184,  213,  222,  288,  410, 

435,  445,  447,  472- 
— Little  Ease,  123,  139. 

Clink,  the,  149,  239,  378,  491, 

505- 

Coldharbour  prison,  28. 

Fleet,  the,  17,  139,  406,  408, 
417,  419. 

Gatehouse,  the,  17,  109,  262, 
285,  296,  324,  339,  345,  346, 
353,  379,  386,  498,  506,  537. 
Counter,  Compter,  the,  18, 
36,  104,  262,  445. 

Counter,  the,  in  the  Poultry, 
139- 


616 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


London  Prisons  (co?itd,) — 

Counter,  the,  in  Wood  Street, 
.117- 

King’s  Bench,  109,  477,  479. 
Marshalsea,  13,  30,  31,  58, 

64,  90,  92,  95-97,  107,  109, 

587. 

Newgate,  ii,  13,  17,  43,  104, 

134,  13s,  137,  140,  175- 

177,  181,  197,  217,  239,  255- 
257,  259,  262,  267,  297,  324,  : 
333,  347-350,  353,  382,  386, 

387,  401,  404,  406,  409,  433, 
434,  438,  445,  451,  459,  461,  ! 
463-465,  468-470,  500,  501,  I 
520,  523,  529,  537,  538,  558, 

559,  579-  , I 

— Common  Side,  402.  ; 

— Limbo,  in,  21 1,  214,  216,  ! 
266. 

— Little  Ease,  336. 

New  Prison,  408,  421 , 436. 

Old  Bailey,  17,  239,  254,  258,  | 
297,  324,  386,  400,  409,  436,  I 
464,  507,  516,  525,  538,  540,  i 
564-566. 

Streets : j 

Cheapside,  63 ; Cheapside  | 
Cross,  431 ; Fetter  Lane,  160;  : 
Fleet  Street,  112,  160,  161,  ^ 
163,  167;  Gray’s  Inn  Lane, 
161 ; Holborn,  174,  185, 

388,  404,  419,  587,  592;  I 

Holborn,  the  Bell  in,  137;  j 
Holborn,  the  Exchequer  in,  1 
137;  Long  Acre,  499;  Lud-  | 
gate  Hill,  173  ; Maiden  Lane,  1 
408;  New  Fish  Street,  the  ' 
Star  in,  64;  St  Margaret’s  i 
Hill,  240.  • 

Bishop  of,  2,  31,  229;  see  Aylmer;  ! 
King;  Ravis;  Lord  Mayor  of,  | 
324,  436,  445;  Recorder  of,  | 
254,  324,  326,  327,  434; 
also  Fleetwood;  Gardener;  | 
Glynne;  Green;  Montague;  1 
Steel.  i 

Sheriff  of,  431,  437. 

Londonderry,  576. 

Long,  alias  of  Richard  Sergeant. 
Longford,  Derbyshire,  30. 


Long  Melford,  Suffolk,  448. 
Lorraine,  67. 

Louth,  Lincolnshire,  182. 

Louvain,  165,  297. 

— the  Convent  of  English  Augus- 
tine nuns,  93. 

Lovett,  Lady,  138,  139. 

Low  Countries,  the,  521. 

Low  Hall,  Yorkshire,  120. 

Lowe,  Ven.  John,  116-117. 

Ludlow,  192,  193. 

Ludlam,  Robert,  1 30-1 33. 

Lumax,  Lomax,  James,  confessor, 
104. 

Lumsden,  Alexander,  Dominican, 
566. 

Luther,  366,  424,  425. 

Lydcot,  Mr.,  22. 

Lyford,  Berks,  22,  45,  51. 

Lyme,  Dorsetshire,  422. 

Lynn,  Norfolk,  354. 

Lyons,  in  France,  61,  113. 

Lythis,  Matthew,  548. 

M 

Mabbs,  Lawrence,  O.S.B.,  confessor, 
402. 

Madrid,  435. 

Mahony,  Ven.  Charles,  O.S.F., 

. 549-550* 

Maire,  Robert,  600. 

Major,  alias  of  Matthew  Flathers. 
Malden,  apostate,  482. 

Malton,  Yorkshire,  189,  417. 
Manchester,  loi,  102,  109,  392, 
489. 

Manchester,  Earl  of,  457. 

Mangers,  Rev.  Mr.,  169,  198. 
Manhood,  Judge,  see  Manwood. 
Manwaring,  Justice,  69. 

Manwood,  Judge,  4. 

Mapperton,  98. 

Marchant,  Charles,  454. 

— Father,  Commissary  General, 
O.S.F.,  444,  451. 

Maria,  Infanta,  435. 

Mariana,  the  Spanish  Jesuit,  534. 
Marianus,  Father,  name  in  religion 
of  William  Nappier. 

Markhams,  26. 


617 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Marriot,  one,  258. 

Marsden,  Ven.  William,  114-115, 

589. 

arsh,  or  Marshal,  alias  of 
William  Wall. 

— John,  1 10. 

— Mr.,  540. 

Martin  of  St.  Felix,  name  in  religion 
of  John  Woodcock. 

— Gregory,  2,  45. 

— John,  483. 

— Mr.,  478. 

— Ven.  Richard,  134,  141. 

— Sir  Richard,  239. 

— Sheriff,  46,  48,  53,  55,  56. 

Martin’s  Town,  Dorset,  116, 

Mary,  Queen,  50,  51,  55. 

Maskew,  Bridget,  confessor,  230. 
Mason,  alias  of  William  Freeman. 

— Angelus,  Provincial,  O.S.F.,  442- 

444. 

— Ven.  John,  174,  185. 

Massey,  George,  541,  542. 

— Mr.,  541. 

Matthews,  Tobie,  Archbishop  of 
York,  202. 

Maurus,  Father,  name  in  religion  of 
William  Scott.  I 

Mawson,  Ven.  John,  338-339. 

■ — Peter,  261. 

Maxfield,  Ven.  Thomas,  344-353. 
Maybury,  Laurence,  see  Mowbray. 
Mayhew,  or  Mayo,  Thomas,  pur- 
suivant, 386,  387,  452, 501. 
Mayne,  or  Maine,  Ven.  Cuthbert, 
priest,  1-6,  39,  601 . 

his  uncle,  i . 

Meares,  a keeper  of  Newgate,  388. 
Mears,  Laurence,  Judge,  107. 
Mendale,  Humphrey,  282. 
Menthorpe,  Yorkshire,  166. 
Mercurianus,  Everardus,  General, 
S.J.,  21. 

Mercy,  a girl  called,  242.  i 

Meredith,  Jonas,  7,  no. 
Merionethshire,  317. 

Mervinia,  John  de,  name  in  religion  ' 
of  John  Roberts. 

Metham,  Thomas,  S.J.,  confessor, 
186. 

Meynell,  Mrs.,  of  Kilvington,  548. 


Mico,  Edward,  S.J.,  confessor,  537. 
Middlesex,  Sheriff  of,  389,  437. 
Middleton,  Yorkshire,  237. 

— Ven.  Antony,  162-163. 

— Margaret,  see  Clithero. 

— Ven.  Robert,  259-260. 

— William,  of  Stockeld,  251. 
Midgeall,  Mr.,  487. 

Millard,  Martin,  keeper  of  Dorches- 
ter gaol,  422. 

Miller,  or  Milner,  Ven.  Ralph,  168, 
594-596. 

his  wife,  168. 

Millington,  Edward,  323. 

Mohun,  alias  of  John  Cornelius. 
Molanus,  115,  117,  123,  125,  126, 
151,  163,  412. 

Molineux,  alias  of  John  Almond. 
Molton,  Captain,  490. 

Momford,  Thomas,  alias  Beding- 
field,  confessor,  537. 

Monmouth  gaol,  558. 
Monmouthshire,  544,  557. 
Montacute,  Somerset,  89. 
Montague,  Lord,  112. 

— Sir  Henry,  Recorder  of  London, 

287. 

Montaigu,  Our  Lady  of,  in  Brabant, 
443,444- 

Montserrat,  Spain,  456. 

Moor,  Father,  255,  256,  268. 

— Ven.  Hugh,  134-136. 

Moors  in  Parley,  Dorsetshire,  169. 
More,  Bd.  Thomas,  12,  395. 

— Under  Sheriff’s  deputy,  243,  244. 
Morgan,  alias  of  Philip  Powel. 

— Catherine,  474. 

— Ven.  Edward,  alias  Singleton, 

41 7-42 I. 

Morin,  Gerard,  confessor,  180. 
Morley,  Lord,  496. 

Morrice,  Mr.,  Queen’s  Counsellor, 
40. 

— Richard,  548. 

Morris,  Robert,  103. 

Morse,  Ven.  Henry,  S.J.,  alias 
Cuthbert  Claxton,  467-472. 
Morton,  Ven.  Robert,  134-136  . 
Mostyn,  Mr.,  588. 

Mount,  in  Goosnagh,  Lancashire, 
167. 


618 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Mounteagle,  Lord,  284. 

Mowbray,  or  Maybury,  Lawrence, 
566, 567. 

Much  Wooton,  Lancashire,  329. 
Muck  Hall,  Essex,  497. 

Mulgrave  Castle,  Whitby,  548. 
Mullan,  John,  236. 

Munday,  Anthony,  a spy,  26,  30, 
45,  46,  48,  50,  54,  55,  57,  88. 
Munden,  or  Mundyn,  Ven.  John, 
87,  98-105,  588. 

Munson,  Monson,  alias  of  Anderson. 
Muresley,  Buckinghamshire,  260. 
Muscott,  George,  alias  Fisher,  Presi- 
dent of  Douay,  440,  472-474. 
Musgrave,  Edward,  598. 

Mush,  John,  confessor,  120,  282. 
Myners,  Henry,  confessor,  402. 

N 

Nappier,  Napier,  Ven.  George,  307- 

317- 

— William,  Russell,  0.S.F.,565« 
Naylor,  William,  15 1. 

Needham,  Oswald,  293,  323. 

Nelson,  Ven.  John,  7-1 1 , 104. 

— Sir  N.,  Knt.,  7. 

Netherlands,  219. 

Neville,  Charles,  Earl  of  Westmor- 
land, 40,  108. 

— Fulk,  282. 

Neville,  Francis,  S.J.,  confessor,  537 
Newall,  pursuivant,  117,  137. 
Newcastle,  462,  467,  469,  508,  599. 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  485. 
Newhaven,  94. 

Newington,  235. 

Newport,  457. 

— Charles,  282. 

— Ven.  Richard,  alias  Smith,  282, 

323,  324,  326-329. 

Nichols,  Ven.  George,  153-158. 
—John,  56. 

Nidd, 233. 

Nightingal,  N.,  282. 

Nonsuch,  Surrey,  64. 

Norcross,  Christopher,  373. 
Norfolk,  57,  218,  245. 

— Duke  of,  108,  512,  602. 

see  Howard. 


Normandy,  109. 

Norrice,  Silvester,  D.D.,  282. 
Norris,  pursuivant,  86,  112. 

— Richard,  no. 

North,  Lord  President  of,  see 
Hastings,  Sheffield. 
Northamptonshire,  13,  39,  281,  328 
Northumberland,  69. 

— Countess  of,  147. 

— Earl  of,  see  Percy. 

Norton,  one,  27. 

— Ven.  John,  250. 

— Mrs.,  250. 

— pursuivant,  35,  36. 
Norton-Conyers,  Yorkshire,  250. 
Nortons,  of  Norton-Conyers,  the, 

250. 

Norwich,  166. 

— gaol,  354. 

— St.  Bennet’s  Gate,  357,  358. 
Nottingham,  282. 

Nutter,  Ven.  John,  87,  94-97,  247. 
Robert,  no,  247-249. 

O 

Oates,  Titus,  45,  511-514,  516,  517, 
519,  520,  522,  525,  527,  528, 
533,  535,  537,  538,  54°,  552, 

556,  558,  565,  567, 569, 572. 

Oatlands,  Surrey,  64. 

Oldcorne,  Ven.  Edward,  S.J.,  285, 
288-291. 

Orton,  in  Flintshire,  102. 

— Mr.,  26,  62,  1 10. 

Osbaldeston,  in  Blackburn,  Lanca- 
shire, 208. 

— apostate,  482. 

— Ven.  Edward,  208-210. 

— the  family,  208. 

Osborn,  Mr.,  281. 

Ostcliffe,  George,  102. 

Owen,  Henry,  265. 

— John, 285. 

— Justice,  214. 

— Nicholas,  confessor,  288,  289-291 , 

588. 

Oxford,  22,  38,  100,  119,  153,  156- 
158,  198,  217,  218,  238,  307, 
311,  402,  500,  565. 

I — Castle,  154. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Oxford  gaol,  307,  309. 

Oxford  Colleges  and  Halls : 

Alborn  Hall,  St.  Alban’s  Hall,  i ; 
Brazen-nose  College,  47,  59, 
6i ; Christ  Church,  310,  317; 
Corpus  Christi  College,  89; 
Exeter  College,  30;  Gloucester 
Hall,  89,  360;  Hart  Hall,  35; 
Lincoln  College,  51,  72;  Mer- 
ton College,  265;  New  College, 
84,  98,  99,  204,  283;  St.  John’s 
College,  2,  19,  in;  Trinity 
College,  44,  15 1,  237;  St. 

Catherine’s  Wheel,  154;  St. 
Mary’s,  123. 

— University  of,  58,  94,  122,  123, 

154, 378. 

— Vice-Chancellor  of,  154-156,310- 

312. 

Oxfordshire,  58,  123. 


P.  of  L.,  see  Pointz  of  Leighland. 
Pace,  Mr.,  74-76. 

Packington,  Sir  John,  551. 

Page,  Ven.  Anthony,  189. 

— Ven.  Francis,  S.J.,  258,  263-268. 

— James,  see  Page,  Francis. 

Paget,  Lord,  108. 

Paine,  Ven.  John,  2,  39-44,  47. 

his  brother,  42. 

Palasor,  or  Pallicer,  Ven.  Thomas, 
250-251. 

Palmer,  Mr.,  74. 

Parcombe,  Devon,  475. 

Paris,  61,  149,  150,  378,  457,  460, 
5^2, 561. 

— Benedictine  Monastery  at,  564. 

— the  Sorbonne,  361,  457. 

— Bishop  of,  150. 

Parker,  Mr.,  496. 

Parry,  Charles,  565. 

Parsons,  Persons,  Robert,  S.J.,  20, 
31,  36,  225,  227,  589. 

his  father,  35. 

Pattenson,  or  Patteson,  Ven. 

William,  185-186. 

Paul  V.,  293. 


I Paul  of  St.  Francis,  name  in  religion 
of  Matthew  Atkinson. 

— St.  M.  Magdalen,  name  in  religion 

of  Henry  Heath. 

Peckham,  Sir  George,  117. 
Pembridge  Castle,  Welsh-Newton, 
555- 

Pendrels  of  Boscobel,  the,  519,  520. 
Penketh,  John,  S.J.,  564. 

Penrith,  Cumberland,  202. 

Percy,  conspirator,  284. 

— Henry,  Earl  of  Northumberland, 
108,  147. 

— Thomas,  Earl  of  Northumber- 
land, 108. 

Pererius,  283. 

Perkins,  Mr.,  360. 

— Sir  Christopher,  apostate  Jesuit, 

293- 

Peterborough,  439. 
i Petre,  Lady,  39,  41. 

— Lord,  538,  569,  582. 

— Sir  William,  41. 

Philip  IL,  King  of  Spain,  118,  292, 

350. 

Philips,  John,  6. 

Phillips;  Queen’s  confessor,  456. 
Pibush,  Ven.  John,  252-253. 
Pickering,  Ven.  Thomas,  O.S.B., 
511,  512,  519-525- 
Piers,  Archbishop  of  York,  165. 
Pierson,  N.,  282. 

Pikes,  Ven.  William,  169. 

Pilchard,  Ven.  Thomas,  no,  121. 
Pilson,  Justice,  102. 

Pitts,  Dr.,  299. 

— Arthur,  Dean  of  Liverdun,  86, 

1 10. 

Pius  V.,  15. 

Place  Hall,  Goosnargh,  487. 

Plasden,  Ven.  Polydore,  174-176, 
182,  184-185. 

Plat,  Margaret,  541,  542. 
Plessington,  near  Blackburn,  541. 

— Robert,  541. 

— Ven.  William  or  John,  541-543- 
Plessingtons,  the,  of  Pleasington, 

541- 

Plunkett,  Bd.  Oliver,  Archbishop  of 
Armagh,  572-582. 

Plymouth,  429. 


630 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Plymouth,  Mayor  of,  429. 

Pointz,  Sir  Nicholas,  89,  90. 

— Mr.,  of  Leighland,  475. 
Pont-a-Mousson,  in  Lorraine,  67, 

219. 

Pontoise,  234,  235. 

Poole,  Edward,  confessor,  109. 

— Lady,  42. 

Popham,  Attorney- General,  Lord 
Chief  Justice,  27,  45,  46,  86, 
93,  97,  99,  214,  216,  253,  258, 
262,  263,  266,  267. 

‘Pope’s  Champion,’  Father  Campion, 
22. 

Pormort,  or  Portmore,  Ven. 
Thomas,  186. 

Portugal,  Resident  of  the  King  of, 
460. 

Postgate,  or  Posket,  Ven.  Nicholas, 

. 547-549. 

Potinger,  Simon,  282. 
Poulton-le-Fylde,  Lancashire,  the 
Moor  near,  481. 

Pounde,  Thomas,  S.J.,  29,  129. 
Powel,  Mr.,  303. 

— Ven.  Philip,  alias  Morgan,  O.S.B., 

474-481. 

— Roger,  474. 

Powis,  Lord,  514,  538,  569. 

Prague,  in  Bohemia,  20,  21. 

Prance,  Miles,  522-524, 528, 552, 558. 
Prat,  John,  323. 

Price,  Ven.  Robert,  456,  457. 

— Walter,  558. 

Prichard,  Ven.  Humphrey,  159. 

— James,  Under  Sheriff  of  Hereford- 

shire, 300. 

Priest,  Thomas,  323. 

Priest’s  Pool,  near  Durham,  600. 
Preston,  Lancashire,  85 , 344, 483 ,484. 
Promotor  Fidei^  288. 

Prynne,  William,  379. 

Puddington,  Cheshire,  541. 

Puente,  de,  Didacus,  O.S.B.,  349. 
Pugh,  Henry,  104. 

— John,  103,  104. 

Q 

Queen’s  Attorney,  see  Popham. 

— Solicitor,  see  Egerton. 


R 

Raglan,  Monmouthshire,  135, 

558. 

Raines,  George,  251. 

Raissius,  Arnoldus,  53,  126,  146, 
163,  261. 

Randolph,  Mr.,  554. 

Ratcliffe,  a pursuivant,  172. 

Raven’s  Hall,  Laymesley,  250. 

Ravis,  Thomas,  Bishop  of  London, 
297. 

Rawlins,  Ven.  Alexander,  172,  217- 
218,  220. 

Rawsthorn,  Captain,  365. 

Reding,  alias  of  Edward  Bamber. 
Reeves,  exciseman,  548,  549. 
Reynolds,  Mr.,  58. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  vere  Green,  282, 

402-407,  410. 

Rhemes,  12-14,  20,  27,  30,  35, 

38,  45,  46,  48,  50,  51,  55,  59, 
73,  85,  87,  92,  94,  98,  112,  116, 
122,  125,  135,  138,  147,  151, 
152-159,  165,  167,  171,  174, 
182,  185,  188,  189,  197,  198, 
204,  208,  227,  235,  236,  247- 
249,  259,  260,  269,  292,  299, 
317,  329,  339,  342,  361,  363, 

403,  587. 

— English  College,  47,  62,  67,  69, 

70,  79,  90,  104-106,  109,  III, 
113-115,  117,  120,  121,  123, 
126,  130,  131,  133,  136,  137, 
139,  140,  142,  146,  148,  149, 
150,  154,  158,  160,  162-164, 

167,  168,  170,  186,  187,  189, 
190,  191,  202,  204,  217,  219, 
232,  233,  237,  248,  250,  252, 
253,  256,  264,  289,  291,  307, 
328,  338,  382,  402,  403,  41 1, 
490. 

— Archbishop  of,  see  Dr.  Gifford. 

of,  see  Cardinal  de  Guise. 

Rhodes,  120. 

Ribadaneira,  Fr.,  144,  163,  164,  165, 

168. 

Rich,  Lord,  42,  405. 

Richabie,  Mr.,  478. 

Richar.l,  Father,  221. 

Richardson,  Captain,  524. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Richardson,  Ven.  Laurence,  alias 
Johnson,  30,  51,  56,  59-61, 
64,  65,  232. 

— a minister,  304,  305. 

— Ven.  William,  alias  Anderson, 

269. 

Richmond,  Surrey,  95. 

— Yorkshire,  53,  415. 

Richmont,  W.,  251. 

Riding,  East,  of  Yorkshire,  339. 
Rigby,  alias  of  Edmund  Arrow- 
smith. 

— Ven.  John,  238-245. 

— Nicholas,  238. 

Ripley,  Yorkshire,  115. 

Ripon,  Yorkshire,  229,  233 
Risden,  Mr.,  475. 

his  daughter,  475. 

Rishton,  or  Rushton,  Edward,  26, 
30,62,110-112,589. 

Rivers,  John,  alias  Abbot,  400,  401. 
Roberts,  Ven.  John,  O.S.B.,  269, 
282,  317-322. 

Robinson,  54. 

— Bishop  of  Carlisle,  233. 

— Ven.  Christopher,  235,  597,  599. 

— Francis,  149,  268. 

— Ven.  John,  149-150. 

his  wife,  149. 

Robsart,  Amy,  see  Dudley,  Lady. 
Roche,  Ven.  John,  134,  141. 
Rochester,  Bishop  of,  see  Sprat. 
Rodsley,  Derbyshire,  30. 

Roe,  Ven.  Bartholomew,  O.S.B., 
404-41 1 . 

Rogers,  alias  of  Cadwallador,  Roger. 
Rome,  12,  20,  26,  30,  38,  45-48, 
50,  54,  57,  59,  61,  85,  87,  88, 
92,  94,  98,  104,  107,  109, 

114,  116,  140,  148,  163,  164, 
171,  186,  187,  210,  212,  234, 
248,  282,  295,  297,  309,  317, 
329,  342,  355,  356,  412,  417, 
455,  471,  565,  574,  576,  591- 

— Bishop  of,  4,  1 16,  159,  218,  282, 

287,  345, 539. 

— English  College,  53,  67,  73,  135, 

147,  160,  182,  184,  186,  187, 
189,  198,  210,  219,  264,  283, 


I Rome,  Jesuit  College,  564. 

— Court  of,  513. 

— Pope’s  Chapel,  the,  198. 

— See  of,  215,  227,  333,  380,  386, 

424,  542. 

— Pope  of,  160. 

I — that  man  of , 3 5 . 

Romington,  Warwickshire,  275,  277. 
Roper,  Mr.,  12. 

Roscarrock,  Mr.,  30,  31. 

Rosse,  James,  of  Igmanthorp,  251. 
Rouen  (Roan),  251. 

Roules,  Lord  Chief  Justice,  475, 
476,500,501. 

Rouse,  an  apostate  priest,  297. 

— Anthony,  282. 

Rowsham,  Ven.  Stephen,  no,  123- 
124. 

Rumley,  William,  512,  540. 

Russel,  alias  of  William  Nappier. 
Ruthin,  104. 

— gaol,  102. 

i Rutland,  Earl  of,  243,  244. 


S 

Sadler,  N.,  323. 

Sahagun,  abbey  of  St.  Facundus, 
Spain,  323. 

St.  Albans,  Hertfordshire,  407,  408. 

St.  Asaph,  Diocese  of,  162. 

Bishop  of,  see  Hughes. 

see  Goldwell. 

St.  Faith’s,  Norfolk,  210. 

St.  Jago’s,  Spain,  514. 

St.  James,  near  Winchester,  583. 

St.  John’s  Mount,  Yorkshire,  197. 

St.  Malo,  in  Little  Brittany,  393. 

St.  Michael  Lantarnam,  Monmouth- 
shire, 557. 

St.  Martin,  Leanderof,  Father  John 
Jones,  O.S.B.,  474. 

St.  Omers,  436,  490,  591. 

English  College,  201,  219, 

223,  296,  428,  435,  448,  462, 
484,  499,  500,  513,  519,  525- 
528, 544, 565. 

Salamanca,  417. 

Salisbury,  Earl  of,  see  Cecil. 


289,  328,^338,  411,  467,  484, 
499, 527, 557. 

622 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Salisbury,  Mr.,  139. 

— Mrs.,  138-140. 

Salmesbury,  Lancashire,  505. 
Salmon,  Mr.,  historian,  299,  51 1, 

517,  529; 

— Ven.  Patrick,  199,  200. 

Sandwich,  Kent,  256. 

Sandys,  Ven.  John,  116. 

Saunders,  Dr.,  38,  45,  52,  55,  60, 

98. 

Savile,  Baron  of  the  Exchequer,  238. 
Savoy,  Ambassador  of,  325. 

Sayre,  Abraham,  209. 

Scarborough,  94. 

Scargill,  Yorkshire,  354. 

Scobell,  Justice,  498. 

Scot,  Ven.  Monford,  166-168. 
Scotland,  385,  448,  512,  589. 

— borders  of,  204. 

Scots,  Queen  of,  40,  108,  121,  477. 
Scott,  Ven.  William  or  Maurus, 
O.S.B.,  323-328,  359. 

Scroggs,  Lord  Chief  Justice,  529. 
Scrope,  Winefride,  300. 

Scudamore,  Captain,  555. 

his  children,  556. 

— Catherine,  556. 

— Harry,  136. 

— Sir  James,  136. 

— John,  136. 

Sedbergh,  Yorkshire,  457. 

Segar,  Robert,  498. 

Segovia,  Spain,  448. 

— Recollects  of  the  Immaculate 

Conception  at,  429. 

Sens,  150. 

Sergeant,  Ven.  Richard,  alias  Lee, 
alias  Long,  113-114. 

Servant  martyred,  167. 

Seville,  259,  269,  403,  462. 

— English  College,  219,  245. 

Sewel,  Hugo,  172. 

Shaftesbury,  Lord,  529,  558,  575. 
Sheffield,  131. 

— Lord,  President  of  the  North, 

340- 

Sheldon,  Mr.,  277,  485. 

Shelley,  Ven.  Edward,  134,  141. 

— Mr.,  confessor,  107. 

Shelleys,  the,  294. 

Shelton,  or  Skelton,  Yorkshire,  7. 


Sheriff-Hutton  Castle,  165. 

Shert,  Ven.  John,  26,  45-49,  50, 
87,  124. 

Sherton,  Martin,  confessor,  129. 
Sherwin,  John,  31. 
i — Mr.,  232. 

— Ven.  Ralph,  26,  28,  30-35,  38, 

39. 

Sherwood,  Richard,  170. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  11-12. 

I Shrewsbury,  490. 

— George,  Earl  of,  130. 

Shropshire,  49. 

Siclemore,  John,  282. 

i Singleton,  alias  of  Edward  Morgan 

— William,  282. 

Skelsmere,  near  Kendal,  West- 
morland, 245. 

Slack,  Richard,  no. 

Slade,  Ven.  John,  83-85. 

Sledd,  pursuivant,  26,  45,  57,  61, 
62. 

’ Slipton,  Northamptonshire,  499. 

Smith,  alias  of  Richard  Newport. 

I — a witness,  569. 

I — Ann,  1 17. 

^ — Grace,  wife  of  Robert  Maire, 
600. 

— Mr.,  339. 

I — Richard,  Bishop  of  Chalcedon, 
187,  361. 

a constable,  275,  278. 

— William,  no. 

Snelling,  a keeper,  388. 

Snow,  Ven.  Peter,  233. 

Soissons,  164,  172,  217. 

Somers,  Ven.  Thomas,  alias  Wilson. 
294,  318-325. 

Somersetshire,  90,  475,  476. 

Sone,  Dr.,41. 

Soresby,  Yorkshire,  411. 

Sousa,  Antonio  de,  Resident  of  the 
King  of  Portugal,  460. 
Southampton,  Earl  of,  591. 
Southcote,  Sir  John,  520,  528. 

— Lady,  528. 

Southerne,  Ven.  William,  358-361. 
Southwell,  Ven.  Robert,  S.J.,  161. 
210-217,  262,  283. 

his  father,  211. 

1 Southwark,  235,  245,  480. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Southwark,  St.  Catherine’s  gaol,  475 . 

— St.  Mary  Magdalen,  138. 

— White  Lion  in,  the,  239. 
Southworth,  Ven.  John,  370,  504- 

510. 

Southworths,  the,  of  Salmesbury, 

505- 

Spa,  73. 

Spain,  55,  219,  223,  253,  283,  299, 
317,  321,  334,  349,  350,  360, 
365,  403,  412,  417,  428,  429, 
435,  437,  448,  462,  481,  512, 
513,  534- 

— Infanta  of,  359. 

— King  of,  1 18,  219,  225,  227,  231, 

360,  468. 

Spanish  Ambassador,  349,  359,  408, 
437,  440,  449,  498, 502. 

Speed,  Ven.  John,  197. 

Spenser,  Ven.  William,  159. 

Sprat,  Bishop  of  Rochester,  582. 
Sprott,  Ven.  Thomas,  245-247. 
Stafferton,  Francis,  282. 

Stafford,  564. 

— gaol,  123,  359. 

— Edward,  569. 

— Henry,  Lord,  569. 

— Viscount,  see  William  Howard. 
Staffordshire,  123,  265,  344,  520, 

521, 528. 

Staines,  98. 

Staley,  William,  515. 

Standeven,  the  High  Sheriff,  80. 
Standish,  Lancashire,  483. 

Stanney,  Thomas,  S.J.,  282,  591- 
593, 595- 

Stapylton,  Mr.,  230. 

— Mrs.,  229. 

— Sir  Miles,  566,  567. 

Starkey,  Henry,  565. 

— John, 282,  565. 

State,  Secretary  of,  587. 

Steele,  William,  Serjeant,  Recorder 
of  London,  507. 

Steile,  James,  109. 

Stevenage,  Hertfordshire,  449,  450. 
Stevens,  the  searcher,  62. 

— John,  302. 

Stevenson,  Thomas,  no. 

Steward,  Lord  High,  570. 

Stiles,  William,  506. 


Stillington,  William,  of  Kelfield, 
251. 

Stockeld,  251. 

Stonor,  John  150. 

— Lady,  150. 

Stourbridge,  285. 

Stourton,  John,  Lord,  198. 

Stow,  John,  87,  100,  184. 

Strange,  a widow,  124. 

Stransham,  or  Transham,  Ven. 

Edmund,  called  Barber,  in, 
112,  588. 

— George,  282. 

Stretton,  near  Suguas  or  Sugwas, 
in  Herefordshire,  299. 

Suarez,  283. 

Suffolk,  94,  407,  467,  515. 

Sugar,  Ven.  John,  274-279. 

Sugeres,  or  Sugwas,  Hereford- 
shire, 299. 

Sunderland,  458. 

Sussex,  107,  141. 

Sutton,  Abraham,  122,  123,  282. 

— Ven.  Robert,  122-123,  150,  151. 
Swallowell,  Ven.  George,  203,  206- 

208, 597, 599. 

Sykes,  Ven.  Edmund,  no,  121-122, 
152. 

Symons,  Robert,  355,  357. 

Sympson,  Ven.  Richard,  130- 133. 

— Thomas,  1 10. 


T 

Tadcaster,  Yorkshire,  69. 

Talbot,  Ven.  John,  250. 

Tanner,  S.J.,  268. 

Tarrasona  (Tarazona),  Bishop  of. 
see  Yepez. 

Taylor,  Ven.  John,  106-1 10. 
Tempest,  Lady,  566,  567. 

— William,  40. 

Temple  Broughton,  Hanbury,  Wor- 
cestershire, 448. 

Tesmond,  alias  of  Father  Green- 
way. 

Tesse,  Ann,  230. 

Therfeus,  corrupt  form  of  Thorp. 

1 Thimbleby,  Gabriel,  confessor,  129 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Thirkill,  or  Thirkeld,  Ven.  Richard, 

79-83. 

Thirsk,  Yorkshire,  252,  412. 
Thompson,  alias  of  John  Woodcock. 

— Christopher,  no. 

— Ven.  James,  70-72. 

Thomson,  or  Thompson,  William, 

alias  Blackburn,  113-114,  258. 

— vere  Gerard,  S.J.,  265. 

Thoresby,  Thomas,  282. 

Thornby,  Westmorland,  382. 

Thornley,  600. 

Thornton  in  Street,  Yorkshire,  250. 
Thorp,  Yorkshire,  67,  251. 

Thorp,  Ven.  Robert,  165-166. 

Thulis,  Ven.  John,  342-344. 

Thuresby,  Fr.,  S.J.,  202. 

Thurland,  Lancashire,  353. 

Thursley,  Thomas,  268. 

Thwing,  Ven.  Edward,  247-249. 

— George,  566. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  566-568. 

Tichbum,  Ven.  Nicholas,  260. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  260,  263-266. 
Tidswell,  in  Derbyshire,  129,  147. 
Tilbury,  496. 

Tillotson,  N.,  269. 

Titchburn,  N.,  Esq.,  109. 

Tixall,  520,  532. 

Toft  Green,  Yorkshire,  416. 

Tomson,  alias  of  Mr.  Wilks. 

Tonge,  Dr.,  51 1. 

Topcliffe,  Richard,  52,  60,  167,  174- 
177,  181,  184,  204,  213,  216, 
221-224,  234,  592. 

Tower,  Lieutenant  of,  224,  571,  see 
Hopton. 

Towlerton,  Yorkshire,  208. 

Towneley,  or  Townley,  family,  486. 
Tralon,  Brecknockshire,  474. 
Transham,  Mr.,  see  Stransham. 
Travers,  Mr.,  105. 

Treasurer,  Lord,  199. 

Tregian,  Francis,  2-4,  6,  601. 

Tregony,  Cornwall,  6. 

— Lady,  see  Tregonwell. 

Tregonwell,  Lady,  ii. 

— Martin,  1 1. 

Tremayne,  Richard,  6. 

Trenchard,  Sheriff  of  Dorset,  199. 
Trencher,  Sir  Thomas,  425. 

625 


Trent,  Council  of,  212. 

— River,  455. 

I Treport,  in  Normandy,  172. 
Tresham,  Mr.,  284. 

— Sir  Thomas,  1 12,  1 13. 

his  wife,  1 12. 

Trevelyan,  John,  475. 

Trinder,  Charles,  552,  553. 
Trollope,  Archdeacon  Cuthbert, 

164,  187,  202,  250,  251. 
Trollopes,  the,  of  Thornby,  600. 
Truro,  Cornwall,  2. 

Tunstal,  Ven.  Thomas,  alias  Helmes, 

353-358. 

Tunstals,  the,  353. 

Turberville,  a witness,  569,  572. 
Turkey,  187,  334. 

Turner,  Ven.  Anthony,  S.J.,  512, 

525-537. 

— Edward,  S.J.,  confessor,  566. 

— John,  confessor,  402. 

— N.,  400. 

Typer,  or  Typpet,  Mark,  19. 

I Tyrrwhit,  Robert,  18. 

I — Sir  Robert,  confessor,  18. 

I — William,  confessor,  18. 


U 

Ulster,  575. 

Underwinder,  in  the  parish  of  Sed- 
bergh,  Yorkshire,  457. 
Upholland,  Lancashire,  342. 

Urban  VIIL,  361,455. 

Usk,  in  Monmouthshire,  558,  559. 
Uxbridge,  117. 

Uxenden,  Middlesex,  21 1,  215. 


V 

Valladolid,  429,  462. 

— English  College,  191,  196,  219, 

250,  253,  256,  269,  291,  296, 
299,  317,  323,  393,  428,  435, 
481,  486,  490. 

— College  of  St.  Alban  the  Martyr, 

448,  541. 

Vales,  Yorkshire,  269. 

Vaughan,  Ven.  Thomas,  490-491. 

2 R 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Vaughans  of  Courtfield,  490. 
Vaux,  Lawrence,  confessor,  109. 
— Lord,  confessor,  118. 
Vavasour,  Mr.,  340. 

Vendome,  Duke  of,  437. 

Vivian,  John,  no. 

Volveden,  see  Golden. 


W 

Wade,  Sir  William,  297. 
Wadebridge,  6. 

Wadsworth,  apostate,  431-433,  501. 
Wakefield,  68. 

Wakeman,  Sir  George,  512,  540. 

— Joseph,  526. 

— Roger,  confessor,  7,  104. 

Wales,  475,  491, 549,  561. 

— North,  162,  588. 

— South,  544. 

— Prince  of,  413. 

Walesboure,  37. 

Wall,  Ven.  John,  O.S.F.,  alias 
Johnson  and  Webb,  550-555, 

565. 

— William,  alias  Marsh  and  Marsh- 

all, O.S.B.,  512,  550,  565. 
Waring,  alias  of  William  Harcourt. 
Walmesley,  Judge,  200. 

Walpole,  Ven.  Henry,  S.J.,  217- 
227. 

— Michael,  S.J.,  323. 

Walsh,  Robert,  282. 

Walsingham,  Sir  Francis,  Secretary 

of  State,  40,  57,  90,  95,  98, 
99,  124,  137,  156,  164. 

Warcop,  Ven.  Thomas,  232. 

Ward,  Bishop  of  Gloucester,  389. 

— Ven.  Margaret,  134,  141-145. 

— William,  alias  Webster,  382-392, 

407,  430- 

Warmington,  William,  no. 

Warner,  John,  S.J.,  Rector  at  Liege, 
526. 

Warrington,  Lancashire,  100,  344, 
362. 

Warwick,  276,  278. 

— Earl  of,  475. 

Warwickshire,  204,  265. 

— High  Sheriff  of,  284. 


Washingley,  Huntingdon,  457. 
Waterhouses,  near  Durham,  599. 
Watermen,  Catholic,  143,  144,  145. 
Waterson,  Ven.  Edward,  187-188. 
Watkinson,  Ven.  Robert,  262-266. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  165-166. 

Watlass  (?  Wootlas,  Yorkshire),  415. 
Watson,  Christopher,  confessor,  19. 

— Richard,  142,  143,  145. 

Watten,  379,  435,  462,  467,  468, 

499, 500, 525, 527. 

Way,  Ven.  William,  alias  Flower, 
146. 

Webb,  Francis,  alias  of  John  Wall. 
Webley,  Ven.  Henry,  134,  135. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  106. 

Webster,  real  name  of,  William 
Ward. 

Weeks,  Mr.,  262. 

— Mr.,  keeper  of  the  Gatehouse, 

498. 

Welbourn,  Ven.  Thomas,  280-281. 
Weldon,  B.,  317. 

— Ven.  John,  149-151. 

Well  near  Ripon,  132. 

Wells,  in  Somersetshire,  72,  83. 

— Mayor  of,  84. 

Wells,  Gilbert,  179. 

— Margaret,  591. 

— Mrs.,  174-176,  179,  181. 

— Ven.  Swithin,  138,  174-177,  179 

182,  185,  591-592. 

— Thomas,  179. 

Welsh-Newton,  Herefordshire,  555, 
556. 

West,  James,  269. 

— Chester,  542. 

Castle,  137. 

Westminster,  214,  248,  347,  431, 

463- 

— Abbey  of,  299. 

— Abbot  of,  see  Feckenham. 

— Hall,  38,  64,  87,  97,  100,  476. 

— Kemp  Yard,  506. 

— St  Margaret’s,  506. 

— Tuttle  (Tothill)  Street,  112. 
Westmorland,  321. 

— Earl  of,  see  Neville. 

Weston,  Yorkshire,  294. 

— William,  Superior  of  the  English 

Jesuits,  269,  283. 


626 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


Wexford,  236. 

Wharton,  Ven.  Christopher,  237- 
238. 

Wheeler,  vere  Nicholas  Woodfen. 
Whissingham,  458. 

Whitaker,  439,  440. 

— Helen,  486. 

— Ven.  Thomas,  483,  485-489 

his  father,  486. 

Whitall,  Hugh,  282. 

Whitby,  Yorkshire,  172. 

White,  Andrew,  282. 

— Ven.  Eustace,  174,  176,  182-185. 

— Ven.  Richard,  102-105. 

— Robert,  506. 

— Sir  Thomas,  19. 

Whitbread,  Ven.  Thomas,  S.J.,  alias 
Harcot,  512,  519,  525-537- 
Whitgift,  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, 228. 

Whitgreave,  Sir  Thomas,  520. 
Whitlock,  Captain,  243. 

— Sir  James,  366. 

Wickham  (Wykeham),  William  of, 
282. 

Wickliff,  Yorkshire,  354. 

Wickliffe,  21. 

Widdrington  Castle,  600. 

— Sir  Edward,  600. 

— Roger,  600. 

Widmerpool,  in  Nottinghamshire, 

147. 

— Ven.  Robert,  146,  147. 

Wigan,  344,  362. 

Wight,  Isle  of,  1 13. 

Wigmarsh,  by  Hereford,  556. 
Wilcox,  Ven.  Robert,  146-148. 
Wilford,  Peter,  O.S.B.,  confessor,402 
Wilkinson,  pursuivant,  373,  374. 
Wilks,  Mr.,  alias  Tomson,  confessor, 

416-417. 

William  HI.,  566. 

Williams,  John,  276. 

— John,  M.A.,  6. 

— Ven.  Richard,  151. 

Williamson,  Thomas,  loi. 

Willitoft,  Yorkshire,  340. 
Willoughby,  Elizabeth,  428. 

Wilson,  alias  of  Thomas  Somers. 

— Father,  125,  126,  163. 

Winchester,  84,  98,  188,  588,  594. 


I Winchester  College,  282. 

— gaol,  593,  596. 

— Bishop  of,  84. 

— Marquis  of,  500,  503. 

his  wife,  500,  503. 

Windebank,  Secretary,  379,  506. 
Windsor,  588. 

Winford,  Sir  John,  520. 

— Walter,  455. 

Wisbech  Castle,  109,  129,  186,  234, 
245,  248,  251,  252,  254,  282, 

339, 342, 354- 
Wiseman,  Mrs.,  234. 

Withers,  Dr.,  41 . 

Wollam,  John,  386. 

Wolley,  Sir  John, Latin  secretary,  98. 
Wolverhampton,  520. 

Womborne,  Staffordshire,  275. 
Wood,  Elizabeth,  548. 

— Robert,  541,  542. 

Woodcock,  John,  alias  Farringdon, 
O.S.F.,  484-486. 

Woodend,  near  Thirsk,  412. 
Woodfen,  Nicholas,  vere  Wheeler, 
alias  Devereux,  111-113,  591. 

^ Woodruff,  Robert,  268. 

Woodside,  Cumberland,  235. 
Woodward,  John,  33. 

— Philip,  282,  323. 

Worcester,  49,  285,  290,  527. 

— Battle  of,  519. 

— gaol,  551. 

— St  Oswald’s  Churchyard,  554. 
Worcestershire,  117,  217,  265,  550. 
— Sheriff  of,  285. 

Worseley,  pursuivant,  117,  137. 
Worsley,  Colonel,  507. 

Worthington,  Mr.,  589. 

— Thomas,  afterwards  President  of 
Douay,  no,  242,  249,  250,  280, 
322,  393.. 

Wortley,  Justice,  68,  69. 

, Wren,  John,  523. 

Wrenno,  or  Worren,  Ven.  Roger, 
342-344- 

Wrexham,  102,  103. 

Wright,  Anthony,  269. 

— John, 74, 75. 

— Ven.  Peter,  S.J.,  499-504. 

I Wrights,  the  two  conspirators,  285. 

I Wylde,  Judge,  527. 

627 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Y 

Yalston,  Devonshire,  i. 

Yarmouth,  Norfolk,  455. 

Yates  (Yate),  Edward,  22,  30,  45,  51. 
Yaxley,  John,  600.  i 

— Ven.  Richard,  153-158.  ' 

Yearcombe,  Devon,  475.  : 

Yelverton,  Sir  Henry,  Judge,  365, 

366,  368,  372, 374, 376. 

Yepez,  Diego  de.  Bishop  of  Tara-  ' 
zona,  83,  108,  140,  146,  184, 
196,  217,  220,  228. 

York,  7,  69,  70,  73,  106,  107,  109,  i 
126,  132,  158,  209,  217,  220, 
222,  224,  233,  259,  340,  341, 
400,  412,  413,  455,  548,  567,  , 

587.  ! 

— Diocese  of,  236.  j 

— Castle,  19,  67,  71,  74,  79,  81,  83,  ! 

120,  126,  204,  208,  229,  230,  I 
237,  251,  412,  415-417,  566 


York,  Bootham  Bar,  415. 

— gaol,  1 15,  220,  548. 

— Kidcote,  the,  71,  80,  81. 

— London  Hall,  120. 

— Mickle  Bar,  294. 

— Micklegate  Bar,  416. 

— Archbishop  of,  67,  202. 

see  Matthews. 

see  Piers. 

— Dean  of,  80. 

— Duchess  of,  512,  516. 

— Duke  of,  511,  517,  521,  581 

— Lord  Mayor  of,  67. 

Yorkshire,  132,  133,  135,  138,  152, 

159,  162,  164,  165,  217,  221, 
227,  232,  261,  289,  412, 

583. 

Young  (Yonge),  Richard,  Justice, 
175,  176,  213. 

Yris,  see  Crois. 


628 


II.— ANALYTICAL  INDEX 

THE  ENGLISH  MARTYRS 


§ I.  Their  Early  Life. 

Early  Life,  i,  ii,  49,  68,  129,  142, 
166,  169,  190,  217,  321,  329, 
344,  448,  462,  591,  594; 

amusements,  179,  591 ; aversion 
from  Catholicism,  231;  born 
in  prison,  345;  childhood,  169, 
393;  gives  up  estate,  41 1; 
imprisoned  for  faith,  467;  in- 
tended marriage,  186;  kidnap- 
ped by  pirates,  295 ; loses  leg 
in  Civil  War,  565  ; loses  religion 
for  a time,  499 ; an  orphan,  294 ; 
poverty,  499;  a Protestant,  188, 
253,  261,  265,  407,  439,  467, 
557,  592;  suffering  for  faith  in 
childhood,  362;  Turkish  wife 
offered,  187;  vision,  170. 

Family,  7,  83,  85,  89,  115,  122,  136, 
158,  179,  208,  210,  218,  238, 
259,  261,  264,  296,  299,  353, 
362,  392,  411,  415,  428,  448, 
457,  461,  474,  481,  486,  490, 
505,  526,  541,  550,  561,  566, 
569,  600,  602 ; relations,  i , 7, 78, 
83,  85,  89,  93,  94,  115,  122,  136, 
168,  173,  179,  186,  188,  204, 
206,  219,  278,  282,  311,  362, 
378,  384,  392,  411,  428,  469, 

519,  522,  559;  father’s  curse, 
182;  converted,  443;  a martyr, 
138;  a minister,  515,  527; 

mother  at  execution,  150;  par- 
ents disowned  by,  526;  suffer 
for  faith,  344,  362,  547;  whole 
family  enters  religion,  462. 

Home  life,  married:  89,  loi,  106, 
‘ 149,  168,  179,  233,  569,  591, 

594;  to  a widow,  66,  262 ; chil- 
dren, 120,  168,  233,  378,  594; 
son  a priest,  149. 


Education,  170,  198,  202,  265,  275, 
307,  363,  393,  448,  486,  591, 
592;  school,  19,  1 12,  147,  282, 
329,  474;  University  career, 
13,  94,  102,  122,  123,  198,  202, 
2i8,  378,  407,  421;  college,  i, 

• 19,  30,  35,  44,  47,  51,  59,  61, 
72,  84,  89,  98,  III,  151,  198, 
204,  237,  275,  282,  323,  360, 
439;  degrees,  etc.,  i,  19,  30, 
44,  47,  53,  59,  61,  84,  94,  iii, 
202,  237,  439,  527;  deprived  of 
fellowship,  98,  275;  expelled 
for  religion,  89,  204;  leaves 
University  rather  than  take 
the  oath,  275. 

Professions : Bookseller,  262 ; College 
librarian,  439 ; counsellor  at  law, 
538;  dyer,  106;  haberdasher, 
186;  law  student,  251,  323,  467, 
476,  557;  minister,  i,  13,  116, 
123,  132,  275,  378,  597;  page, 
138,  170,  393;  printer,  100; 

reader,  206;  schoolmaster,  47, 
61,  83,  102,  129,  136,  151,  206, 
280,  321,  591;  secretary  to  the 
Duchess  of  York,  516;  servant, 
49,  154,  519;  steward,  2,  89; 
tutor,  89,  147 ; cook  and  cobbler, 
125, 129. 

Conversion,  2,  13,  59,  loi,  102,  iii, 
116,  122,  132,  136,  182,  187, 
188,  202,  238,  253,  360,  526, 
593,  595;  conformity,  100,  102, 
107,  238;  fortune  lost  by,  600; 
by  prayer,  231;  by  Catholic 
books,  261,  323,  440;  through 
intended  wife,  265 ; by  visiting 
imprisoned  Catholics,  206,  407. 

College  Life  abroad,  2,  13,  20,  30, 
44,  47,  58,  61,  73,  79,  85,  90, 
112,  116,  125,  147,  170,  189, 


629 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


190,  210,  219,  250,  283,  289, 
295,  307,  317,  323,  345,  363, 
393,  429,  440-442,  448,  457, 
462,  467,  474,  476,  484,  490, 
499,  525,  527,  547,  550,  557, 
561,  565,  574;  advanced  in 
years,  79;  dispensation,  171- 
172;  extreme  unction  received 
twice,  373;  ill-health,  61,  139, 
264;  Latin  oration,  198,  435; 
sufferings  and  operation,  73 ; 
trial  on  English  Mission,  257. 

Personal  appearance,  79,  113,  148, 
158,  162,  165,  182,  256,  257, 
330,  364,  403;  changed  after 
trial,  459. 

§ 2.  Their  character,  virtues,  attain- 
ments, journeys. 

Controversy,  300,^527;  Greek,  30, 
300;  Hebrew,  30,  448;  “in- 
differently learned,”  123,  165, 
187,  277;  languages,  437,  591; 
learning,  20,  58,  73,  108,  114, 
133,  140,  153,  189,  203,  292, 
441 ; music,  545  ; painting,  395  ; 
preaching,  21,  162,  198,  383. 

Character  described:  364,  393;  de- 
scribed by  Protestant  historians, 
574;  amiability,  591;  candour, 
527,  541,  570;  calmness,  2, 
500;  charity,  73,  96,  iii,  237, 
257,  275,  317,  340,  402,  557, 
569,  593,  595;  chastity,  244, 
275,  277;  constancy,  38,  318; 
courage,  179,  203,  318,  482, 
557;  courtesy,  179,  403;  devo- 
tion, 165,  249,  278,  569,  591; 
docility,  170;  eloquence,  20, 
73  ; generosity,  179,569;  genius, 
198;  great  holiness,  91;  hu- 
mility, 22,  38,  86,  172,  187, 
237,  257,  275,  459,  593;  inno- 
cence, 275,  364,  527;  justice, 
569;  love  of  God,  384;  meek- 
ness, 167,  189,  415;  mildness, 
2,  22,  275,  403,  415;  modesty, 
22,  131,  170,  189;  obedience, 
593;  patience,  22,  38,  86,  249, 
257,  557;  piety,  59,  III,  123, 


165,  172,  189,  249,  257,  439, 
519,  557;  probity,  159;  pru- 
dence, 435,.  550,  557;  purity, 
189,  593;  saintliness,  487;  sim- 
plicity, 149;  sincerity,  149,  364; 
timidity,  165,  166,  403,  488; 
tenor  of  his  life  a perpetual 
sermon,  90;  wisdom,  203;  wit, 
364,  591 ; zeal,  38,  59,  iii,  123, 
125,  131,  153,  187,  318,  481, 
550,  595;  virginity,  238. 

Journeys,  20,  30,  47,  61,  67,  73, 
94,  98,  loi,  163,  164,  182,  184, 
187,  198,  210,  217,  231,  295, 
448,  457,  462,  499;  barefooted, 
begging,  445 ; disguise  made 
from  habit,  444;  guides  escort 
to  prison,  194;  hears  of  another 
priest’s  sufferings  on,  558;  on 
horseback  naked,  1 10 ; on  horse- 
back in  rags,  450;  ill-health  on, 
85;  ill-treatment  on,  95,  109, 
156,  157,  225,  413,  469;  im- 
prisoned by  Calvinists,  219; 
on  foot,  232,  275,  300,  306, 
308,  339,  340,  394,  429,  462; 
on  foot  in  shackles,  301 ; pil- 
grimage, 328;  robbed,  172, 
367;  shipwrecked,  94,  162; 

storm,  1 14;  by  sea,  463,  469; 
sufferings,  73,  555. 

§ 3.  Their  Lives  as  Priests. 

Banishment,  27,  58,  104,  109,  117, 
121,  123,  124,  130,  133,  138, 
140,  150,  151,  248,  268,  269, 
274,  282,  294,  295,  297,  322, 
324,  326,  328,  359,  360,  361, 
403,  408,  467,  468,  483,  565, 
588  ; cure  at  St.  Winefride’sWell, 
290;  in  great  necessity,  112, 
575 ; martyrdom  prophesied, 
265  ; offer  to  dispute,  21 ; vis- 
ions, 31, 51,  124, 127,  161, 198, 
258,  265,  341,  342,  396;  vows, 
37,178,213,268. 

Religious  Orders:  Capuchins,  251, 
421,  485;  Carthusians,  457; 
Order  of  St.  Benedict,  Benedic- 
tines, 255,  256,  317,  321,  323  , 


ANALYTICAL  INDEX 


357,  401,  404,  456,  462,  475, 
476,  479,  480,  490,  491,  519, 
564,  565;  Minims,  138;  Order 
of  St.  Augustine,  Augustinians, 
Canons  Regular,  109,  177; 

Order  of  St.  Dominic,  Domi- 
nicans, 349,  455,  565,  566,  583  ; 
Order  of  St.  Francis,  Francis- 
cans, 179,  234,  235,  261,  401, 
428,  439,  440,  442,  448,  449, 
451,  485,,  549,  553,  565,  581, 
583;  Society  of  Jesus,  Jesuits, 
20,  39,  58,  61,  95,  104,  186, 
200,  210,  211,  219,  221,  225, 
227,  237,  255,  257,  268,  283, 
285,  286,  290,  296-298,  346, 

357,  364,  365,  368,  379-381, 

385,  396,  401,  418,  419,  423, 
438,  440,  457,  458,  462,  465, 

467,  501,  504,  511-513,  519, 

527,  528,  531,  532,  534,  535, 
537,  538,  559, ,564,  566,  588,  ! 
589,  593;  Marian  priest,  100;  i 
pre-reformation  priest,  15 1. 

Missionary  labours,  22,  39,  45,  59, 
68,  73,  77,  90,  III,  114,  115,  i 
121,  130,  137,  146,  150,  153,  I 
162,  165,  172,  173,  190,  198, 
203,  204,  217,  232,  234,  235, 
249,  259,  275,  289,  292,  318, 
330,  339-364,  383,  393-397, 
403,  421,  430,  449,  462,  476, 
481,  485,  506,  525-527,  541, 
544,  548,  551,  555,  574,  583', 
amongst  the  poor,  275,  300, 

306,  322,  359,  384,  394,  396, 
436,  557,  596;  the  sick,  506; 
soldiers,  468,  469,  475,  500; 
conversions,  21,  35,  73,  90, 
112,  114,  123,  210,  289,  306, 

307,  328,  408,  441,  468,  506, 
547;  of  a highwayman,  153; 
in  prison,  95,  192,  477,  565; 
a maid,  251;  malefactors,  72, 
81,  185,  310,  343,  348,  372, 
406,  410,  461,  467,  473,  474;  ' 
a pirate,  91 ; on  the  way  to 
execution  of  a malefactor,  200 ; 
severity  in  rebuking  sinners,  395  I 

Religious  ceremonies:  baptism,  126;  1 
confessions,  29,  42,  68,  73, 


154,  194,  383,  3.96,  410,  440, 

464,  476,  595 ; in  connection 
with  the  Gunpowder  Plot,  283  ; 
in  prison,  9,  91,  142,  194,  418, 
446,  478,  502,  553;  Holy 
Communion,  194,  258,  464, 

595;  in  prison,  9,  86,  194,  437, 
553;  exorcism,  117-119,  198, 
364,  395;  mass,  4,  II,  13,  29, 
31,  67,  69,  74,  138,  160,  168, 
173,  174,  175,  184,  191,  194, 
198,  201,  232,  252,  265,  267, 
318,  338,  342,  345,  386,  394, 
397,  410,  430,  437,  452,  458, 
462,  472,  476,  499,  501,  505, 
506,  508,  555,  590,  593,  595; 
mass  in  prison,  88,  191,  194, 
252,  265,  267,  313,  387,  404, 
410,  418,  437,  465,  470,  479, 
502;  sermon,  525-526. 

Devotional  Objects,  etc. : Agnus 
Dei,  3,  4,  423;  books,  spiritual, 
194,  386,  423,  458;  Imitation, 
194;  breviaries,  87,  183,  246, 
309,  324,  430;  Bull  of  Jubilee, 
3;  cassock,  40,  81;  chalice,  35, 
69,  464;  church  stuff,  80,  175; 
Duse  claves  coeli,  370:  crosses, 
38,  52,  288, 324,  399,  423,  594; 
indulgences,  copy  of,  341  ; 
medals,  324,  464;  missal,  117, 
577;  oils,  holy,  246,  309,  431, 
458;  pictures,  holy,  54,  375, 
431;  prayer-book,  498;  pyx, 
308-309;  religious  habits,  225, 
327,  408,  441,  452,  454-461, 
465;  rosaries,  37,  194,  341, 

394,  423,  43  L 464,  594;  Scrip- 
ture, 577;  tonsure,  38,  188; 
vestments,  175,  191,  232,  266, 
431,  458,  462,  472. 

Prayers:  Adoramus  te  Christe,  287; 
Angelus,  221,  598;  acts  of 

charity,  contrition,  faith,  hope, 
438,  470;  anthem,  O Sacrum 
Convivium,  194;  Ave,  10,  49, 
5L  53,  56,  61,  66,  208,  244, 
298,  305,  577;  Confiteor,  10, 
244,  279;  Confraternity  of  St. 
Francis,  the  blessing  of  the 
cord,  449,  450;  continual  prayer 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


32,  232,  487,  576;  Creed,  29, 
51,  61,  208,  244,  298,  577; 
devotion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin 
and  its  results,  440,  443  ; to  Our 
Lady,  394,  443,  462;  to  St. 
Anne,  392;  ecstasy,  201;  Jesus 
Psalter,  35,  43,  47,  337,  358, 
363,  quoted  204,  218,  372,  390; 
litanies,  194,  of  Our  Lady,  431, 
470;  of  the  Saints,  470;  In 
manus  tuas,  6,  10,  51,  53,  212, 
305,  316,  321,  337,  352,  358, 
446,  472,  546,  547,  557,  573, 
577,  599;  mental  prayer,  232, 
394,  398,  409,  457,  478,  526; 
miraculous  light,  5 ; O bona 
crux  diu  desiderata,  200; 
Office:  Divine,  194,  394,  570, 
577;  Little,  462;  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  499;  Omnes  sancti,  ' 
et  sanctae  Dei  intercedite  pro 
me,  321;  Pater,  10,  49,  51,  53, 
56,  61,  66,  177,  208,  221,  244, 
298,  305,^315,  577- 

Psalms:  Bead  quorum,  316;  Con- 
vertere  anima  mea,  598;  In  te 

’ Domine  speravi,  316;  Lae- 
tatus  sum  in  his,  429;  Ad  te 
levavi  oculos  meos,  76;  Lau* 
date  Dominum  de  Coelis,  127; 
Miserere,  10,  36,  316,  368,  400, 
406,  577,  582;  De  profundis, 
10,  316;  seven  penitential,  362; 
Te  Deum,  70,  100,  192,  228, 
434,  436,  453,  565,  597;  sign 
of  the  cross,  50,  52,  72,  242, 
254,  255,  355,  433;  at  execu- 
tion, 46,  52,  59,  72,  188,  195, 
207,  21 1,  243,  244,  304,  306, 
315,  316,  333,  350,  356,  357. 
366,  420,  423,  426,  438,  479, 
503,  573,  574,  598 ; Veni  creator, 
298. 

Good  works : amongst  poor,  sick  and 
imprisoned,  430;  charity  during 
plague,  318,  468;  desire  of 
martyrdom,  76, 78,  79,  192,  258, 
278,  326,  344,  430,  442,  449, 
462,  469,  527;  discipline,  32, 
96,  201,  429,  441;  distributing 
Catholic  books,  262;  efforts 


for  a conversion,  229;  fasting, 
75,  88,  92,  96,  108,  132,  133, 
181,  199,  201,  232,  384,  440, 
464,  488,  576;  guiding  priests, 
102,  197,  595;  hair-shirt  worn, 
66,  132,  133,  194,  201,  429; 
hair-cloth  and  iron  girdle  worn, 
441 ; harbouring  and  relieving 
priests,  66,  106,  143,  147,  158, 
159,  160,  165,  166,  168,  185, 
186,  197,  237,  250,  261,  280, 
343,  592,  599,  601;  helping 
persecuted  Catholics,  159 ; help- 
ing Catholic  prisoners,  595 ; 
instructing  the  ignorant,  593 ; 
instructing  scholars,  321 ; medi- 
tation, 32,  394,  441 ; mortifi- 
cation, 167,  198,  249,  342,  472; 
nursing  the  plague  stricken, 
307;  pilgrimage,  443  ; penance, 
187;  rescuing  a priest,  260; 
retreat,  364,  488 ; training  young 
Catholics,  179;  visit  to  a dying 
man,  230;  visiting  prisoners, 
13,  67,  73,  79,  232,  593- 

§ 4.  Searches,  Arrests,  Prisons,  etc. 

Searches : hiding  holes,  secret  places, 
22,  113,  137,  203,  266,  290; 
house,  etc.,  ransacked  and 
plundered,  12,  18,  35,  80,  99, 
105,  175,  500;  impression  of 
book  Mount  Calvary  found,262. 

Priest,  searched,  62,  449,  498; 

searched,  and  two  consecrated 
hosts  not  found,  308;  escapes, 
74,  137,  469,  483,  484,  486, 
589,  596;  drowned  whilst  flee- 
ing,600  ; pursuivants  laughed  at, 
487 ; refuses  to  escape,  62 ; 
betrayed  by  apostate  priest, 
208,  264,  297 ; by  false  Catholic, 
102,  265;  by  kinsman,  415;  by 
member  of  household,  1 1 ; by 
minister,  229;  by  neighbour, 
166;  by  sacrilege,  203;  by 
servant,  108,  199;  by  spite, 
365  ; by  uncle,  230;  by  woman, 
266,  354;  carried  to  prison  in 
triumph,  23,  463 ; dies  from  ill- 


r 


ANALYTICAL  INDEX 


treatment  by  Parliamentary  sol-  ' 
diers,  456;  disguised,  145,  436, 
489 ; flung  downstairs  and 
killed,  537;  gives  himself  up, 
64,  484,  527;  goods  of,  seized, 
450;  outwits  pursuivants,  430; 
refuses  offer  of  liberty,  86 ; 
seen  praying  on  arrival,  483. 

Arrests,  3,  71,  74,  80,  85,  98,  139, 
i44>  154,  163,  182,  183,  209, 
211,  219,  245,  276,  354,  367, 
449,  455,  468,  487,  500,  557,  , 
588,  593;  after  escape,  203; 
after  mass,  345 ; at  the  altar, 
175,  318,  359,  431,  462,  472, 
488,  508,  588;  at  sea,  475;  by 
an  acquaintance,  588 ; by  blood-  , 
hounds,  412 ; by  cousin,  278  ; by  ' 
mob,  397;  during  mass,  258, 
338;  while  in  bed,  39,  166, 
385,  587;  buying  a book,  587; 
in  court  to  excuse  recusant, 
239;  on  landing,  467,  485,  549, 
589;  on  day  of  first  Com- 
munion, 595  ; escaping,  228 ; 
going  to  baptize  two  children, 
458;  leaving  England,  422, 
602;  rescuing  a priest,  259; 
visiting  prisoners,  587;  visiting 
the  sick,  469:  with  his  host, 
250,  341 ; Protestants  offended 
at,  412;  pursuivant’s  assistant 
hurt,  374. 

Examination,  7,  ii,  71,  86,  300,  324, 
450;  account  of  life  given  at, 
476;  twenty-nine  times,  285; 
by  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  104; 
the  Dean  of  York,  80;  charges, 
99;  proved  innocent  at,  552. 

Controversy ; Bishop  worsted  in,  300 ; 
with  Bishop  of  London,  141 ; 
with  minister,  155,  183,  199; 
Parliamentary  Committee,  432. 

Priesthood  acknowledged,  13,  42, 
69,  80,  loi,  130,  155,  183,  191, 
225,  237,  298,  326,  345,  389, 
398,  409,  420,  422,  431,  445, 
458,  459,  463,  475,  485,  507, 
527,  534,  550,  559,  568, 589. 

Prisoners’  replies,  80,  97,  99,  155, 
156,  175,  191,  239,  310,  330-  i 


333,  345,  431,  445;  prophecy 
concerning  Parliament,  432; 
threats  at,  458. 

Prison:  Described,  12,  17,  18,  37, 
58,  96,  99,  122,  123,  139,  211, 
224, 252, 266, 336, 346, 359, 385, 
429,  476,  477,  487,  489,  558, 
569,  576;  common  side,  71; 
condemned  hold,  81,  464;  dark 
hole,  105,  176;  low  dungeon, 
9 ; lowest  dungeon,  83 ; stink- 
ing dungeon,  102,  157;  on 

board  ship,  475,  490;  in  for 
many  years,  324;  forty  years, 
299;  thirty  years,  583;  twenty 
years,  282,  473 ; twenty-five 
years,  602. 

Bonds,  bolts,  shackles,  chains,  irons, 
3,  13,  15,  17,  27,  30,  38,  52, 
90,  93,  94,  105,  109,  120,  142, 
144,  155,  175,  181,  248,  301, 
368,  458,  526,  527;  chains, 
gaoler  given  sixpence  for,  239; 
irons,  double,  71,  74,  104; 

kissed,  67,  96,  242,  545;  iron 
collar,  346;  irons  fall  off,  340, 
342- 

Conversions  in,  see  under  Lives  as 
Priests. 

Death  in,  18,  19,  85,  105,  107,  108, 
109,  176,  186,  339,  382,  401, 
402,  489-491,  555,  564,  566, 
582,  602;  after  ill-treatment  at 
sea,  490;  after  thirty  years, 
583;  in  chains,  120,  561;  on 
knees,  537;  from  racking,  291; 
from  stench,  104,  105,  472, 
590;  from  torture,  224. 

Disputes  with  Bishop,  235 ; with 
heretics,  222;  ministers  15, 
41,  74,  164,  189,  220,  311, 
314- 

Escape  from,  143,  144,  196,  245, 
248,  252,  343,  354;  prevented, 
346;  refusal  to,  192,  278,  297. 

Fasting,  prayers  in,  see  under 
Prayers  and  Good  works. 

Ill-treatment  in,  46,  86,  102,  126, 
191,  213,  252,  369,  498; chained 
to  bedpost,  301 ; exposed  in 
public  place,  90;  persecution 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


by  keeper,  303 ; set  in  stocks, 
103,  417;  starved,  36. 

Kindly  treated  in,  309. 

Letters  from,  16,  32,  33,  37,  43, 
56,  77,  80,  180,  202,  205,  208, 
212,  213,  221,  223,  224,  249, 
302,  352,  376-378,  447,  481, 
552,  579- 

Mass  and  sacraments  in,  see  under 
Lives  as  Priests,  Religious  cere- 
monies. 

Poems  written  in,  225. 

Protestant  church,  goes  to,  130,  142; 
taken  to,  by  force,  85,  102,  103, 
139,  193,  251,  374- 

Sufferings  in, 36,  189,  193,  236, 297, 
346-347,  408,  489,  519,  526, 
527 ; leg  cut  off,  161. 

Torture,  24,  43,  48,  58,  103,  104, 
106,  142,  156,  160,  167,  184, 
199,  203,  204,  213,  220,  224, 
260,  285,  290,  346,  596;  body 
disjointed,  186;  ears  bored 
with  hot  iron,  19;  hung  up  by 
hands,  139,  588;  needles  thrust 
under  nails,  36;  the  rack,  12, 
23,  31,  36,  39,  50,  64,  587; 
the  Scavenger’s  Daughter,  53, 
54;  scourged,  144;  whipped, 
196. 

Prisoner,  allowed  out  of  prison,  403, 
409,  505,  544,  595;  asks  to  do 
meanest  offices,  593 ; com- 
munity life  of,  194;  conversa- 
tion of,  overheard  by  a trick, 
285 ; devil,  conflict  with,  by, 
122;  father  of,  petition  by,  21 1 ; 
fellow  prisoners,  appreciation 
of,  478;  asked  to  say  Te  Deum, 
348;  charity  to,  317,  487; 

compassion  of,  347 ; exhorted 
by,  76 ; hostility  overcome,  252  ; 
gaoler’s  wife  tries  to  poison, 
250 ; both  Houses’  remonstrance 
against,  380;  joy  of,  80;  King’s 
clemency  to,  273 , 379 ; liberated, 
262;  madness  of,  reported,  417  ; 
money  distributed  by,  149, 
602;  noviceship  made,  467; 
pardoned,  364;  petition  from, 
381 ; pious  strife  about  a pardon , 


460,  463 ; prophecies  of,  548 ; 
reward  offered  to,  31;  serves 
senior  priests,  488;  slander 
against,  15,  24;  made  Superior 
of  Franciscans  at  Douay,  451; 
trap  for,  157. 

Rescue  from,  264;  refused,  193, 
195,  220,  398. 

Visitors,  9,  24,  41,  86,  303,  349, 
417,  437,  446,  454,  461,  476, 
502,  545,  548,  553;  abused, 
302;  children,  556;  minister, 
5,  9,  33,  75,  192,  243,  302; 
refused,  369;  a priest.  312. 

§ 5.  Their  Trials. 

Trials,  3,  14,  25,  32,  82,  194,  309, 
333,  348,  476,  488,  541,  548, 

549,558,561,565- 

Privy  Council,  the,  4,  21,  23,  28, 
32,  39,  62,  90,  155-157,  192, 
199,  220,  297,  328,  347,  361, 
511,  512,  516,  522,  532. 

Star  Chamber,  the,  108,  254. 

Marches  of  Wales,  Council  of,  103, 
104, 192. 

Presiding  power:  Committee  of  the 
Parliament,  450. 

Preliminary  Discussion : Bull  of 
Excommunication,  14,  29,  35, 
38,  45,  55,  73,  138. 

The  Bloody  Question,  45,  71,  86, 
97,  98,  120,  140,  224,  246. 

Papal  supremacy  acknowledged,  15, 
37,  56,  80,  84,  246,  292,  449. 

Queen’s  supremacy  denied,  4,  7, 
II,  51,  55,  65,  67,  71,  84,  86, 
89,  93,  97,  loi,  106,  140,  151, 
169,  191,  220,  236,  239,  261, 

551- 

Oath  of  Allegiance  refused,  297, 
301,  304,  312,  320,  324,  333, 
345,  348,  355,  359,  47i,  55i- 

“ Fabled”  Papal  League,  22,  25, 

32. 

Temporal  power  acknowledged,  16, 
40,  46,  50,  55,  75,  84,  88.  92, 
99,  151,  292,  304,  311,  332, 
333,  345,  348,  531- 

Six  Articles,  52,  55,  60,  98. 


634 


ANALYTICAL  INDEX 


Plots,  real  and  alleged:  Gunpowder 
plot,  281,  283,  286,  287,  290, 
296;  Oates  plot,  the,  5 10-5 15, 
519,  544,  551,  561,  566;  Rye 
House  plot,  582. 

Charges,  3,  25,  41,  64,  67,  74,  81, 
103,  106,  121,  124,  126,  156, 
225,  262,  278,  286,  343,  386, 
409;  procuring  a dispensation, 
186;  pretended  conspiracy,  27, 

32,  40,  44,  45,  47,  48,  50,  54, 

59,  87,  92,  286,  516,  519,  528, 

55 L 566,  575;  harbouring  and 
relieving  priests,  107,  119,  120, 
147;  idolatry,  237;  murder, 
374,  522-525;  converting,  560 
in  one  parish,  468 ; conveying  a 
cord  to  a prisoner,  14 1 ; corres- 
pondence with  Cardinal  Allen 
and  Mary  Queen  of  Scots, 
108;  defending  priest,  233. 

Defence,  14,  40,  45,  69,  71,  114, 
145,  156,  160,  168,  215,  217, 
225,  229,  234,  237,  240,  254, 
286,  290,  325,  326,  366,  367, 

376,  399,  433,  453,  464,  477, 
501,  516,  528,  594. 

Indictments,  3,  15,  40,  69,  84,  92, 
102,  215,  325,  368. 

Slender  evidence  at,  258,  297. 

Judge  accuses  witness  of  perjury, 
527;  tries  to  acquit  prisoner, 
589;  weeps  at  sentence,  200, 
243,  507;  injustice  of,  519; 
bids  “ God  speed  ” to 
prisoner,  242 ; commends 
prisoner,  343,  399;  judge  and 
jury  forgiven,  242. 

Judge  instructed  to  condemn,  398, 
529;  partial,  529;  thanked,  255, 
409,544;  alibi  proved,  520,  528. 

Jury  boggle  at  sentence,  434;  forced 
to  give  verdict,  227,  246,  376; 
objects  to  sentence,  246 ; over- 
awed, 157;  refused,  254;  for- 
given, 242;  people  annoyed  at 
injustice  of,  192. 

Prisoner  attacked  by  ministers,  246; 
refuses  to  plead,  119,  409;  ^ 
shackles  fall  off  in  court,  242; 
blessing  asked  of,  81,  199; 

635 


brother’s  efforts  to  save,  469 ; 
carried  to  trial  in  a chair,  258; 
condemned  twice,  566 ; con- 
formity implored  by  father, 
188  ; conformity  promised,  207 ; 
conforms,  132,  250;  doomed 
before  trial,  27,  175;  dressed 
in  fool’s  coat,  175;  encourages 
companions,  82,  204,  207,  262, 
597;  not  given  enough  time 
to  collect  evidence,  580;  gives 
absolution,  204;  grieved  at 
acquittal,  103;  condemnation, 
167;  condemned  but  not  exe- 
cuted, 338;  upon  presumption, 
326;  pardoned  by  King,  564, 
565  ; speech  of,  530. 

Reprieve,  3,  10,  130,  132,  237,  242, 
250,  380,  382,  403,  413,  473, 
505,  520,  521,  564-567,  583, 
599;  grief  at,  168,  176;  at 

intercession  of  the  French  Am- 
bassador, 263, 

Sentence,  Not  Guilty,  120;  joy  at, 
4,  17,  27,  70,  71,  83,  87,  100, 

102,  124,  126,  131,  149,  157, 
187,  216,  218,  220,  227,  241, 
246,  297,  327,  402,  417,  434, 
453,  459,  485,  502.  544,  565, 
594,  597;  perpetual  imprison- 
ment, loi;  Protestants’ sorrow 
at,  552;  thanksgiving  for,  3, 
83,  234,  255,  326,  355,  359, 
368,  399,  436,  476,  551,  578; 
with  verdict  of  jury,  255. 

Witnesses  for  the  defence,  538; 
false,  25,  26,  41,  47,  52,  59, 

103,  233,  355,  368,  386,  452, 
482,  515,  516,  519,  520,  522- 
525,  527,  538,  544,  569,  570, 
575;  characters  of,  513,  514, 
528,  567;  apostate,  409,  452, 
501 ; evidence,  none,  326,  341. 

§ 6.  Executions. 

Preparation  for,  9,  27,  75,  88,  ipi , 
200,  259,  267,  303,  313-315, 
375,  403,  464,  470,  479.  485, 
502,  570,  594,  596;  clean  shirt, 
314;  clothes  given  away,  312; 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


clothes,  new  for,  303 ; dragged 
out  of  bed,  507;  dress,  388; 
drinks  to  messenger  who  brings 
news  of  execution,  479;  ex- 
position of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, 350;  farewell  to  fellow- 
prisoners,  243 ; money  dis- 
tributed, 387;  plays  harp,  545; 
sound  sleep,  502,  577;  supper 
before,  312;  wife  drinks  to 
husband,  263 ; Mass  and  sacra- 
ments, see  under  Lives  as 
Priests. 

On  the  way  to,  in  cart,  597;  in  cart 
with  the  rope,  318 ; drawn  to,  in 
habit,  255,  465;  on  foot,  188, 
200,  207,  279;  on  horseback, 
140;  hurdle,  on,  9,  28,  41,  47, 
50,  52,  54,  68,  70,  72,  75,  84, 
93,  131,  152,  195,  200,  218, 
243,  255,  304,  315,  356,  370, 
399,  410,  413,  419,  465,  479, 
503,  583;  horses  refuse  to 

draw,  187;  sledge  or  hurdle, 
5,  58,  333,  350,  388,  404,  422, 
434,  437,  446,  470,  483,  507, 
529,  548;  martyr:  absolved, 

370,  503  j abused  by  collier,  480 ; 
accompanied  by  friends,  470; 
by  friendly  gaoler,  481 ; blessing 
asked  of,  141 , 470,  598 ; blessing 
asked  by  Catholics,  503  ; blesses 
daughter,  93 ; fellow-prisoners, 
195;  friends,  388,  578;  people, 
81,  404,  460,  465;  cap  offered 
to,  84;  cheerfulness  of,  157, 
181,  188,  195,  297,  318,  350, 
410,  446,  479,  502,  529;  com- 
passion of  people  for,  419; 
confessions  made  to,  68;  con- 
fession of,  410;  consulted, 
28;  converts  malefactor,  200, 
447,  485 ; drinks  to  man  who 
drives  hurdle,  479 ; interrupted 
by  crowd,  244;  encourages 
condemned  malefactors,  318; 
given  wine,  419;  gives  alms, 
276,  375;  goes  “ as  to  a feast,” 
248;  impresses  gaolers,  460; 
merriment  of,  243  ; mud,  drawn 
through,  404;  peltod  by  crowd. 


520;  people  edified  by,  404, 

503;  prays  all  the  time,  268; 

reads,  545;  sings,  256;  Spani- 
ards escort,  350;  unbound,  315. 
Gallows  decorated,  351;  gallows 
kissed,  42,  218,  298,  356,  375, 

465,  545. 

Kisses  block,  573 ; ground  kissed, 
200. 

Ladder  kissed,  131,  147,  152,  218, 
370;  martyr  thrown  off,  128; 

sign  of  the  Cross  made  on 

ladder,  594;  violently  agitated, 
188. 

Rope  blessed,  276 ; rope  breaks,  344 ; 
rope  kissed,  147,  196,  200,  218, 
244,356,410,461,540. 
Ministers  dispute,  5,  28,  72,  75, 
88,  207,  268,  276,  316,  334, 
357,  371,  ,375,  400;  reproves 
martyr  for  joking,  421. 

Offer  of  life  accepted,  61;  refused, 
5,  28,  31,  46,  48,  55,  60,  65, 
93,  102,  106,  125,  136,  145, 

147,  151,  161,  166,  168,  176, 
185,  188,  193,  194,  197,  200, 
220,  230,  238,  241,  242,  278, 
293,  294,  303,  304,  311,  315, 
318,  343,  348,  370,  371,  374, 
460,  488,  503,  529,  537,  539, 
553,  558,  578,  581,  596. 

Speech,  10,  16,  42,  49,  50,  59,  129, 

148,  159,  163,  176,  181,  195, 
200,  207,  21 1,  220,  228,  268, 
276,  279,  287,  298,  316,  319, 
328,  333,  337,  351,  371,  404, 
411,  420,  423-425,  434,  438, 

446,  454,  465,  470,  479,  503, 
508,  518,  520,  522,  524,  529, 
531,  533,  542,  545,  546,  549, 
550,  556,  559,  561,  567,  571, 
579-581 ; defending  Jesuits,  534, 
prevented  or  interrupted,  6, 
28,  34,  68,  70,  135,  136,  148, 

153,  157,  158,  319,  356,  446, 

486,  598;  published,  538,  554. 
Last  prayers,  6,  10,  16,  34,  35,  38, 
43,  47-49,  51,  53,  5^,  61,  65, 
66,  76,  177,  200,  204,  208, 
212,  218,  221,  244,  288,  298, 
305,  316,  321,  337,  352,  358, 


ANALYTICAL  INDEX 


372,  390,  400,  406,  414,  480,  j 
503,  533,  540,  547,  557,  560, 
568,  582,  598;  forjudge,  277, 
477;  king,  277,  288,  291,  315, 
316,  320,  328,  334,  352,  357, 
371,  390,  416,  425,  438,  477, 

479,  521^  524,  530-532,  535, 

536,  539,  543,  546,  549,  55°, 
554,  559,  564,  572,  573,  581; 
for  persecutors,  153,  416; 

queen,  29,  35,  48,  52,  54,  60, 
65,  75,  76,  88,  93,  201,  212, 
226,  234,  244;  to  Blessed 

Trinity,  472 ; for  the  conversion 
of  England,  446,  470,  472; 
in  secret,  46,  47,  70,  295,  320, 
435,  446,  480,  483,  486,  509, 
518,  536 ; surrounded  by  friends 
573- 

For  prayers,  see  also  Prayers  and 
Good  works. 

Last  words,  70,  131,  158,  245,  256, 
268,  277,  279,  416. 

Catholics’  prayers  asked,  10,  16, 
29,  53,  61,  66,  76,  88,  141, 
148,  208,  220,  243,  244,  256, 
279,  296,  305,  316,  337,  352, 
358,  371,  405,  410,  414,  416, 

480,  502,  509,  521,  531,  532, 
546. 

Queen’s  forgiveness  asked,  10,  176; 
refusal  to  ask,  10,  48,  53,  56, 
61,  88,  145. 

Driver  runs  away,  480. 

Catholics  not  allowed  near,  83. 

Hangman,  the,  asks  forgiveness,  277, 
315,  540;  embraced,  34,  315, 
455;  forgets  rope,  234;  for- 
given, 557;  martyr  jokes  with, 
375;  money  given  to,  49,  244, 
314,  336,  390,  438,  480;  re- 
fuses butchery,  190,414;  scoffs 
at  martyr,  594;  struggles  with 
martyr,  197;  unskilful,  212, 
305- 

Headsman  asks  forgiveness,  574. 

The  Sheriff,  dispute  with,  389; 
gives  body  to  Catholics,  427; 
humanity  of,  319,  454;  strikes 
martyr,  207;  in  tears,  405; 
thanked,  405,  546,  547. 


Malefactor,  reconciled,  makes  pro- 
fession of  faith,  466,  482. 

Martyr  absolved  on  gallows,  423, 
435,  438,  480,  554;  absolves 
malefactors  on  gallows,  423; 
accuser  asks  forgiveness  of,  291 ; 
asserts  innocence,  25,  28,  34, 
38,  42,  46,  48,  50,  52,  54,  60, 
72,  88,  93,  212,  234,  288,  291, 

376,  389,  405,  425,  517,  521, 

522,  524,  528,  530,  531,  533, 
538,  542,  559,  563,  567,  572, 
573,  580,  582;  cheerfulness  of, 
15,  228,  248,  319,  405,  420, 
486,  546;  condemned  to  be 
burnt  but  reprieved,  229;  con- 
fession of,  410;  confession  of 
malefactor  to,  582;  delight  of, 
447;  embraces  bodies  of  com- 
panions, 158;  encourages  fellow 
martyr,  413,  483;  fear  before, 
131,  161,  267,  413,  488;  for- 
gives enemies,  10,  42,  244,  256, 
279,  416,  425,  438,  472,  489, 
521,  524,  531,  532,  535,  536, 
540,  543,  546,  549,  554,  55^, 
560,  563,  572,  581;  friends  of 
present,  437;  relations  of 
present,  150,  190;  gives  money 
away,  335,  390,  483 ; gives 

articles  away,  423 ; grief  at 
reprieve,  181 ; jokes  on  scaffold, 
59,  181,  405,  406,  410;  king’s 
intervention  on  behalf  of  re- 
fused by  Parliament,  400 ; kneels 
down  to  pray,  5 ; makes  pro- 
fession of  faith,  157,  594; 

people  enraged  with,  10; 
preaches  to  crowd,  235 ; refuses 
pardon,  140;  reprieved,  58. 

Executions,  112,  115-117,  120-128, 
125,  126,  133,  134,  138,  141, 
145-148, 151,  158, 159, 160-162, 
164, 166-168,  184, 185, 188,  189, 
201,206,217,228,232, 253,257, 
269,  273,  322,  357,  556,  592; 
described,  244,  304,  335-337, 
356-358, 389-392,  413-415, 422- 
427;  speaks  with  betrayer,  263; 
storm  during,  510;  unexpected, 
261  ; without  trial,  163. 


637 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Martyr  beheaded,  121,  427,  574;  | 
hanged  only,  6,  43,  51,  140, 
200,  280,  298,  321,  337,  352, 
358,  372,  390,  406,  421,  438, 
446,  466,  472,  480,  504,  537, 
582 ; hanged  in  boots  and  spurs, 
107;  hanging  for  half  an  hour, 
557;  beats  breast,  6,  53,  72,  ' 
316;  cut  down  alive,  190,  256, 
518,  550;  dies  smiling,  522; 
disembowelled  alive,  10,  12, 

16,  38,  89,  93,  III,  163,  196, 
204,  208,  277,  291,  341,  435, 
587,  599;  fire:  to  burn  relics 
of,  83;  heart  leaps  out  of,  16; 
frightful  butchery  of,  104, 
186,  294,  306,  426,  483,  486, 
589;  hand  grasps  rope,  49; 
hand  raised  to  head,  208; 
makes  sign  of  the  cross  during 
bowelling,  426 ; makes  sign  of 
the  cross  while  hanging,  72, 
306,  426;  pressed  to  death,  1 

1 19;  quartered  alive,  76,  97; 
shot  by  Parliamentary  soldiers, 
457;  speaks  after  bowelling, 
177;  speaks  when  cut  down, 
245 ; stands  after  being  hanged, 
169,  204;  takes  executioner  by 
hand  during  bowelling,  426 ; I 
throttled,  461. 

Crowds  at,  157,  177,  21 1,  297,  322, 

350, 369,  503,  507,  571. 

Judge  looks  on,  369.  ! 

People  at:  blessed,  319,  320,  327, 
352,  426;  compassionate,  158, 
419,  455,  573;  complain  of 
barbarity,  245 ; displeased  at, 
163;  edified,  34,  115,  147,  167, 
184,  212,  214,  358,  486,  554, 
557,  579;  indignant  at,  195; 
kneel,  352;  prepare  for,  422; 
prevent  butchery,  288,  352;  | 
refuse  to  supply  implements 
for,  195;  shocked,  190;  in 
tears  at,  221. 

Protestants  weep,  406. 

Woman  kneels  before  crowd,  153. 

Execution  at:  Andover,  84;  Beau- 
maris, 196;  Canterbury,  130; 
Cardiff,  547;  Carlisle,  235, 

638 


599;  Chelmsford,  39,  44; 

Chichester,  148;  Darlington, 
207,  208;  Derby,  13 1;  Dor- 
chester, 121,  169,  201,  428; 
Durham,  164,  197,  204;  Dry- 
burne,  600;  Exeter,  236; 
Gloucester,  124,  151;  Here- 
ford, 555;  Wigmarsh  by,  556; 
Lancaster,  loi,  102,  248,  249, 
260,  261,  280,  344,  375,  484, 
486,489;  Launceston,  5;  Leo- 
minster, 306 ; Lincoln,  246,  456, 

London:  Clerkenwell,  138;  Fleet 
Street,  167;  Gray’s  Inn  Fields, 
1 81;  St.  Paul’s  Churchyard, 
1 86 ; St.  Thomas  Watering,  234, 
253;  Smithfield,  161;  Tyburn, 
II,  12,  15,  28,  30,  39,  46,  47, 
52,  64,  87,  88,  93,  94,  97,  100, 
106,  111-114,  116,  117,  134, 

141,  145,  184-186,  197,  211, 

217,  248,  255-257,  259,  260, 

263-265,  268,  269,  293,  295, 

299,  318,  321,  322,  328,  330, 

338,  350,  35L  382,  388,  389, 

407,  *410,  419,  434,  437,  439, 

446,  447,  454,  457,  461,  465, 

470,  479,  480,  485,  503,  504, 

507,  508,  515,  520,  522,  524, 

529,  538,  579,  582. 

Newcastle  - under  - Lyme,  359; 
Newcastle  - upon  - Tyne,  188, 
190,  206;  Norwich,  358;  Oak- 
ham, Rutland,  236;  Oxford, 
158,  159,  317;  Ripon,  281; 

Rochester,  162;  Ruthin,  550; 
Warwick,  228,  273,  274,  277; 
Isle  of  Wight,  1 15  ; Winchester, 
84,  168,  188,  594,  596;  Worces- 
ter, 553,  555,  565;  Wrexham, 
104;  York,  72,  76,  83,  106,  108, 
115,  119,  120,  122,  125,  126, 
151,  152,  159,  166,  172,  189, 
210,  218,  221,  229,  232,  233, 
236,  238,  261,  281,  294,  342, 
549,  567,  568. 

Relics,  76,  132,  148,  177,  196,  201, 
235,  256,  261,  321,  341,  352, 
391,  406,  435,  438,  455,  466, 
480,  486,  504,  537,  549,  554, 
582 ; burnt,  466 ; cures  through , 


ANALYTICAL  INDEX 


5IC',  537,  556;  devil  expelled 
by,  123;  seekers  apprehended, 

, 235. 

Miracles,  164,  236,  291 ; fire  does 
not  affect  relics,  561  ; hand 
pointing  to  city,  158;  miracu- 
lous straw,  288. 

Martyr  appears  to  father,  447 ; body 
of,  rescued  by  a Protestant, 
427;  body  of,  sent  to  Douay, 
510;  buried,  480,  537,  549, 
554,  556,  561,  574,  582;  buried 
in  dunghill,  208;  near  gallows, 
280;  in  pit,  321;  face  dis- 
figured, 158;  smile  on  face  of, 
359;  father  of,  great  grief,  188; 
mother  of,  gives  a feast,  85. 

Mob  plays  football  with  martyr’s 
head,  427. 

Consequences:  brook  dries  up,  600;  j 
people  impressed,  16,  30,  97, 
115,  145,  164,306,  455;  con- 
versions of  brother,  178;  many  ; 
converted,  235,  504;  perse- 

cutor, 338;  hangman  repents,  | 
196;  persecutors  punished,  6,  1 
164,  196,  230,  247,  358,  372,  ' 
416,  537,  541,  549;  visitation 
of  plague,  201. 


§ 7.  Recusants. 

Recusants,  213,  339;  address  to 
queen  on  behalf  of,  107;  child 
taken  from  parents,  496;  death 
in  prison,  107;  estates  seized 

456,  491. 

Fines,  18,  66,  273,  360,  378,  601; 
gaol  for,  104;  house  pulled 
down,  496;  imprisoned  for 
hearing  Mass,  18;  killed  by 
Parliamentary  soldiers,  497; 
laws  against,  491-493. 

Leave  England,  107-108;  promise 
of  clemency  towards,  360;  re- 
duced to  want,  497 ; severity 
towards,  361  ; sufferings  of, 
493-497,  583,, 601;  in  prison, 
498,  499;  suicide  pretended  of 
a,  108 ; tried,  82. 


§ 8.  Martyrs’  Maxims. 

! Martyrs’ Maxims : 

“ I have  no  boldness  but  in  His 
blood,”  32. 

“ I may  perhaps  shake  with  cold, 
but  I trust  God  never  for  fear,” 
571- 

“With  the  GRACE  of  God  you  need 
not  fear ; I shall  not  want 
courage,”  437. 

“ I came  into  the  world  with  the 
sign  of  the  cross,  and  with 
the  sign  of  the  cross  I go  out 
of  it  again,”  276. 

“ I dare  look  death  in  the  face,” 
406. 

“ I hope  in  Jesus,  He  will 
strengthen  me  rather  to  suffer 
a thousand  deaths,  if  I had 
so  many  lives  to  lose,”  241. 

“ That  he  must  die  some  time  or 
other,  and  could  not  die  a 
better  death,”  398. 

“ The  sum  of  the  only  true  Chris- 
tian profession  is  to  die,”  509. 

“ Happy  am  I that  can  purchase 
with  a short  pain  an  everlasting 

life,”  546. 

“ He  hoped  he  should  now  be 
sent  to  HEAVEN  in  a string,” 
421. 

“ I am  now  going  a better  way,” 
181. 

“ I shall  shortly  be  above  yonder 
fellow  [the  sun],”  33. 

“ It  is  just  they  should  laugh  that 
win,”  17. 

“It  is  near  dinner  time;  sweet 
Jesus  ! admit  me,  though  most 
unworthy,  to  be  a guest  this 
day  at  Thy  heavenly  table,” 

357. 

“ The  greater  injury  and  injustice 
done  against  us  by  men . to 
take  away  our  lives,  the  greater 
glory  in  eternal  life,”  553. 

“ The  moment  of  this  suffering 
doth  work  an  eternal  weight 
of  glory  in  heaven,”  447. 

“ These  legs  had  never  boots 


639 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


Martyrs’  Maxims  (contd.) — 

on  yet  since  they  were  mine, 
and  now  surely  they  shall 
perform  this  journey  without 
boots,  for  they  shall  be  well 
paid  for  their  pains,”  149. 

“ This  way  to  heaven  was  as 
short  as  any  other,”  119. 

“ Who  is  going  to  die  for  a 
moment  that  he  may  live  for 
ever,”  202. 

“ Behold,  we  are  here  brought 
to  die  for  the  confession  of  the 
Catholic  faith,  the  old  religion 
in  which  our  forefathers  and 
ancestors  all  lived  and  died,” 

157.. 

“ I build  not  my  faith  upon  any 
one  man  whatsoever,  but  upon 
the  Catholic  Church,”  60. 

“ If  to  be  a Catholic  only,  if  to 
be  a perfect  Catholic,  be  to  be  a 
traitor,  then  I am  a traitor,”  35. 

“ If  he  could  not  dispute  for  his 
faith  as  well  as  some  of  the 
others,  he  could  die  for  it  as 
well  as  the  best,”  149. 

“No  death  can  be  more  precious 
than  that  which  is  undergone 
for  this  faith,  which  faith 
Christ  taught,  and  a hundred 
thousand  martyrs  have  sealed 
with  their  blood,”  256. 

“ That  all  manner  of  errors  and 
heresies  were  tolerated  in  Eng- 
land, and  none  persecuted  but 
the  Catholic  religion,  which 
was  a sign  of  its  being  God’s 
truth,”  502. 

“ That  if  he  had  a hundred  lives 
he  would  willingly  lay  them  all 
down  in  defence  of  his  faith,” 

147. 

“ I take  it  for  a great  favour  from 
Almighty  God  that  I am  placed 
amongst  the  thieves,  as  He 
Himself,  my  Lord  and  Master, 
was,”  263. 

“ Oh,  what  am  I that  God  thus 
honours  me,  and  will  have  me 
die  for  His  sake  ?”  479. 


“ Thieves  and  robbers  that  rob 
on  highways  would  have  served 
God  in  a greater  perfection 
than  I have  done,  had  they 
received  so  many  favours  and 
graces  from  Him  as  I have,”  543. 

“ O England,  turn  thyself  to 
God,”  446. 

“ Audi  Dominey  hcec  sunt  tintina- 
hula  mea”  306. 

“ I would  not  change  my  chain 
for  my  Lord  Mayor’s  great 
chain,”  239. 

“ O happy  day,”  16. 

“ O happy  Thomas  ! happy  art 
thou  that  hast  run  that  happy 
race,”  47. 

“ O precious  collar,”  200. 

“ That  in  all  his  life  he  had  never 
been  so  joyful,”  72. 

“ This  is  the  joyfullest  day  that 
ever  I knew,”  243. 

“ Why  weep  you  for  me,  who  am 
so  glad  of  heart  this  happy 
day?”  460. 

“Be  ye  all  merry,  for  we  have 
not  occasion  of  sorrow  but  of 
joy;  for  although  I shall  have 
a sharp  dinner,  yet  I trust  in 
Jesus  Christ  I shall  have  a most 
sweet  supper,”  276. 

“ And  now  very  soon  I must 
hold  up  my  hand  at  the  King 
of  King’s  Bench,  and  appear 
before  a Judge  who  cannot  be 
deceived  by  false  witnesses,” 

•579. 

“It  is  an  easy  thing  to  run  the 
blind  way  of  liberty,”  551. 

“ Were  I worthy  to  be  a priest  I 
should  look  upon  myself  placed 
in  a dignity  not  inferior  to  the 
angels ; for  priests  have  a power 
given  them  of  remitting  and 
retaining  sins,  in  God’s  name, 
which  was  never  given  to 
angels,”  254. 

“ Far  better  it  is  to  abide  all 
punishment,  be  it  ever  so 
grievous,  than  to  suffer  the 
eternal  torments  of  hell,”  10. 


640 


ANALYTICAL  INDEX 


Martyrs’  Maxims  {contd.) — 

“ Should  I for  saving  this  carcase 
CONDEMN  MY  SOUL  ? God  for- 
bid !”  48. 

“ They  have  tortured  my  body, 
but  thank  God  they  have  not 
hurt  my  soul,”  374. 

“ Aly  Saviour  has  suffered  far 
more  for  me  than  all  that;  and 
I am  willing  to  suffer  the  worst 
of  torments  for  His  sake,”  409. 

“ That  he  had  read  divers  chron- 
icles, but  never  read  that  God 
ordained  a woman  should  be 
supreme  head  of  the  Church,” 
140. 

“ If  I be  a traitor  for  maintaining 
this  faith,  then  all  the  kings 
and  queens  of  this  realm  here- 
tofore, and  all  our  ancestors 
were  traitors,  for  they  main- 
tained the  same,”  51. 


§ 9.  Martyr  literature  quoted. 

MSS.,  Catalogues,  Histories,  Criti- 
cism friendly  and  unfriendly: 

Allen,  Wm.,  Card.,  Modest  Answer 
to  Justitia  Britannica,  83,  84, 
106. 

Austin,  W.  B.,  Christian  Moder- 
ator, 490,  493,  498. 

Baker,  Sir  Richard,  Chronicle 
of  the  Kings  of  England,  51 1, 

515,  517, 523, 524, 575: 

Baker’s  Chronicle,  Continuation 
of,  519,  522,  527,  538,  570. 

Birchley,  see  Austin. 

Blackwell,  G.,  Treatise  for  Oath 
of  Allegiance,  314. 

Boethius,  De  Consolatione,  398. 

Bridgewater,  Jn.,  D.D.,  Concer- 
tatio  Ecclesice  Catholicce,  18,39, 
76,  93»  98,  100,  105;  Brevis 
Descriptio,  109. 

Bristowe,  Richard,  Motives  In- 
ducing to  the  Catholic  Faith, 
263. 

Burghley,  Lord,  Justitia  Britan- 
nica,  83,  84,  106. 


Burnet,  Gilb.,  Bp.,  History  of 
Reformation,  517,  574. 

Camden,  Elizabeth,  27. 

Chalcedon,  Bishop  of  (Smith, 
Rich.),  Catalogus  Martyrum, 
MS.,  132,  146,  147,  163,  186, 
190,  228,  236,  265. 

Champney,  Ant.,  D.D.,  History 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  MS.,  121, 
125,  131,  141,  147,  152,  161, 
164,  165,  236,  260,  263. 

Chiflet,  Palmce  Cleri  Anglicani, 
403,  428. 

Clarendon,  Lord,  History  of  the 
Rebellion,  401. 

Coleman,  Walt.,  Duel  of  Death, 
[a  poem],  402. 

Corby,  Ra.,  Life  of,  1645,  461. 

Douay  Diary,  16,  17,  53,  90,  94, 
98,  104,  no,  121,  122,  129, 
163,  233,  249,  260,  265,  280, 
299,  317,  323,  328,  329,  339, 
353,  359,  378,  379,  4ii,  4i5, 
428,  447,  457,  459,  467,  480, 
490, 547, 555- 

Echard,  Laurence,  History  of 
England,  575. 

Floyd,  S.J.,  MS.,  Relation,  406. 

Gennings,  Jn.,  O.S.F.,  Life  of 
Edmund  Gennings,  182. 

Hart,  J.,  Journal  of  things  Trans- 
acted in  the  Tower,  248. 

Haynes,  Joseph,  Relation,  149. 

Heath,  H.,  O.S.F.,  Life  of  (1649, 
1674),  439 

Heylin’s  Chronology,  84. 

Heylin,  P.,  D.D.,  History  of  the 
Reformation,  134. 

Higgons,  Bevil,  (?)  Historical 
Works,  51 1. 

Hill,  E.  T.,  D.D.,  O.S.B.,  Quar- 
tron  of  Reasons,  339. 

Holland,  Henry,  Urna  Aurea, 

587- 

Holland,  Th.,  S.J.,  Life  of,  1645, 
Latin,  435. 

Howes,  Edmund,  upon  Stow’s 
Annals,  245,  247,  251,  253, 
263,  274,  296,  299. 

Hunter,  Ant.,  S.J.,  MS.  on  Baker, 
S.J.,  562. 


641 


MEMOIRS  OF  MISSIONARY  PRIESTS 


MSS.,  Catalogues,  Histories,  Criti- 
cism friendly  and  unfriendly  ! 
{cojitd.) — 

Ireland,  E.,  Douay  Diary,  iv.,  421 . 

Keynes,  J.,  Floras  Anglo-Ba- 
varicus,  472,  489,  545. 

King,  John,  see  Bishop  of  London, 
see  Protestant' s Plea  for  Priests. 

Knaresborough’s  MS.,  Collec-  \ 
359,  415,  491.  I 

Lay  Catholics'  Petitiori  for  Priests' 
273- 

Letter  from  a gentleman  in  the  i 
city  to  a gentleman  in  the 
country  about  the  odiousness  of 
persecution,  printed  1687,  507. 

IMartin,  Gregory,  D.D.,  Treatise  \ 
of  SchisJH,  100. 

Alason,  Angelus,  Certamen  Sera- 
phicum,  401,  402,  430,  432, 

443. 

Molanus,  J.,  Catalogue,  228,  280; 
Idea  Togatce  Constantice,  Ap- 
pendix to,  236,  322. 

Morse,  H.,  S.J.,  Life  of,  1645, 
467. 

Muskett,  Geo.  {viz..  King,  Jn.), 
The  Bishop  of  London's  Legacy, 
338. 

Nalson’s  Impartial  Collections, 
379,  400, 402. 

Pauncefoote,  J.,  The  Foundation 
of  the  Catholic  Religion,  261.  j 

Political  Grammar,  The,  281.  | 

Protestant's  Plea  for  Priests  and 
Papists,  107,  273,  284;  see 

King,  J. 

Prynne,  Hiddeji  Works  of  Dark- 
ness Brought  to  Public  Light, 
379,  403  ; Popish  Royal  Favour- 
ite, 219,  468,  505,  506. 

Raissius,  Arnoldus,  Catalogue,  16, 

147,  150,  358, 359. 


Records  of  the  Novitiate  of  St. 
Andrew's,  Rome,  557. 

Ribadeneira,  Father,  Appendix  to 
Dr.  Saunders,  136,  161. 

Robinson,  Christopher,  Relation, 

597. 

Rushworth,  John,  Historical  Col- 
lections, 360,  365. 

St.  Omer  MSS.,  214,  221,  318, 
340. 

Salmon,  Thomas,  An  Impartial 
Examination  of  Dr.  Burnet's 
History,  296,  528,  567. 

Saunder  and  Rishton,  History 
of  the  Schism,  17,  248. 

Southwell,  Father,  Supplication 
to  the  Queen,  262. 

Sprat,  Bp.  of  Rochester,  The 
Rye  Llouse  Plot,  582. 

Stow,  Annales,  6,  ii,  17,  38,  44, 
51,  83,  109,  III,  113,  134,  141, 
146,  149,  160,  169,  185,  186, 
197,  217,  235. 

Theodoret,  Philotheus,  300. 

Trollop,  Cuthbert,  M.S.,  204. 

Ward,  Thomas,  E?iglafid's  Re- 
formation, (canto  iv.,  on  Post- 
gate) 547. 

Weldon,  B.,  Notes  on  O.S.B. 
Congregation,  299,  338,  402, 
456. 

Willoughby,  Elizabeth,  MS., 
442. 

Wood,  Athence  Oxoniensis,  30, 

76,  97- 

Worthington,  I.,  D.D.,  Account 
of  Sixteen  Martyrs,  2.21\  Cata- 
logue, 307,  329;  Relation,  246, 
248. 

Yepez,  Diego,  Bishop  of  Tara- 
zona.  History  of  the  Persecu- 
tion, 118,  126,  141,  142,  161, 
190,  221,  212,  224,  225, 601. 


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